“Zeek was there, thank the bloody Goddess. He took Amon away and… that’s it.” She wipes at her face, and the tears sink into her fabric gloves. “He’s probably wondering what he did wrong to have a bond like me. An unstable necromancer who can’t even touch people without—” Her words cut off as more tears fall.
I want to reach out and comfort her, but I know I can’t. But my power has touched her before, so I let fine shadows coast over her, snipping away at her heavy dread.
“Kacey,” I say softly, lowering my face to catch her gaze. “You’re thinking the worst. Have you tried, y’know, actually speaking to him? Can’t you text him?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t even know what I’d say, J.‘Hey, sorry for losing it and making my ghosts appear because I touched your arm. Hope you don’t think I’m too much of a freak but totally get it if you want to reje—’” She chokes on that final word.
I shuffle nearer, still keeping a gap between our knees. “Let me speak to Ezekial. I’ll see if Amon has said anything. Would that help?”
She pauses for a moment, then her watery eyes reach mine. She sniffs. “You sure?”
My lips fall into an easy smile. “Of course, I’m sure. I’m also sure that you’re wrong about Amon and what he’s thinking.”
She rolls her eyes, rubbing hard at her face, causing red splotches to appear. “Yeah, well. It’s what I’d be thinking. He’s a dragon shifter, J. A dragon. And his bond is me? Like,what?”
I scowl—though I try to keep it light. Not the ‘scary face’ Kacey has previously mentioned.
“I need you to stop talking about yourself like that, Kacey.”
Judging by her blanching, I’m not doing a great job softening the ‘scary face’. Or maybe it’s the tone I didn’t mean to lower.
I cough and try again, meeting her gaze head-on.
“You are kind, loyal, and brave.” I hold her eyes, willing her to believe it. “You are a woman with immense power.”
She stares at me, mouth parting at my words. “You think I’m brave?” she whispers.
“Yes, Kacey.” I smile. “So, I’ll speak to Ezekial and then we’ll go from there. And no more talking badly about yourself.” I harden my gaze briefly, then smile again. “Sound like a plan?”
She nods, grinning back.
Thankfully, Kacey doesn’t ask again for a repeat of last night’s meeting.
Not like I haven’t replayed it in my mind all night long.
I had to.
Because when I didn’t distract myself with something else, all I could do was feel Ezekial.
His presence always feels like warm waves brushing over me, easing me, but last night there were… spikes. Fluctuations in those lulling tides that made me feel anythingbutcalm.
Their proposal worked. Better than I could’ve imagined.
When the spikes had calmed, I fell into a deep, soundless, nightmareless sleep.
But still… I couldn’t help comparing it to sleeping with Kane. I wasn’t sure anything could beat that, which terrifies me a little. I’d never ask for it. But if he offered—if I twisted the truth,implied the arrangement hadn’t quite worked… maybe they’d propose...
I bite the inside of my cheek.
What am I thinking?
No.
This is a friendship…
But sometimes friends sleep together. It can be innocent. Harmless.
But the heated desire that rushed through me when I finally touched Kane’s hair wasfarfrom innocent.
