They were never meant to, because I was only supposed to get close enough to steal from them. The truth of those dark days twinges inside me like an old scar. But now, safe in their arms, I let the words come like I’m stripping away my armor: slow, stalling words that I’ve never said to anyone but Aronael before.
"I lived on the streets before Aron found me. Having compulsively and chronically sticky fingers helped me make–steal–enough to eat. There were a few shelters but I'm not..."
"Human."
"Yeah, and the human shelters could sense something was wrong with me. Most didn't let me stay for long. I don't know what would have happened to me if not for Aron."
"But he found you."
"He did," I yawn. It was the first time I remember feeling safe, but that relief, a warm bed and food in my belly, pales to what I feel now.
"You’re safe now, too," Yaelyn promises, speaking for the first time since I started my tale of woe. When I open my mouth to protest, he tilts my head up and silences me with a kiss. "We'll protect you. I swear it."
"You're too good to a criminal like me," I mumble, dropping my head back down, snuggling into him until I can hear his heartbeat, strong and steady.
"One more question, Luce."
"Anything."
"Did you love us the way we loved you?"
"More," I whisper. More than I was supposed to, more than I ever thought possible. More than I’ll ever be able to come back from.
Yaelyn brushes the sweetest kiss across my lips and says just a single word before sleep claims me. "Impossible."
CHAPTER5
YAELYN
Idon't sleep. Instead, I soak in the contentment radiating from the two halves of my heart. Because that's what Lucy has become to me, the half of my heart I've been missing. I fought it for the longest time, guilt-ridden over my feelings for her. I was never supposed to love another woman after we lost Lux, but loving Lucy just came so easily. Being with her always felt right in a way that used to make me feel ashamed. But Lucy gave me plenty of time to think when she left us–and the ache of her absence was familiar.
It was like losing Lux all over again. Though the thief betrayed us, used us in the worst way, I longed for her as I had only ever longed for Lux.
I questioned it until Lucy was back in our arms, screaming out her pleasure. Despite her flaws, I'm not wrong to love this woman. Fate or some ancient curse has brought us together again and it feels far too right for me to question it any longer.
She may be a thief who makes questionable decisions, but she'sourthief. There's something special about her, something that draws us to her like moths to a flame, something I don't believe she's aware of or understands, but I mean to figure it out.
Reznik's breathing evens out as the demon falls to sleep, and his joy is like sunshine for my soul. It's been so long since I've seen him happy–truly happy.
But that's not the only sunshine shining upon us.
I ease away from Lucy just enough to see the faint glow radiating from her chest, just above her bare breasts. The unmistakable glow of a sun shard.
Ten people in the entirety of my lifetime have been able to hold a sun shard within them, and I'm starting to suspect just who Lucy might be.
* * *
I dream walked oftenafter Lucy left us, slipping into Rez's dreams, seeking out comfort in our sleeping minds. It was unintentional, my wounded soul reaching out for solace. But this... this is different. I fell asleep more at peace than I've been in months, and there's no fear, no panic driving this dream.
Only pure, hot desire, Lucy on her knees before me, her hands held over her head in one of mine. I slip the tip of my tail into her slit and thrust slowly into her tight cunt. She takes me into her mouth and moans around me as I work my tail into her, as I tighten my hold on her wrists, forcing her breasts out and up for my appraisal. I stroke her cheek with my other hand. "Is this your doing, Mischief?"
She smiles around my cock and winks. I have no idea when she learned to dothis, to walk into my dreams the way I used to walk into hers.Cheeky, precious, perfect thief. There's a plea in those sparkling blue eyes, a yearning for me to take my pleasure from her, to fuck her perfect mouth until I find completion. To dominate her.
I groan as her lips tighten around me, as she takes me to the root, but I know what she wants. I cup her jaw in my hand, draw back and then thrust hard into her mouth, plunging my tail into her at the same time. She whimpers around my cock as her cunt squeezes me. Tears well in the corners of her eyes, but she blinks once, slowly. Our wordlessyes.
I fuck her mouth with abandon, quick, deep strokes, sliding over her tongue into her throat, the wet heat of her mouth a bliss I've yearned for for so long.
Then she lets out a keening cry and vanishes from my dream, anguish on her beautiful face.
