Page 59 of His Stolen Queen
"I'll call the police, tell them I'm fine."
He nodded, his arms folded and his demeanor cold. "And after?"
We both knew our marriage was over. "I'll start looking for another place. We can sort out everything else." The implication ran heavy. Everything else meant separation and divorce. The splitting of assets.
He nodded again. "I'm gonna stay at a hotel tonight while you pack. Are you-are you going back to him?"
"I'll stay here tonight, then I'll take it from there."
I pointedly ignored his question because the truth was—I didn't know. Despite my feelings for Acheron, the last few days had been a lot for me. And for David. He didn't need to watch my indecision whether or not to return to someone who had held a piece of me since I was eighteen, knowing that the other optionwas…not David. After all, in his mind he still thought that I'd been having an affair with Acheron for years.
David slid his wallet out and handed me a card. "That's the detective's number. Please let him know that I haven't murdered you." My mouth gave a small curve at his attempt at humor.
David left not long after. He'd packed a bag and walked out the door with a small nod of acknowledgment. I didn't know it then, but that would be the last time I ever saw him again.
From there, I called the detective and assured him I was fine. I led them to believe that I was just a shitty wife who'd been caught cheating, and I'd left to go be with my affair partner. I had to create an elaborate story as to why there was damage in the house. I don't think they believed my explanation—that I'd been moving heavy furniture and accidentally damaged the walls. But since they had more serious crimes to solve than what they assumed was a marital dispute where neither party was hurt, they swiftly closed the case.
I cleaned up as much as possible before packing a small bag of my necessities. To go where—I still didn't know. At around midnight, I finally fell into an exhausted sleep.
"What took you so long?"
A smile stretched my face as Acheron's voice sounded off behind me. He was so goddamn bossy.
I rolled my eyes at him. “I was always coming back,” I told him matter-of-factly.
Still, I jumped into his arms, my legs wrapped around his waist, and he held me close to him. We kissed deeply, our tongues tangling as his hands tightened around me.
He rubbed his nose against mine. "My love. My Queen. I've missed you so much."
"I've been right here, silly."
He grinned up at me. "That you have, my love."
I jolted awake with a start. I waited for the dream to fade from my memory, but it stayed. The scene replayed over and over in my head, solidifying itself as a core memory rather than a fantasy. It felt real. As if it had just happened today.
That's because itwasreal. He'd been with me all along.
Instead of the crippling sadness and loneliness I felt after my dreams, all I felt was peace and love.
So much love.
"When you're ready to come home, call me."
I knew exactly what he meant. I closed my eyes and concentrated.
Acheron. I'm ready to come home.
I saw a light flash behind my closed lids, and a smile overtook my face.
He'd come.
Chapter 23
Acheron
"You remembered."
Alice opened her eyes, her generous mouth curving in a soft smile.
