“You said that if I stop loving you, you would die. What if I died? What will happen to you?”
Dorian chews his bottom lip as he ponders my question. “I will live.”
“And if you die, what happens to me?”
“You will live.”
“What if you stop loving me? Will that kill me?”
Dorian looks at me gravely. The talk of death has made him uneasy yet these are things I need to know. “Yes. It will. But I would never do that. I can’t.”
I shake my head exasperatedly. “Dorian, I don’t know how the Dark view the idea of commitment, but you have basically linked us for the rest of our lives. You aren’t going to want me forever. And as soon as something or someone better comes along, I will die. Do you understand that? It will kill me if you leave me!”
“Do you plan on wanting someone else? Is my love not enough for you?” he asks in a level voice. How can he be so calm about this? We haven’t even defined our relationship, for crying out loud!
“No, Dorian, of course not.” It’s the truth; no one compares to him. He is my heart and soul. He is my everything. “But you have to know that this scares me. You say that you could never stop loving me, but how do I know that’s true? And don’t tell me because you can’t lie! I know that. You don’t know what the future holds for us. What if ascending changes me? What if I really do become some freak?”
Dorian chuckles lightheartedly and as always, his laughter makes me smile despite the morbid nature of the conversation. “That won’t happen. Ascending will bring out every remarkable quality in you and then heighten it times ten. No, a hundred. You’ll be more amazing than you already are. There won’t be a force on Earth that could deny your power. They will worship the ground you walk on.”
Wow. Could I really handle all that adoration? Not to mention the huge burden of responsibility. “And then what? What would be expected of me?”
He shrugs. “All I can hope is that we will be together, no matter what you choose.”
Together. “So are we together? I mean, we’ve just never talked about it.” Though he’s already bonded me for life. No big deal.
Dorian chuckles again. “I should say so! But if you must label it, you are mine and I am yours. Like I told you before, you can be whatever you want to me.”
I smile instinctively. He’s mine. Dorian-freakin’-Skotos is mine. That’s right, bitches!
“I like being yours.”
Dorian returns my amorous gaze. “I love it.”
Hours later, with the sun bright overhead, we ride the few minutes to Paralia. Dorian has insisted that we stop by before going to my house to pack up my things. He even arranged everything for the move.
“So what is it that you want me to see, Dorian?” I ask as we walk down the short path to the apartment reserved for Morgan and me.
“I have a surprise for you,” he smiles. He reaches over and places his hand in mine, then brings it up to his lips to plant a tender kiss on my knuckles. My body instantly reacts to his touch and a flood of tingles sprout from my fingertips and up my arm.
“A surprise? What now?”
Dorian already insisted we take one of the furnished units to save us money on buying furniture. Had I known he would fill it with plush leather couches, dark mahogany high tables, and top of the line appliances, I would have declined. The apartment was already too much, especially since he wouldn’t accept any payment from either of us.
We step into the luxury apartment, the smell of leather and freshly polished wood greeting us. I take in the high vaulted ceilings and wrought-iron chandeliers in awe. Living here will take some getting used to. I just hope I do a good enough job at Cashmere to make up for it.
“Through here. In your room,” he says leading me past the stainless steel kitchen and down the hall.
Morgan insisted I take the larger bedroom though I assured her she could have it. Her wardrobe alone could fill an entire room. I think she’d feel uncomfortable taking the larger one considering what Dorian has done for us.
We step inside and I am nearly floored at the sight before me. Dorian has completely transformed the bare white walls and hardwood floors into something that can only be described as utterly astonishing. A light blue color, similar to the cerulean blue that made him look so young and free, bathes three of the four walls. The fourth is painted gunmetal grey, housing a giant sconce fashioned in the same design as the pendant he gave me. It’s a large round mirror, adorned with glittering white crystals. Around those crystals lie black ones, equally dazzling. Reflexively, my hand flies up to my beautiful necklace, fingering the diamonds and delicate pearl center.