Nox knew Rayne stiffened only because she missed her guardian something terribly. They never reunited properly after his resurrection, and it was long past due. When she turned and faced Nox, tears glittered in her brilliant blue eyes. Her brief nod said more than words.

Rayne loved Xelan like a father, and she would need to see him again soon.

The savory smell of the spit rotisserie within the kitchen island triggered Nox’s appetite for food rather than the woman in the room with him. He said, “I’ll see if we have plates.”

Two minutes later, they sat together at the small dining area. It seemed so bizarre, Nox eating dinner with Rayne, but there was an easiness between them which lent to more talk of Xelan’s Verse.

Well-meaning in her curiosity, Rayne asked, “Did the conversations between Korac and Xelan make you angry with your brother all over again?”

“I’m not angry with him. I’m angry that he’s right.” Nox looked away to shake his head, shamed. Being honest with himself, he said, “Xelan has every right to hate me.”

“I don’t think he hates you or he wouldn’t distribute your Verse to the entire empire.”

A good point.

Nox conceded with a nod of his head, but knew without a doubt there was little love left between the brothers. He glanced up at Rayne.

Except hers. Her kindness was holding this triumvirate of relationships together: Nox, Korac, and Xelan. And Rayne was winning.

Also, hungry. Her plate was empty before Nox’s.

Rayne patted her stomach. “I was living off scraps for the last six months. You’re an excellent chef, by the way. I’ll clear the dishes.”

With his mouth full, Nox stopped Rayne by touching her hand. Electricity traveled from his fingers to other places in response. Swallowing more than his food, Nox said, “You shower. We should wake early tomorrow for sparring.”

The grin which blossomed on Rayne’s face melted Nox. “Thanks. I’ve been dying to try the water out. You said it was… what had you said?”

“Effervescent. There’s no other way to describe it, and I’m determined to find its source before our work here is done.”

“Thanks,” Rayne repeated before heading around the corner to the kitchen/shower.

Nox collected their plates and the roast platter and rounded the corner to the kitchen sink—

Frozen in place, Nox watched as Rayne receded all of her clothes in an unusual display, projected against the white sheet. He damned near dropped the plates as the shower started, and Rayne loosed her hair under the spray. He imagined his hands on her breasts while she turned her face up to the water and smoothed her hair back—

Stop.

Look away.

Nox took the dishes to the sink, finding a nanite scrubbing device. He would leave this room, and he would not look back—

Rayne made a sound.

An involuntary moan.

It drew his eyes back to her. Suds sluiced from everywhere on Rayne, and her hands traveled lower with it—

This…

Was familiar.

Earlier, Rayne came into the kitchen while Nox was showering. About this point in his cleansing, Nox swore honeysuckle bloomed and perfumed the air—

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“Oh, wow. You were right.” The taps turned off while Rayne said, “It was… frothy. So much fun. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

Nox stared straight down at the dishes he’d yet to wash and tried to blink those undeserved images of Rayne away.

They persisted.

“We definitely have to find where it comes from and see if we can swim it.” Rayne was already drying herself and growing more clothing.

The sound of her bare feet padding on the floor did something to Nox. Never had he imagined this level of trust between them. This comfortable companionship. Earlier, they’d almost… Well, Nox wasn’t certain what exactly had transpired, but he’d been a breath away from kissing her, and Rayne didn’t exactly protest to it so much as say things were too complicated—

“I owe you some strawberry ice cream.”

Rayne stood behind him when Nox turned around, looking small in a baseball shirt barely covering her thighs. Near-sheer cotton contained all the capable muscle and the swells of her curves beneath it. During their dinner, whatever passed for night in this area of Thailea fell, and the treeloft grew considerably cooler. But never did Nox notice it so much as looking at Rayne in that shirt right now.

“Ow.”

Her complaint brought Nox back to reality. He asked, “What is it?”

