Broken Kingdom (Corium University Trilogy 3)

He draws a deep breath. “I’m sure you have plenty of questions.”

“Only about a million. The one that stands out is why was my birth mother so afraid of you? I don’t understand.”

“Honestly, sometimes I feel like I used to be a different person back then. I was young and hurt, and so fucking lost. I was reckless and didn’t care about anything. I’m sorry, Aspen. It’s probably not what you want to hear, but I’m glad you didn’t meet me then.”

“I’m glad I met you now,” I say honestly. Even if he wasn’t blood-related to me, Lucas has become more to me than just a mentor.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know. We have all the time in the world now that you’re safe.” Something close to a smile plays over his lips. “For now, you don’t want to keep your in-laws waiting too long. Xander’s patience is not legendarily generous.”

It feels wrong, leaving it here, but he’s right. We have plenty of time now. “Thank you for speaking up when you did.”

“It was only what was right.” I follow him out of the room and find Quinton waiting for me out in the hall. He practically jumps on me as soon as I emerge.

“You okay?” He searches my face as if looking for any signs of trouble.

“I’m just fine.” I’m alive. I’m safe. I’m married to the man I love. And now I have a father again. I also have in-laws, like Lucas said. Scarlet is my sister. I have a sister. My mind can’t grasp it all.

He pulls me in for a hug, which is the best thing he could’ve done. I need his touch now to calm me. “What do you think? Are you ready to move one last time?”

“You don’t think the idea of a long-distance relationship is sort of hot?”

“Considering we’re only on different levels of the same structure, I don’t know that it qualifies as a long-distance relationship, but…” He grins. “Phone sex is kind of fun. Although, compared to the real thing, it’s hardly my first choice.”

“Yes, I’m very much ready to move one last time.”

“Good,” he says with a wink. “Because I’ve already had your things moved to my room. We’re all set.”

I can’t pretend to be surprised. “Is that how our marriage is going to be? You bossing me around?” I tease.

“You know what you signed up for.” Quinton smiles… a genuine smile. One that reaches his eyes and isn’t overshadowed by dread and grief. I don’t remember the last time I saw him like this, but I hope I’ll see it every day from now on.

40

QUINTON

It’s amazing. The change in everyone over the past week.

I almost don’t know what to do with myself. How did I function before I had Aspen’s welfare to worry about? Only now that she’s safe do I see just how much of my energy and thought went into her. Where she was, what she was doing, whether anyone was bothering her or threatening her. To say nothing of the hours I spent wanting her. Craving her.

Now I have her, always. The past week has been as close as I can imagine paradise. No matter where I am during my day, I know I’ll be returning to her. When we leave class together or finish eating, we’re going to the same place. She’s even started coming to the gym with me rather than me going alone since all we want to do is be together. And the joint post-gym shower is a nice reward for a hard workout, too.

We’re leaving class hand in hand for all the world to see. That’s another refreshing change, not having to hide our being together. That was just as torturous as any other aspect of our past. Having to hide what I felt. Having her so close, close enough to touch, and always holding myself back for her sake as well as mine. There’s no need for that now. I almost have to reacquaint myself with every detail of my daily existence.

Not that I’m complaining. Not that it doesn’t make me happier than I have any right to be.

“You can stop doing that,” Aspen murmurs as we walk down the hall.

“Stop doing what?” I look down at our hands, thinking she’s referring to that.

“You can stop glaring at everybody like you’re waiting for someone to come up with a smart-ass remark.” She snickers at my widening eyes. “What? You can’t tell me you don’t know you’re doing it?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She juts her chin forward, drawing her brows together. “This is you,” she grunts.

“I don’t look like that.”

“Pass a mirror sometime.” Her grip on my hand tightens as she giggles. “You don’t have to keep looking out for me now.”

“Call it a matter of habit.”