I wrap my other arm under her, holding her body tight against mine. She tilts her head back so it rests in the crook between my jaw and shoulder. I continue my movement, running my palm over and over until she’s wriggling beneath me.
“Good or bad?” I whisper, my breath coming out just as ragged as hers.
“Good, Sorin.”
I remove my hand for a moment, and she glances over her shoulder at me, a frown forming between her brows.
“I don’t think you have any idea what that does to me, love.” I kiss her pulse. “My name on your lips is enough to undo me right now.”
Her face softens as I unlace her breeches, painstakingly slow. I’d rather rip them off, but she needs to be outside of her mind for a moment so I take my time.
I kiss her neck, her shoulder. Elora turns to face me, so I move on top of her and kiss her deeply, my fingers tangling in her hair. My lips on her neck and her chest and her mouth.
“Good?” My voice is low, and now she doesn’t answer me. Just a breathy moan that has my heart racing. My body is ignited just by kissing her. Touching her. Being close to her. I kiss her again and again, the memory of losing her teeming at the edge of my mind.
“Sorin.” She pulls away, her chest heaving under mine. Running her fingers through my hair, she then drags them down my neck and across my chest. Her eyes meet mine, and I’m brought back to our first night together after the wicked wood. She opens her mouth, perhaps to say something, but I don’t give her the chance before I brush my thumb to her lips and speak first.
“When you feel yourself retreating to all the shadowy places in your mind, just tell me.” I swipe across her body lip again. “Just tell me, and I’ll meet you there. And in the shadows, we’ll face the demons together. I’ll hold your hand until you’re ready to climb back out, no matter how long it takes.”
A tear slips from her eye, wetting my arm that’s tucked beneath her.
“I told you before that the darkest parts of you will never be enough to scare me away. I meant it and now it’s time you start believing it.”
It’s only when Elora is soundly asleep against my chest that I push her hair to the side and discover what I thought I saw earlier. I lightly trace my fingers along the ink on the back of her neck. The same black, circled pattern I received from Grawgeth all those years ago. My stomach sinks.
I should have seen this sooner.
A knock at the door draws my attention. I tip-toe across the room, pulling on my clothes as I do.
Lord Thaddeus waits on the other side. His clothes rumpled, as if he, too, dressed in the dark.
I step into the hall and shut the door behind me. “What is it?”
“It’s the Jade Guild,” he says. There’s panic in his tone, the words rushing out all at once.
“Is my sister not on her way?”
He paces the small space outside our door, his hands fraying the edge of his tunic. “We must abandon the Onyx Guild andreturn immediately.” My stomach clenches. “Evren sent word with a raven, it arrived only moments ago.” He glances toward the ground. His hands tremble as they rake through his gray hair. “Loxley has been destroyed.”
The caravan rattlesas we make our way to the Jade Guild the following morning. Elora’s grip on me is airtight, not letting a moment pass without our hands clasped together. She’s nervous and it’s understandable. The last time we were in a caravan, I was covered in blood and her wrists were still raw.
“Be there soon,” I whisper against her ear. Her eyes are closed but the smile on her lips tells me she’s not sleeping. Thaddeus, however, has dozed off, his heavy snores keeping me and Calix awake. The Lord of the Onyx Guild insisted on traveling with us to aid in any way he can. Though I find his dedication odd, he’s practically a stranger, I appreciate any effort to try and bring comfort to my people.
My people.
Bile rises up my throat. So many faces and memories of home pushing their way to the surface.
I distract myself by peeking outside the window. The forest has barely woken up, daybreak promised by faint songbirds and a blooming sky.
Loxley has been destroyed.
Thaddeus’ words echo in my mind.
Loxley has been destroyed.
I have tried to imagine it. Tried to picture all he told me that happened to my home, but my mind refuses. Like it won’t betrue until I see Sam and she can confirm it. I close the curtains and brace my elbows on my knees.
Loxley has been destroyed.
