I felt it then, the fraying link to Claire, unraveling from being without one another too long. A tear fell from my eye, a foreign concept, one I’d never experienced, not even at my parents’ funeral.
But for Claire…
I collapsed in anguish, my spirit withering at the erosion between us.Claire…I needed to find her, to rekindle our bond.
I’d waited too long to escape. Hid from that dark essence for far more time than I’d anticipated.
Where is it?I wondered, searching the shadowy recesses of my cell, noting the low lighting in the dingy corridor. No one spoke. Nothing moved.I’m alone down here.
I stood, my legs protesting beneath me, and shook the iron bars. They didn’t move.But I’m awake, I realized.That gives me an advantage.
All I had to do was wait. Someone would come by soon, and I’d manipulate that person into releasing me.
Don’t forget me, Claire,I whispered.I’m coming for you.Because I had to warn her. I just couldn’t remember about who or what. But someone,something, was down here with me.Who?
I shook my head, dazed from several weeks—over a month—of shutting everything down.
Why had I done that?Better yet, why can’t I remember anything of import?
I swallowed, my throat parched from disuse. I just had to escape, then everything would be fine. It had to be.
Another ache settled over me, Claire’s essence drawing on mine, and I allowed it. Whatever had happened, she needed it more, and I had enough left to fight.
Whoever put me down here was going to die. Horribly.
And I couldn’t fucking wait.
Chapter23
Claire
Several Days Later…
Exos stroked my cheek, his breath warm against my neck. I snuggled closer, adoring his strength and the crisp scent of water clinging to his skin.Mmm, that’s new.He usually smelled of sunshine and man, but today he held a cleaner scent, reminding me of the rain forest.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice huskier than usual.
I smiled. “Refreshed.” Oh, how my throat burned.
A straw slid between my lips as if he knew. “Drink, little queen.”
My brow furrowed even as I complied.That’s a new nickname. Exos usually called meprincess, sometimesbabywhen he was turned on. My thighs clenched at the prospect, missing his touch and the way our element danced when together.
I drew my finger down his bare abdomen, creating a stream of water along his skin. I’d meant to use fire, but this worked, too.
Exos groaned as I pushed him back, my tongue already traveling downward to lick up the mess I’d made.
“Claire…,” he cautioned.
“Shh.” I needed this. Neededhim. My body ached with weakness, my heart not fully whole.
I don’t want to think, I decided, indulging in the motions instead of my thoughts. I could analyze my body later. For now, I wanted to mate. To complete the bond we’d started. To consummate our link.
Some part of me questioned that logic.
A hint of the Claire of old.
But the Claire of new pushed worry and concern out the window, the fae inside me flourishing to the forefront.
