Showl:

  He was caught off guard by her. It was the only way he had to explain his feelings.

  Every step she mad he never had the feeling she faltered even once in a promise, in being honest with him. She had secrets that was for sure but he was sure when she spoke she did her best to speak the truth. And the truth came promises she would and could keep but nothing more.

  She knew exactly what to say to his sons who didn’t trust easily and worried constantly. They looked at her with eyes that were curious enough to try. He didn’t want to be worried looking at that hope. At the fact that her eyes held the same longing the children’s did.

  Showl knew she’d keep her promise to be what ever the boys needed but he knew that promise was given because he himself didn’t have to be a factor in that.

  Showl hadn’t been this self-conscious sending the letter even with his fluttery overly romantic thoughts, after all Nerezza’s wording was clear she wouldn’t consider the request from the Order but their was a chance his own request might turn out differently. Even if she refused to meet with him he was sure he could accept that.

  But then he didn’t receive an answer either way for a half a day which with anyone else it wouldn’t have bothered him.

  Not everyone was known for their responses though.

  Then he found himself fretting something he didn’t do. What could make the prospect of simply meeting with him so unappealing. Or… He’d had a shattering thought. Some prospects he’d had before fell away after he’d adopted his sons. It had never bothered him but if this woman was horrified by the idea of his sons. How in the world would he handle the constantly growing interest in Reem, Garion and Zephon’s eyes.

  Now though he realized if she did deny them it would in a way be because of his boys but not in such a negative way as he was thinking. If any of them wasn’t ready to try she’d step away as not to hurt their stability. A beautiful thoughtful woman who understood their fear.

  ‘I was worried that the stories were wrong. The existence of a family, that is full of love though it’s pieced together and there are shadows and scars but they work to figure them out is something that was awe striking for me and if there was a lie in it.’

  They all had hope in the form of stories worried they were wrong. The understanding bridged the gap that he’d been fighting to keep. He knew that if she accepted that he would never be able to manage a Union that was simply an agreement. Nerezza was the Union he wanted. Just like Garion, Reem and Zephon had been the children he wanted.

  She revealed things, staggered him then easily turned to go leaving him stumbling to keep her there long enough to figure things out.

  Pessimist? When, she was freely and willingly offering three boys hope? Doesn’t care to make attempts with people? When she was taking careful consideration of them? While holding that longing in her eyes.

  She didn’t understand why he would want her.

  Showl didn’t need time to know. He’d respect that she did and that his sons might but once they were he wouldn’t blink. Wouldn’t falter.

  Though he thought with a smirk he wasn’t sure his sons were the one’s who needed convincing.

  Reem was still holding onto her like he was trying to keep her there forever. If Garion hadn’t liked her he’d be trying to scare her off and Zephon looked at her directly with the same quiet interest he’d offered all of them in the beginning.

  “Madam Stays.” Reem demanded far more possessive that Showl had even expected. He buried his face into Nerezza’s neck. “I want Madam to stay.” He demanded.

  Garion a boy who jumped head first into most things watched Nerezza suddenly looking extremely shy and hesitant.

  “I’d like to see.” He murmured. What fully left him reeling was when Zephon met her eyes directly. His shoulders were stiff and he looked prepared to run if need be but he held her gaze and her eyes softened as if she understood what that meant.

  “You will accept father’s request if we like it?” He asked her prepared for her to deny them. Nerezza looked very breathless and he thought he might need to interject.

  She glanced at Showl with an almost helplessly warm and affectionate smile that froze him in place and left his tongue unable to function. She sucked in a breath rubbing her cheek against Reem’s hair.

  “I will accept the request. It’s a request to considered not to enter a Union. We’ll all get to know each other.” She promised and Showl watched the tension leave his sons like it did him. Before though he could offer that they start planning the next time she could visit again she placed down Reem and turned his attention to her.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Her face was serious.

  “Reem, even if for some reason this doesn’t work out I promise you no matter what I will continue to pull away the shadows that dance under your skin.” Nerezza promised.

  Showl stared the term that his youngest cried when ever the curses flared through him. His head swirled he’d searched everywhere for a way to remove the extent of magic thrust upon the little boy but he’d been told that the only thing powerful enough was the Celestial Elders insisted the Reem was too young to risk it yet.

  Reem’s shock was greater then his own stumbling back falling on his but looking baffled.

  “They can go away?” He asked her. Nerezza paused and her face clouded. She hesitated. The place a hand on his knee.

