Brand turned on his heel and urged his feet forward, even though walking away from her had every part of his body screaming, begging him to whip around and never stop touching her again.
Magnus and Thaddeusflanked Lunara as Brand strode away, leaving her dizzy.
Blessed moons,that kiss.
Never, in all her years, had she felt its like. Her lips were swollen, tingling, confused as to why they were no longer drinking him in.
She pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to remember how to breathe, how to be. Even her logical half had nothing to say, no words ofwisdomto force her thoughts away from it.
Magnus rested a hand on her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “It’s a lot to take in, the first time you see a Demon rage. Fierce bastards, especially him,” he said softly. “He’s nervous about you seeing it. Shite, he’s probably convinced himself that you’re going to run screaming. Just be kind, witchling, and he’ll see there’s no need to be concerned.”
Stunned, she nodded.
If he was warning her, there must be truth to the stories. Maybe the single time she’d seen Lyriat change hadn’t been the full scope of what Demons were capable of.
Lunara couldn’t be bothered to care.
Brand stopped about ten yards away and toed off his boots, tossed his tunic, and planted bare feet into the long grass.
Eyes closing, his nostrils flared as he pulled in harsh breaths. Warm light sprang up from beneath him, shining upwards, andshe could actuallyfeelthe power flowing from the earth and into him.
Sweet Sisters…
Brand balled his hands into fists and grew before her eyes, his body tensed against its transformation.
A sunstar shape appeared on the center of his chest, and gently glowing sunlight whorls crawled up from the ground. They writhed across his body in symmetrical patterns, twining around his arms and legs, mimicking the twisting surface of Solyrian. Crept up either side of his neck, over high cheekbones, across his eyes, and into his auburn hair.
Muscles bulged and limbs lengthened as his skin took on a faint, muddy-red hue, his trousers shortening and stretching tight over massive thighs.
His head tilted in an eerie, jerking fashion as his horns started to thicken. They flared out and curled, wrapping down towards his ears, spiraling until violent points jutted forward, caging and protecting his skull. Another two sets sprouted from his forehead and temples, winding upwards and angling outwards, crowning him with a raw, primitive majesty.
He clenched his jaw and growled, lips peeling back as two razor-sharp fangs punched from the top line of his teeth to flank their perfectly straight brethren. Claws sprang from his fingertips, and he flexed them wide.
One hand shot out, and the light patterns seemed to concentrate there, blazing brighter. A broad, wicked blade came to life, forming in an instant as he gripped his fist around the hilt.
The greatsword he’d told her about.
He swung it over his head and behind him, where the blade fused itself to his bare spine, the horned handle and pommel protecting the back of his head. The weapon moved with him, as much a part of his body as any other appendage.
Brand locked eyes with her—the same beautiful, hazel eyes—before he arched his back and released a shattering roar to the sky, sending countless birds scattering into the air.
The light faded from his body and he snarled, hands at his sides and chest heaving as he finally settled.
Lunara’s entire being trembled, completely drawn to him, her feet moving of their own accord.
There was a male any creature would hesitate to challenge. Even a mythical dreadbeast.
Shitting stars.
He was more than twice her height, but she was in awe. She knew him well enough already—knew the goodness in his heart and the sweetness of his mind—that fear never once occurred to her.
“Brand,” she breathed, closing the final distance between them.
He dropped to one knee. Deep sienna markings stained his reddened skin everywhere the light had passed, and Lunara itched to reach up and run her fingers along the patterns to see if they’d left the sunstar’s heat behind.
“Luna.” His voice was a purr, so low and gravelly that she could actually feel it vibrating in her bones.
Wait.
