Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday

Grace walked out of the shower, letting her fire elemental power surface and take care of her wet hair and body. And just like that, she was completely dry and ready to dress up.

She picked a 'kind-of-sexy' black nightgown from her wardrobe and slipped it on. Her silky waist length hair was left open and once she was done putting on skincare, she headed out of the Master Bedroom.

Though it was already past nine after dusk, both Dr. Kian and Davian were missing as they had gone out for a walk. On the other hand, Rune was in the living room, watching a comedy drama that Grace had downloaded and saved before apocalypse hit the Earth.

"Would you like some coffee?" She asked once she was in the joining space between the open kitchen and the living room.

Rune immediately looked up at her and his slightly open mouth, that was about to answer her question, paused. His icy-blue eyes took their time to travel up and down her body, letting her know that he appreciated the view.

"How about wine instead?" He asked moments later.

"Sounds perfect to me." Grace grabbed a bottle of wine from the cellar in her space and two glasses from the kitchen before joining him on the couch.

For next several minutes, they just savored the wine in silence. But then she finally decided to speak. "I want to go to the Magik Realm."

He didn't react at first. He just went ahead and took another sip of the wine as silence stretched between them.

Then he sit down the now empty glass on the table and turned to face her.

"No," he said flatly.

But she was already expecting that. She too put down her glass and turned toward him with a calm expression.

"I don't want to go there to fight. Or search for the book. I just want to learn. I want to understand your realm. Its system. Its people. And more than anything… I think you should go back too, Rune."

His jaw tightened. "You want me to take you to the realm where those people are present who had been hunting me for more than a decade? The people who will try to capture us if they noticed our presence? You want us to walk into it?"

"Not as ourselves," Grace replied gently. "We'll hide our identities. Blend in. Move quietly. You haven't seen your world in almost eleven years. Don't you want to know what's changed? What happened while you were gone?"

His expression faltered.

She moved closer and took one of his hands in her own. "Don't you want to see if anyone still remembers you? Or if the other half of the book is still hidden... it might not be where we expect. Someone might know more than we do."

He let out a slow breath. "And if I say no?"

Her lips twitched, the corner of her mouth lifting. "I'll go without you."

His dark brows shot up. "Grace-"

"You know I will," she said simply. "But I'd rather have you with me. You know the realm better than anyone. You know the politics, the people, the rules, the subtle signs. I need you."

That last part softened him more than anything else could. His shoulders dropped slightly, and his eyes found hers, reluctant but yielding.

"You are impossible to reason with."

She smiled and moved into the circle of his arms. "That's why you like me."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, tugging her gently against him. "Like is such a small word for what I feel for you."

Her heart skipped. "Really?"

Instead of answering, he lowered his head and in slow, deliberate move, caught her lips in a soft, sweet kiss. He was testing, tasting... but very quickly, he turned the kiss deeper.

His fingers slipped into her hair, anchoring her as their mouths moved in perfect sync. He kissed her like he hadn't done so in weeks, like he needed her to breathe.

And she melted against him, her arms sliding up around his neck. His intoxicating scent filled her senses. Over the years, he had changed a lot. He had become more composed and careful, but right now he wasn't those at all.

He lifted her with ease, pulling her to sit across his lap. She let out a soft gasp as she felt his hardness poking against her inner thigh. She let her hands roam over his shoulders, down his back, then up again, feeling the warmth of his skin through the loose fabric of his shirt.

His lips moved along her jaw, then to her ear, his voice was low and teasing. "You always have to push me to the edge, don't you?"

She gave a breathless laugh. "You make it too easy."

He chuckled against her skin, his lips brushing her neck. "If we weren't planning to sneak into my very dangerous homeland, I'd keep you right here until tomorrow."

She tilted her head, giving him more access, her voice a little teasing. "Who says we can't do both?"

He groaned softly, pulling her even closer. "You are dangerous."

"That's because I learned from the best."

Another kiss followed and this one was deeper, hungrier. She was able to feel the tension coiling through him. The way his hands skimmed her sides, the way his breath hitched every time she shifted on his lap.

Her fingers curled around the collar of his shirt and tugged the first three buttons loose, revealing his collarbone. Her lips brushed over the exposed skin and she felt him shuddering beneath her in response.

Then his hands moved to her thighs, sliding up as he whispered, "You have no idea what you do to me, Love."

"I think I do," she whispered back while hovering her lips just a breath away from his.

And just as their mouths met again in a slow, burning kiss-

"Ahem."

They froze.

Grace blinked while Rune stilled. Yet, neither of them moved much and just turned their heads to look at the source of the sound.