I eyed the yellow and blue bags slung over her forearms. “I guess so. I think I bought enough shoes earlier. But maybe I still need—”
A soft vampire growl emitted from behind the clothes pile.
I quickly bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. “Okay. Okay. We can go.”
“Thank goodness.” She shuffled back around me, her attention squarely on the checkout area. Adelie moved pretty darn well with a bulky tipping load in her arms. “I mean, really? How many black shirts and black pants do you need?”
I trailed behind her, twirling one of my fingers through her red curls. My hair was jet black and straight, down to my shoulder blades—freshly cut an hour ago. I’d always been envious of her beautiful locks, and that hadn’t changed. I mumbled, “Some are sweaters and such.”
I quickly stopped playing with her hair as she leaned forward, lest I yank her head back.
My clothes tumbled onto the cashier’s table.
Adelie sighed in relief, adjusting my shoe bags down to her gripping fists by her sides. As the cashier worked to ring me up, my friend asked candidly, “With this amount of shopping—aka procrastination—how nervous are you for your meeting with the overlords?”
I ground my teeth together and peered to the side.
No comment from me. The tables had turned.
“Ah.” Her head bobbed in understanding. “So, you’re so nervous you feel like wetting your pants or puking. Got it.”
I rubbed my stomach. The closer we traveled to the castle, the worse the compulsion became. But I was fighting it as hard as I could.
Because my friend was right.
My brows puckered and my honest eyes met hers. “This iseverything.”
Adelie held my gaze without flinching. “And you will be fine. You will prosper. You’ve trained for this your whole life.” She repeated her words, her voice soothing my nerves. “You will be fine, Gwen. I have faith you will do whatever it takes to make your dream come true.”
I snorted. “Dammit, I better.”
“Damn right, you better. I’m counting on you to do just that.” A sudden sigh deflated her chest, her brows bunching in irritation. She stared off into nothing as if she were being tortured and interrogated. “Fuck. We still have to go weapon shopping.”
A smile curled my lips. “Hell yes, we do.”
CHAPTERFOUR
~KIMBER~
Even though Elex had rushed us from the cave, partly due to his own fear of the walls coming down on us, I insisted on my own schedule when it came to the temple and my announcement.
“Kimber, please, let me—”
“Elex. Stop. I have to do this carefully. This is joy beyond joy, and I have to convey that reverently to the Temple Masters, or they will dismiss me. I cannot go in smelling like dirt and wine.”
“Then let me help you shower. I mean…wait…”
My finger sealed his lips. “Elex. Trust me. I haven’t forgotten your kiss that quickly. But this must be done right. There will be such joy and celebration, but let me go. For now.”
Arms snaked around my waist, and in the next moment, Elex pulled me to him, and we touched from head to toe.
“I have been afraid to show you what you mean to me.”
He slanted his mouth across mine, the kiss soft, deep, and pure fire through my body.
“That,” he whispered across my lips, “was to refresh your memory of what waits for you when you’re done with this.”
“I am reminded,” I breathed.
