Oh? Good.
“So, yeah… that’s all. I’m still loyal to you.”
“And what if I turned against her, which side would you choose?”
I didn’t want to choose sides, didn’t want to be part of the battle I sensed was coming.
“Yours,” I said, but my words were a little too quick, tooforced and we both noticed it. Yet I couldn’t afford to get any closer to Izzy. As much as I wanted her, my body and soul crying out for her… if I remained near her, she’d overwhelm me.
It had been torture last night, sitting in the same room while she’d fucked Myel. That angel’s screen of light had done nothing to dampen the sexual musk which had filled the room and made my entire body sing. I’d wanted to be with her and Myel so damned much it had twisted my soul
No woman had ever affected me like that.
No womanshouldaffect me like that. Incubi weren’t meant to be with only one woman.
I shouldn’t want to help her, hold her, be there for her. But I did. And now… if she died in this desperate gamble to put her on the throne?
No… I needed to step back, get away from her, distance myself.
If I gave in to these feelings, then I’d be banking on her somehow living through all the trials ahead of her. She’d have to beat Saldrea, then beat Valnea, then convince the elves a half-blood was worthy on the throne. The odds of her doing all of that and becoming queen were astronomical. But only then, once she was safe, could I let my feelings be known. Yet even as queen, she’d never truly be safe.
Hence, neither would my heart.
That was why I needed to get away from her, stop thinking about her.
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t forget the feel of her in my arms, how she tasted, the sounds of her soft sighs and pleading moans. I couldn’t get over how much I simply wished to hold her close and feel her warmth, to protect her and help her, and be her friend, which was so very wrong for an incubus.
Caring only led to heartache and pain.
Love was dangerous. Period.
I wouldn’t let what happened to my mother happen to me.
Svokol grumbled something, words I couldn’t quite make out, a bad habit of his. Then he raised his voice and said, “Just… keep your head screwed on.” His tone held a warning. “I get the feeling times are about to get… interesting, and that won’t be good for any of us.
The dwarven ability for understatement was astounding.
“I’ll do what I can,” I said.
Svokol told me I could stay in his residence on campus, then dismissed me. I headed straight for the nobles’ residence, since it wouldn’t be safe to return to my room to retrieve my things. For now, I’d stick close to my master… and try not to think about the doomed woman who’d somehow stolen my heart.
IZZY
“We knewshe was going to do something, but this…” Safir shook his head as he paced the large living area in Olinara’s house.
He and I had received multiple texts. He from Myel and various other sources on campus and me from Myel and Rook. Myel’s text seemed concerned. Rook’s had been clinical, just the facts.
Lhorine had only just begun going over the fundamentals of earth magic when the messages had come in. That would have to wait now.
Olinara — I still had trouble calling her grandma or grandmother, it was easier to think of her as a friend or distant cousin — sat in thought, mulling over our options. At least today, she wore more than a flimsy robe, if not much more. Her white blouse strained against her chest, far too many buttons undone. Between the sheer fabric and how much skin was showing, it was clear she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her skirt, if it could be called that, was a tiny scrap of fabric which barely covered her necessities. I couldn’t takeher seriously when she dressed like this. Yet she seemed to be taking my predicament very seriously.
Lhorine sighed. “It’s the perfect strategy for Saldrea. Either you leave or she gets a state sanctioned way to kill you without making a fuss.”
“You’re assuming I won’t win,” I said, though I wasn’t confident I could either.
Everyone looked at me.
“What!” I said, throwing up my arms. “You expect me to just… leave? Go home, forget about everything here?”
