Free The Forlorn by Calle J. Brookes Page B

you the key. Use it when you are ready. And not a moment before.”
    He slipped a key out of his pocket and held it out to her. “It’s yours. I’ll be on the other side when you’re ready. Until then, I’m right here if you need me.”

    Chapter Twenty-Eight
     
    It was easier than she expected. Over the next week Mara found herself building a routine, one that worked for her and her mother.
    And Rion.
    He was there every morning when she knocked. And that first morning after she’d settled into the suite he’d given her—which was about the size of the house she’d left behind in Colorado—she’d found herself knocking pretty early on his door.
    They spent most of their days together. Exploring the city and the people in it. And trying to figure out who or what had first built Thrun. No one really knew the answer to that, and Mara found the idea fascinating.
    She’d yet to return to Center Thrun City, and she doubted she would anytime soon.
    The library no longer called to her. She didn’t know if that was because of the attack there, or because she was supposed to meet Rion there.
    It didn’t matter. She’d met him, and was growing closer to him every single day.
    As was her family. The boys especially liked having a guy around, and he was around all the time.
    It was getting easier and easier for her to be with him, to expect him there when she turned around. To touch him, and to have him touch her.
    There had been a few times over the last two days when she’d found herself wrapped in his arms being kissed in ways she never had been before.
    She hadn’t wanted him to stop.
    Mara was trying to understand what it meant to have a Rajni. To feel the pull and the heat that all the legends said would be there. Things were changing between them, and quickly.
    She wore the key to the door between them on a chain around her neck. It was always there, just waiting for her to use it.
    That day was probably coming much earlier than she expected. And she was almost ok with that.
    She wasn’t quite ready yet, but she would be. She would be.
    Today was a special day for the ruling family.
    The Laquazzeana Nalik was about to be a father. His rajni was about to give birth to their son. The entire Hall was excited, and it was hard not to get wrapped up in it herself.
    She’d met Nalik and his mate Cass a few times. He was a distant cousin of her mother’s and he’d personally made a point of apologizing for the way his grandfather and uncle had treated their family since their relocation to Thrun. Mara had found him to be sincere, if not a bit terrifying, and kind. His wife or girlfriend or whatever she was reminded Mara of someone she’d known back in the human world. And she’d enjoyed their visits, though they’d been short.
    It was taking her a while to believe that most Dardaptoans weren’t like the ones occupying Center Thrun City. But most here had been nice. To her and the rest of her family.
    Rion worked hard, and he had a sharp mind she definitely found fascinating. They spent many hours each day just talking and pouring over ancient texts and searching out parts of the city where more information could be found.
    He was like the Dardaptoan version of Indiana Jones, or something. Only far better looking, in her opinion.
    When she wasn’t with him or her family she was with his sister Nora. The other woman was going practically nuts without a computer, and was determined to find some type of power source from the demon world that would work with her precious laptop. His sister spent just as much time with her inventions as Rion did with his books.
    Mara found Nora to be funny and snarky and downright normal. It was almost like having her friends from Colorado back again, at times.
    It helped some of the hurt and loneliness ease off.
    She definitely appreciated that.
    It was a bit different having an entire suite to herself. She’d lived with her mother her entire life, except for her years in a dorm with