Abyss by Bethany Adams

Author:Bethany Adams [Adams, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-9975320-9-8
Publisher: Bethany Adams

Her whispered words dug into his heart, turning it over. Aris caressed her soft cheek with shaky fingers. “No, love. No.”

“You were going to stay, but I convinced you it would be fine.”

He cursed the weakness that kept him from sitting up and lifting her into his arms where he could look into her eyes. But his nerves groaned with the echoes of pain, and his muscles refused to do more than shift her a little closer. “You knew my heart’s dream and encouraged me to seek it. I’ve always wanted to be among the first to successfully sail the seas. Do you know how much your support means to me?”

Her head moved against his chest. “You wouldn’t have landed in such torment if—”

Aris placed his finger against her lips. “Stop. You aren’t a seer. I hope you haven’t carried this for seven years.”

“Of course I have.” Selia snorted softly. “How could I not?”

He smiled at that. Yes, she would have. Selia had always taken responsibility for more than she ought. “Well, drop that burden. It isn’t yours.”

She fell silent, but he didn’t mistake that for agreement. He wouldn’t argue the point, not now. Not when he could savor the feel of her against him for the first time in years. Although spasms still shot through his muscles and his body felt as heavy as a mountain, the priest’s work held.

Mostly.

As Tynan had said, the healing wasn’t perfect. A thread of unease wound through him as Selia shifted higher, closer to being on top of him than beside. He knew by the tension winding into his shoulders that he might never be able to bear her completely above him, but having her this close so soon after reliving his past was enough of a miracle.

If he’d learned anything, it was that miracles should be cherished.

“How did you end up in here?” he asked.

“I prepared the bulk of the shields on this room, and after I caught Iren experimenting with lightning one day, I set it to alert me to excessive power,” Selia said, her tone dry. “The whole thing would’ve shattered if I hadn’t brought crystals to fill.”

Aris trailed his fingers through her hair and smiled again to remember the times they’d worked together in the past, loading energy crystals so she’d have extra power when she needed it. “At least my suffering will serve some good.”

She gasped. “I wasn’t thinking of it that way. You may have the crystals if you like.”

“No,” he said quickly. “No, they are yours. We would have had to fill them anyway in case we need them on Earth. I imagine this was faster.”

“I would not have them in exchange for your pain,” she whispered.

“My pain was inevitable.” He kissed the top of her head even as he gave her hair a slight tug. “Anyway, I like the thought of creating something out of this. Stop overthinking it.”

Her sigh caressed his neck. “Fine.”

There was so much they needed to discuss, so much still between them, but for the moment, he didn’t care.

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