Page 211 of Scarlet Wars
His expression softened, a hint of something wistful in his expression. “When Stephen sent me out to find the origin of your translation, I learned everything I could. Your birthday was the easiest thing to find.”
I smiled up at him. “And of course, you remembered.”
He closed the distance between us, close enough I could feel the warmth of him. He reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear before his hand lingered at the side of my face, thumb tracing the edge of my jaw. “I remember everything about you, Nightcrawler,” he murmured.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. His gaze flicked to the small box on the table, then back to me. “But I understand if you don’t want to celebrate,” he said gently. “It’s the first one without your parents, after all.”
I shut my lids, willing the sting behind them to fade. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, pressing my face to his chest. His arms came around me immediately, steady and warm, his hand sliding up to the back of my head in slow, soothing circles.
“Thank you, Caden,” I whispered against him. “This means a lot.”
He bent his head and pressed a quiet kiss to my hair. “Youmean a lot,” he said simply.
When I finally looked up, I managed a smile. “You’re right, I’m not exactly in a party mood. But…” My attention darted to the box. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want my present.”
Caden’s grin was instant. “Didn’t think you would.” He gestured toward one of the chairs. “Come on, birthday girl.”
I eyed the furniture suspiciously as I sat down. “Wait a second. Are these from your study at Crown?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Figured, what better way to relax than to recreate our little routine?”
My lips curved. “And this way, Rocco can’t ruin them anymore with spilled Scotch he steals from your collection.”
“Accurate,” he said, pouring the perfectly peated Ardbeg into two glasses.
I took mine from him, fingers brushing his, and smiled. “I love it.”
Grabbing the box from the table, I leaned back into the chair across from him. “So, what do you think? Should I open it now?”
“You might want to be alone when you do.”
I arched a brow, a wider smile tugging at my lips. “Why, is it a sex toy?”
Caden let out a startled laugh. “Fuck, no. Though now I kind of wish it was.” He settled in his chair, eyes glinting. “For the record, I’dnevertell you to open that alone.”
I grinned, shaking my head. “No, you probably wouldn’t.”
Curiosity finally got the better of me. I slid my thumb under the edge of the ribbon and lifted the lid.
My breath caught hard in my throat.
Inside lay a delicate silver chain, the single sapphire pendant catching the light in an overfamiliar way: deep blue at the center, lighter at the edges, like a storm rolling open.
My mother’s necklace.
The one she wore every day of my life. The one I used to fall asleep holding when nightmares kept me up. The one I thought had been lost to the wreckage forever.
My fingers hovered, trembling, before brushing the cool metal. My chest tightened so sharply it felt like something folding inward.
“Where…” My voice cracked, useless. I swallowed and tried again. “Where did you find this?”
Caden’s expression softened into something careful. “When I went looking for that asshole Dave,” he said quietly, “I went by your home. I wanted to see it for myself.” He nodded toward the necklace. “It was on her nightstand.”
I curled my fingers around the pendant, holding it like a lifeline, afraid if I let go it might disappear all over again.
“Thank you,” I whispered. The word felt too small, too thin, useless against the weight of what he’d given back to me. “I—I don’t even know what to say…”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Caden replied in the kind of tone meant to hold someone together when they’re starting to come apart.
