Chapter : 792
By the time we landed, it was dawn. The doors opened and cool air rushed in; it smelled like rain, metal, and home. When we got off the plane, Gavin and Taylor worked together to get Erik into a waiting car with some Gammas on standby.
“Take him to Eliza’s clinic,” Gavin ordered the gammas.
Confused, they looked at one another before their eyes settled on Erik.
“Is he okay?” One of them asked.
‘He’ll be fine,” Gavin muttered. “You can ask him questions when he wakes.”
They both nodded and took Erik away without another word.
Gavin guided me to the familiar vehicle that would take us home. He opened the door for me, and his expression shifted when he saw the way my knees wobbled. He didn’t say anything about it, though, and I was grateful for that. He slid into the car with me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his side.
By the time we reached the villa, sunlight was gilding the edges of the roofline. Gavin exited the car first, saying goodbye to the gamma who had driven us, considering Taylor went to his mate’s clinic with Erik. Irene and Matt were quiet the entire drive; Irene was still so lost in thought. I wanted to talk to her and find out what’s going through her mind, but I also didn’t want to pry.
Matt just looked exhausted.
“I’m going to bed,” Matt yawned as he exited the car.
“Goodnight,” I told him, giving him a quick hug as I watched him head inside.
I didn’t even notice that Irene was already inside, and I felt slightly hurt at the fact that she wasn’t talking ot me. I know I’m marrying her father soon, but she wa still my friend and I wanted to be there for her. But it seemed she didn’t want me anywhere near her, which hurt more than anything.
Gavin scooped me into his arms, taking my breath away, and then he started to walk inside.
“I can walk, you know,” I said, keeping my voice teasing.
He grinned down at me.
“Indulge me.
I rolled my eyes, but it was plausible. He bent and kissed my nose, making me chuckle. He took the stairs like I weighed nothing and set me down on our bed as if I might burst at the heels.
“You’ve been hovering,” I told him, but I didn’t make it sharp. Truth be told, I liked it when he hovered. It made me feel protected and safe.
“You passed out yesterday, Judy,” he reminded me. His hand stayed a warm weight at my waist. “So, yes, I’ll hover for a while.”
“You make it sound like I passed out on purpose,” I say, raising my brows.
“Knowing you? The corner of his mouth lifted. “I’m not ruling it out.”
I laughed, though it was weak and tired–it was a real laugh. He leaned in, brushed a stray curl from my forehead, and for a while, we didn’t talk at all. Silence wasn’t empty with him; it filled in around us and breathed.
“Do you think Erik will be okay?” I asked finally.
“He will,” Gavin said without hesitation. “Eliza and Taylor will handle it.”
I nodded, wanting to believe it.
“He has a mate,” I whispered.
“It seems so.”
“He never told me,” I said, shaking my head. “I thought we were friends… I can’t believe he never told me. Did you know?”
“No, of course not. You know more about him than I do,” Gavin told me, tightening his hold on me.
I nodded, and our conversation faded into a comfortable silence. We held each other and shared kisses occasionally.
“I think I’m going to talk to my parents tomorrow,” I said suddenly, drawing his attention.
He raised his brows.
“Talk to them about what?”
I nibbled on my lower lip as I thought about everything that’s happened these last couple of weeks. I had questions about what was happening to me and who I truly was, and I knew the ones who would know were the ones who had taken care of me my entire life. I never questioned things before because they took such good care of me and never made me think they didn’t love me as if I were their own.
I never really cared too much about what happened to my birth parents because I already had parents who loved me and never made me want for anything.
“About me…” I said after a short pause. “I think it’s finally time to find out where I came from.”
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.