“I have a hard time believing finding King Desmond is what you desire most.”
Stone froze, his hand clamped around his mug. “If I do my job correctly, Birdie, Bee, and Patch are free. We all are. So, in a way, yes. I wish to find him as much as you do.”
In all of the excitement the last few days, she’d forgotten the deal he made with Kamari. She cleared her throat, eyeing the murky tea again. “Nora will need to know where I am.”
“I’ve already taken care of it,” Stone said. “You underestimate me, Commander.” He shot her a look. “She has a room down the hall.” Aesira’s mouth hung open and Stone laughed. “Time’s up.” He nodded to her tea. “You’re first, I still have another minute.”
Aesira studied the tea again, the color dark enough she could see the mismatched reflection of her eyes staring back at her. She decided it would likely go down better if her eyes were closed so she pinched them shut and downed the dreadful liquid in a single gulp. When she finished, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
Stone chuckled. “That bad?”
“Dreadful as expected. Your turn.”
Stone sniffed his tea, made a face Aesira completely understood–disgust–then drank. “Wow,” he said through a cough.
“I told you.” Aesira smiled, unsure what came next. “So, does it just…”
“Tonight when you sleep,” he said. “It’ll show us what we most desire.” His eyes flicked to hers. “It should show us where to find King Desmond, I mean.” Stone’s stare stayed pinned on her even as he set his mug on the countertop. “It could be a place or even words, I’m not really sure, but tomorrow we’ll reconvene and map out our plan.”
“You talk like you’ve drunk this before?”
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his scarred lip. “Maybe once.” He shrugged. “Maybe twice.” Aesira’s brows leaped to her forehead which made Stone laugh, a deep rumbling sound tied to that memory that made her skin heat.
“And did it work for you? Did you find what you desired most?” It was an innocent question, but for whatever reason she could feel the tension between them growing with the silence, stretching and pulling until it ran taut.
He ran his tongue over his bottom lip then smiled, a true smile this time. “In its own way, yes,” he said. The tea sat like poison in her stomach, heavy and unsettling. “I should get back to Aquila.”
“What about seeing that man Soo suggested?” Aesira asked. Stone’s grip around the tea kettle tightened. “She said there was a man who kept the desert's secrets. Maybe he might have answers. Might be able to tell us if Desmond’s been seen.”
He relaxed his grip and smoothed his hair back. “Like I said at Soo’s, he isn’t fond of outsiders.”
“Or is it thatyoudon’t want to see him?” She crossed her arms and waited.
“Vic and I have a history, he’d speak with me even if he was reluctant to. I can go–”
“I’m going too, then.” She wanted to trust Stone, but there was a larger part of her that knew deep down she couldn’t trust anyone. Not really. And there was too much at stake here to leave everything in his hands.
Stone ground his teeth, his eyes veering past her, settling on her pile of discarded armor in the corner. “There are certain measures we’d need to take to make that happen,” Stone said. “Give me until morning to think of a plan and see if I can arrange a meeting.”
She nodded, satisfied that he hadn’t completely shut down the idea. Any bit of information regarding the king was vital. She wasn’t willing to pass up a lead just because it might be difficult.
“Birdie and Bee will be just down the hall from you if you need anything.” Stone opened the door and stepped out. “Though I’d say it’s wise to let them have their privacy. And Nora is just one door past them. Patch and I will be on the ship. Goodnight, Commander.”
Music from the Phoenix filtered into the washroom, muffled by the thick iron door. Hands grazed Aesira’s waist, lifting her shirt just enough so that a slice of skin peeked through. Lips pressed against her neck, raising the hair on her arms. “You taste so good,” the voice said. She tilted her head back, giving him a better angle on her neck. His tongue slid against her hot skin before pressing another kiss to her throat.
“Aesira.” Stone’s eyes met hers, lids heavy, lips parted. “I’m going to kiss you now.” She nodded, giving him her full permission. Then his lips were on hers, his hands gripping onto her hips. His teeth sank into her bottom lip and when she pressed her hips forward he rewarded her with a pleasant hiss. “You’re going to need to stop that.”
“Why?” Her words came out breathless. She grabbed his shirt, pinning him between her thighs. “Kiss me again.” He didn’t hesitate. His mouth was bruising against hers, his hands no longer just curious, but ravenous. On her hips, her back. Between her legs.
She moaned and threw her head back, pushing her hips forward again. “Keep doing that,” she breathed. His fingers pressed between her thighs and she wished now more than ever that she had worn a dress and not pants.
Curse the fabric between them.
She reached for him too but he pulled away.
She needed more. She wanted–
Aesira jolted up from her bed, skin slick with sweat, hair a nest of curls. Her breaths were heavy as she rubbed the remaining sleep from her eyes.