Rayne was combing her fingers through her hair—Well, not exactly. It was tangling. She pouted and whined cutely. “I don’t think the water likes my hair.” To further her pout, she glanced at Nox’s hair. “How is yours so healthy?”

With a chuckle at her pitiful face, Nox rummaged through his things until he found the bottle he wanted. Shaking it, he gestured for her to turn around. Once she did, he explained, “Mother told her sons to always keep sleh oil with us at all times.” He smoothed the liquid, warmed in his palms, through the considerable length of her thick hair.

Rayne giggled.

Nox took a comb and ran it through the ends, asking, “What’s so amusing?”

“It’s funny taking hair advice from you, is all.”

For some Elden forsaken reason, Rayne’s words twinged. Nox defended himself. “I try to look nice. We can’t all be as naturally gorgeous as Korac.” The comb glided through the silky ends in a soothing rhythm.

Rayne’s voice was soft as she said, “It’s not that. I always liked your hair. It’s so soft and shiny. My fingers wouldn’t tangle in it—”

She clapped a hand over her mouth.

Too late.

Every compliment Rayne paid Nox reminded him of their situation. He loved her, and she couldn’t forgive him. And she was right. But…

“I’m sorry for making things awkward,” Rayne gently offered. She turned back around and gazed up at Nox, vulnerable and undressed beneath her night clothes.

There was trust.

There was respect.

But there was also a daily reminder Nox lived with his desire for her. He stemmed it and tried to respect her personal space. But the idea she could admire even a small part of him tested Nox.

No, he would do nothing she didn’t want. But Rayne danced passionately, fought passionately, sang, trained—even slept passionately. She held nothing back. He could grip her by the arms now and kiss her, which would inevitably lead to deeper intimacy. Nox had taken advantage of that once, and he refused to do it again.

“You did nothing wrong,” he assured. After swallowing his restraint, Nox said, “I’m ready to sleep.” Which was true. Before his resurrection, he’d only sleep once per year—Such was his age. Now, Nox slept once a week, and he’d spent the last one watching over Rayne while she spoke to Xelan. He could use the rest.

A sweet smile spread across her lips. “You’re right. Big day tomorrow.”

Nox followed Rayne back around the corner, through the dining space, and to the stairs. She climbed until he looked away, as the shirt revealed more than her legs.

Almost nervously, Rayne waved to him as she ascended. “Good night, Nox.”

“Good night, your majesty,” he said while spreading a blanket across the long end of the L-shaped couch.

The sight must’ve been amusing, because she giggled on her way up.

Nox loved the sound.

The memory of her silhouetted against the sheet nearly chased him into sleep before Rayne asked from the upper loft, “What’s the ‘Eternal Bind’?”

Ah.

Celindria talk before bed would surely give Nox nightmares. Still, he said, “I believe it’s a myth regarding the Probability Matrix. Xelan or Tumu would be better to ask—Silence—or anyone more familiar with the Matrix.”

The sound of Rayne shifting in the sheets as she rolled over left Nox imagining her in bed. She asked, “But why would Celindria think you two are it when you don’t even know what ‘it’ is?”

That was a good question. One Nox had contemplated over these last six months. He said, “My more immediate concern is with how she plans to ‘revive’ me, as promised. The Tritans took regular samples of my nacre at different intervals in my upgrades. There are a multitude of versions to choose from.”

Some of them were not as humane as Nox’s current incarnation.

Rayne sighed and said, “Sorry for bringing it up. It’s the reason I could never sleep growing up. All my thoughts wait for me at the end of the day.”

Nox could relate. “Sleep well knowing our people are safe and capable of defending themselves against anything. We will see it so.”

There was a smile in Rayne’s voice as she said, “Thanks. Icari always know the exact right thing to say.”

“Seven million years of practice. Get some rest.” Gorgeous warrior of Nox’s dreams.

Too much. Too much had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Ready for bed, he stretched out on the couch and—

His feet dangled off the end, and Nox nearly barked out a laugh.

But of course they did.