Will’s hand curled around Aya’s hip as he tugged her roughly into him, the sliver of skin between her leggings and sweater warm as his fingers settled there.
‘What are you doing?’ she demanded.
‘You’ve snuck down an alley once tonight already. Twice would be a bit conspicuous, don’t you think? We’ll have this conversation here.’
His other hand found hers, her skin so at odds with her; soft and warm and buzzing with something he couldn’t make out with his affinity.
Aya blinked up at him as he started to move them to the beat of the music.
‘And they call you a spy,’ he chided.
She stumbled, her body stiff in his arms. Will merely pulled her closer, his fingers weaving through hers.
‘It might actually kill you to let me lead,’ he smirked as he spun her once before pulling her back into his chest.
‘I’d resist only to deny you the pleasure of my death.’
‘Lovely,’ he muttered. ‘You’re going to draw even more attention than you did by strutting off with Mathias if you don’t at least pretend you can stand being near me.’
Aya gazed down at their bodies. He could feel every warm line of her.
‘This is far more thannear,’ she said flatly.
‘Humor me.’ He bent his head, his chin pressing against her temple as they swayed. She took a deep breath, and he felt her muscles relax slightly; then more as the song continued, her body eventually molding to his as the music crested and fell and crested again.
To anyone else, they were just another pair swept up in the slow, dripping melody that wove through the winter air. They’d have no idea they were discussing something – or that Aya was likely debating shoving the blade strapped to her back into his chest.
Will’s fingers slipped to the base of her spine, her skin pebbling beneath them as he brushed against the hilt of the knife there. His chuckle rumbled against them both. ‘Ishould’ve known.’ His lips brushed the shell of her ear as he whispered, ‘So what’s so urgent, Aya love?’
He didn’t want to think about why her body shivered.
‘Ronan is dead.’
Will knew she could feel the way his muscles tensed, but she didn’t bother to look at him as she continued. ‘Mathias vows they had no involvement in it, and that Narina found him this afternoon with a stab wound. They suspect he’s been dead for days.’
‘Prior to the Squal?’
She nodded.
‘Doesn’t mean the bastard isn’t lying,’ Will muttered.
‘I’ll get Lena on it.’ The Persi could persuade her way through the city without blinking an eye.
‘No.’ The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it. ‘Let me talk to her,’ he continued, forcing his tone to smooth. Lena owed him a favor – one he’d have to redeem for this mess. He didn’t need Aya meddling in this any further.
Surprisingly, Aya didn’t press him on it. She merely tilted her head back, her blue eyes searching his. ‘If Mathias is somehow involved in whatever is unfolding with Kakos …’
‘I know what’s at stake.’ He didn’t need her reminding him of what had to be done – of whathe’dhave to do, should the worst come.
They paused as the music came to a close, a smattering of applause breaking out across the square while the band readied for another song.
‘See,’ he said, his arms still wrapped around her waist, his fingers marking steady circles on her skin before he could convince himself to stop. ‘You didn’t die. In fact, I’d say you enjoyed it.’
His eyes dragged down her body, taking in every place she’d sunken into him.
Color stole across Aya’s cheeks as she opened her mouth, likely to curse him, but the words died on her lips as a piercing howl ripped through the air.
It was followed by screams.