  “I can remove the curses and what was added to you. The outside factors that make you feel unstable but it’s not something I can do all at once. It will take time and I can’t remove the memory of it or the things that were awakened by it so your own stress might cause flares. She then helped him up and brushed him off. “But your flairs wouldn’t happen nearly as often and it won’t feel like it’s tearing you apart. You will not feel like there is something that shouldn’t be there hiding under your skin. And your own magic I will help you not see as a foreign body. It’s hard. But it’s possible. You’re also very young and none of what has been done to you is permanent until your magic is activated.” She explained.

  Showl felt a wave of sickness. The celestial elders had specifically insisted they couldn’t do it until Reem’s magic was able to be awakened.

  “Did you have shadows under your skin?” Reem asked looking around her with an almost know. Showl looked to the woman whose face held a careful calm. She cupped Reem’s face and smiled.

  “Yes.” She admitted softly. “I have had experienced nearly every one of the shadows under your skin. Though not all at once.” She admitted. Reem nodded. “I should get home for the night.” She offered softly.

  Doing it again. Staggering him then trying to leave.

  “No. Why?” You should stay here with us. You can stay in my room.” Reem argued turning to him wide eyed begging him to make it not true that she had to leave.

  Showl held back his own desire that she not ever leave.

  Nerezza smiled at him lifting something from around her neck it glittered like gold light.

  “Reem I’m someone who plans and there are a lot of plans that go into things like this.” Nerezza pointed out. “I won’t disappear though. Do you know what this is?” She asked him. Reem looked at the necklace pouty.

  “No.” He grumbled.

  “This is a direct line.” She revealed. “I have only ever given one of these to one other.” Nerezza told him. “This one is for the three of you to use though I’m putting it under your father’s custody.” She informed them

  How hard he’d searched for the very thing she was placing in his hand. She turned to Zephon and Garion.

  “It was very nice to meet the two of you.” She breathed bending down and pressing a kiss to Garion’s cheek and cupping zephon’s face looking down into his eyes smiling.

  “Message me any time you wish.” She assured the boys then she stepped back and turned on the escape. Showl started forward and took her hand putting it on his arm. She looked at her hand then looked up at him.

  “Let me walk you out?” He requested. She raised her brows but nodded.

  Her revelation about Reem was something that he’d have to consider thoroughly but right then it seemed to him that everything would be better if they were United. It was so much more then he’d been expecting from the day. As if called by his ease.

  “Before you go deciding on me. It would probably be best if you knew the information my past life had provided me and what I have done with it.” She started and he knew without a doubt that the brisk words were another attempt to assure him that he didn’t want her.

  Showl turned himself cutting off her progression. He tilted her chin and gently brushed his lips over hers before pulling back. Nerezza gaped at him. He stayed curled keeping them in there own world when he whispered.

  “You said you don’t trust easily.” Showl whispered taking in her every expression. “I will trust in you. Tell me about it when it’s not done doubting my conviction.” Showl insisted. Her clear emphatic confusion made him want to kiss her again. Then she pierced her lips and she sent him that cutting grey gaze.

  “But, it’s legitimately something that might sway your choice.” She voiced in a huff, but he saw when she tuned away this time that she would respect his request.

  “You can really help Reem?” He asked her changing the topic. Nerezza nodded then frowned looked at him considered.

  “I was something I learned in my past life. It would have been more trouble then it was worth if I couldn’t manage exterior magic’s entering me on my own. It was one of the only forms of magic I was allowed to fully understand. Nerezza explained to him. “And I feel perfectly warranted saying that because it’s not said with doubt. It’s just the truth.” Nerezza told him briskly.

  Showl felt the smile pull at his lips. He made a note of the information to at some point talk to her about that.

  “Also.” She breathed pulling his attention back to her. “When the Order is informed that I’ve accepted your verbal request that will want it in concrete writing. They’ll insist on a meeting.” She told him like she already knew how everything would play out. “I will not speak with them if you are not there. I find them insufferable but they’re normally fine under your command.” She complimented. “And when the time comes I will bring one other to the meeting.” She sent him a glance that asked him if he’d argue with her.

  Distrust. He placed.

  “Who is the other?” He asked. A smirk pulled across her face.

  “That will be much more interesting if it’s revealed there.” She offered her expression perfectly wicked. The transportation circle was only a few steps away and she looped her arm around his neck and kissed him fully. Pulling back before he had the chance to continue it. She danced back to the transportation circle. “And one thing I can tell you without a doubt in my heart is you’re far prettier then the stories led me to believe.” She told him before the spell took hold and she swirled away.

  Showl huffed then swore rubbing at his face which by the curious glances must be red.

  He was thinking of her lips. When something clicked. She’d said when the Order is informed not that he’d be the one to inform them. Looking around at the guards that were just another every day had a slightly new meaning. He wondered who would be the one to share and he wondered if she’d done that little show purposely then to allow a firsthand confirmation that she in fact accepted him.