He rose as well and hesitated. He wanted to approach. I could feel it. But he held himself back and I knew why.
I know you don’t trust me yet.
He wouldn’t make a move, not a single move, until I did.
“Touch me,” I told him and his eyes flared a brilliant silver as desire surged through him so strong that I felt it through our bond without even trying.
I had to steady myself as he reached out, letting one finger trail slowly from my shoulder down to my wrist.
“I’m here,” I whispered, gripping his hand as it dropped to my own. “I’m whole.”
He looked away from me, down to where our hands were clasped together, and took a deep breath.
“Why do I feel like I’m always a moment away from losing you?” he asked, his voice just as low.
“I think,” I started and then paused, considering my words. “I think we’ve lost each other enough to last a lifetime.”
His eyes flicked to mine, craving me, devouring me. And I could feel every part of that ache in my very bones. I closed my eyes and let his desire consume me, the raging wind of his want swirling all around me, encompassing me in a warmth that was utterly, unapologetically his. I prepared myself to give into him, to surrender myself to all the barely restrained sexual tension between us, and I could tell that he sensed my surrender. He moved forward, leaning toward me as he wrapped an arm around my waist and I burned at his touch.
“Ren,” he whispered my name like a prayer and I ignited.
But suddenly I could sense another presence in the room. Shadows I hadn’t realized had formed faded away to reveal a familiar older woman standing a few feet away, her eyebrow arched and her wild hair swinging.
“Neglecting our training, are we?” Gemini Morningstar scolded with a click of her tongue as her nephew let out an agonized groan.
Chapter thirty-one
A True Gem
Larkhadextricatedhimselffrom me with what appeared to have been a monumental effort. He ran a hand through his still-drying hair as he paced away from his aunt, clearly unwilling to look at her while still in such a state. She watched him with something like amusement. If Gemini Morningstar ever allowed herself to be amused. He took a deep breath and then another, flexing his fingers and clenching them into fists. I bit my lip to keep from snickering at his behavior. Of course, I was disappointed at the sudden appearance of a chaperone as well but his reaction was borderline ludicrous.
“What are you doing here, Aunt Gem?” he asked, still not looking at her.
“You didn’t think I’d recognize my own niece when she popped up in the middle of the street and snatched away my pupil?” Gemini chided, shaking her head so that her wild locks shifted back and forth on her shoulders. “I’m old, boy, not blind.”
“We’ve been gone for days.”
“I had other matters to attend to. Your father, for one. It was fairly difficult to convince him the Court of Friends hadn’t stolen away his most prized hostage while keeping who it really was a secret. But I imagine you didn’t think about that when you conspired to help her escape, did you?”
To his credit, Lark looked properly scolded at that. He blinked at her for a moment before allowing a sigh.
“I’m sorry, Aunt,” he told her. “We meant to send word, but became a little preoccupied.”
“Oh, I can see that,” she rebuked, nodding her head toward where we had been standing, entwined, when she’d appeared. “Is this tea?”
She was reaching for my cup. I nodded and so she lifted it and took a sip.
“I hate traveling,” she said. “Always leaves me parched. Now, what’s all this? I thought you’d be halfway back to Ariadne by now, girl.”
“I told her the truth, Aunt Gem,” Lark said, his gaze narrowing.
“Which is?” she asked, brow raised.
“The same as I told it the first time.”
“Ah, the truth then.”
“You knew?” I asked, lips parting in surprise as I stared at the woman sipping my tea.
