He cast me a grin of his own.His eyes were glazed from the alcohol.“Me too,” he said as he leaned down and kissed me.
I felt a tentacle slip between us, but Bane didn’t push it away.
“Get a room!”Wanda drawled, but it was not mean or sarcastic as she usually spoke.It was fun, light.
We all laughed as the chariot slid into the hangar.When we got out, stumbling like the drunk twenty-somethings we were, I noticed the thick, black night.The stars shone so bright, I couldn’t help but feel in awe.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured.
“Yes, it is,” Desmond said, his voice far away.“It makes me think of home.”
I glanced over to see Delaney at his side, her hand pressed to his back.
“Tír na nÓg?”Delaney asked.
Desmond nodded.“The most beautiful darkness is the one touched by light,” he murmured.
We all dispersed, one by one, knowing it was late and we would likely hear about our departure in the morning.
“Let me walk you,” Bane said, and I did not fight him.
I did not wait for Wanda or Delaney, for it seemed they had their own escorts.
It was a quiet walk back to the quarters.
Bane settled in front of my door and I had every desire to grab him by his shirt and pull him into my bedroom, into my bed and kiss him until I couldn’t breathe.To curl up to his fire and fall asleep again.
But I knew better than to press my luck.
“Thank you,” I said.
“For what?I didn’t do anything.”
I shook my head.“For being my spark,” I said softly.“For making the world stop for just a little.”
Bane gave me a delicious smirk as he said, “Anything for myprincess.”
And when he kissed me, I swore I saw stars bloom in the darkness behind my eyes.
CHAPTER12
Bane
It had been nearlya week since Desmond had arrived at the castle, and nearly a week since we’d all made the trip into town and spent our afternoon and evening at Cheeky’s.
Violet and myself had been busy with our courses, between meals, and had not been able to steal as much time as we’d wished.It seemed the only time we were able to steal away was after breakfast and dinner with our friends.
Which wouldn’t have been so terrible in itself if I could have spent my courses alone, but...
It appeared that Amaranth and the O’Neil’s thought Desmond should spend more time withme.
My excitement was short-lived.Sure, it was a good indication perhaps Iwouldbe confirmed.I didn’t think the queen or her frienemies would be sage enough to order Desmond in my presence if they did not think the alliance was beneficial in some way, and if there truly was a treaty, what better PR was there than to form some sort offriendshipwith the man?
But Desmond was annoying at best.He’d been subjected to learning the things I was, and it was clear he was already well-versed.Which made him cocky.He constantly tried to step in and tell me, or teach me, and I did not wish to learn fromhim.I barely wanted to learn from Fergy.
“You do know how to swim, right?”he asked as we sauntered down the hall.
Today was especially hot, and as such, the queen had relented and ordered a respite for us while she and Violet spent the afternoon together.We hadn’t spoken of Desmond’s confession, though I was curious.An incubus’s heat was tantamount to their development.I’d never met another incubus who hadn’t gone through one, and I was fascinated at the thought.
