“What are you saying?”
“You know.”
Lucenna’s heart beat so fast it was hard to breathe. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t say it when you’re leaving.”
“I always planned to come back, lass.” Klyde drew her close, his nose trailing over her cheek, and her eyes stung with relief and fear for wanting this. “If you don’t want to hear it, then in place of it, I will tell you that when I close my eyes, you’re all I see.” His voice vibrated through her. “My life started the moment I laid eyes on you.”
She flushed. “When I was an old hag in a witch’s den?”
“I saw you before that, in the city. In your leather redingote, silver hair swaying like streams of stars, and eyes that reminded me of twilight. Once you yelled at me, I was completely, irrevocably done for.”
She cracked a smile. “Why?”
Klyde’s mouth hitched on one end, and his fingers stroked down her arm. “Apparently, I am a fool for a woman who can destroy me with a snap of her fingers or a lashing of her tongue. Regardless of whatever consequences entering your life has brought to mine, I will never once regret it.”
Lucenna warmed under his touch. He leaned in, but she slipped out of his range, eyeing him slyly as she backed away. “You say that now, but what if we wake up one day and realize last night was a mistake?”
“What is living without making a lifetime of mistakes?” Klyde rose to his feet and prowled toward her, forcing her to retreat until he cornered her against the wall. He dipped down, and the low rumble of his voicepurred against her ear, sending a little shiver down her spine. “I suggest we continue making several more.”
Her body tingled with delight at the thought.
“If we are going to be together, promise me one thing.” Lucenna pulled out the chain holding the four-leaf clover from his pocket. She slipped it over his head, laying it over his heart. “Never take this off.”
Because the Magos Empire would come for her again, and she needed to make sure he wouldn’t be another casualty in her life.
“I promise.” Klyde buried his hands in her hair, rendering her molten beneath the demanding press of his mouth. Gods, she loved the way he kissed her. She wanted to keep kissing him, to lose herself in him. To feel safe and warm for as long as possible.
“Stay,” she breathed. “Stay in Sellav until the end of spring.”
He paused, pulling back a little to meet her eyes.
Lucenna looked up at him, never feeling more vulnerable. “I know you must return to Skelling Rise. It’s selfish of me, but I can finally admit to myself that I want something. And I don’t want you to go.”
He groaned as if it were torture. “Don’t look at me that way, lass. The last thing I want is to leave.”
“Then don’t. Not yet.”
The way he beheld her, with such soft adoration. It made her feel like she had reached a turning point in her life. When things would change into something new.
Klyde’s fingers curled around her chin and gently lifted her mouth to his with a defeated sigh. “Then I will stay right here with you a little longer more.”
CHAPTER 92
Dynalya
Dyna listened to Cassiel’s steady breaths as she watched him sleep. She kept her fingers on his wrist, constantly checking for a pulse.Come back to me,she sent through the bond.Please. But there was no answer. Her mind felt heavy and her body tired. She needed rest, but Dyna was afraid if she looked away, he would disappear.
A soft knock came at the door, and Zev poked his head in. “Dyna,” he called softly. Concerned lined his eyes at the sight of her. “You haven’t slept yet, have you? It’s nearly dawn.”
She glanced tiredly at the windows. The darkness had shifted to a dull gray with the imminent arrival of morning. She had lost count of how many mornings it had been.
Dyna’s throat tightened. “Why won’t he wake?”
“He will,” Zev said, coming to her side. But even he watched Cassiel worriedly.
“How do you know?”
“Because for all of his efforts, Cassiel could never stay away from you.” Zev patted her shoulder. “I can sit with him. You haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. Go have a cup of tea at least. I will let you know if anything changes.”
