I stroked his face. “I’m not just surviving anymore. I’mliving.And it’s because of you, Lore.”
He slid his arms back around me, and his mouth found mine before I could take a breath. The world narrowed to the heat of his mouth and the possessive way his hands stroked my back.
I melted into him and deepened our kiss. He tasted of warmth and longing, as if every slow-burning look he’d ever given me had finally sparked to flame. His hand slid up into my hair, tilting my head back, and I moaned, clinging to his shirt.
He kissed me like he’d been holding himself back and was finally, finally done waiting. Heat curled low in my belly, and I leaned into the promise of him. But even as I lost myself in his touch, part of me remained alert, listening for footsteps in the corridor, for any sign that our time was running out.
I broke the kiss, my lips tingling, my chest heaving like I’d run up three flights of stairs. Clinging to his shirt while hishands stroked my hips, my spine, even cupping my ass, I rested my forehead against his chest.
“As much as I want you…” I whispered, my words barely audible. “We don’t have time to lose ourselves like this.”
His eyes burned, not just with hunger but with the frustration of knowing I was right. He stepped back slowly, dragging his hands down my arms, his fingertips grazing the inside of my wrists in a way that made my knees weaken. Still, he let me go.
“You’re very distracting, you know,” I said, managing a crooked smile as armor against the sadness I didn’t want to feel right now.
He gave me a wolfish grin in return. “Am I?”
Before I could react, my back hit the wall beside the fireplace. He lifted my wrists over my head, pinning them with one hand. His lips grazed my jaw, trailing lower, nipping at my skin. It was all I could do to remain standing. I wanted to take his hand and drag him to the bedroom.
The scrape of his teeth against my throat made everything inside me quiver.
If this is all we ever have,he said,it’s enough. Know this. Don’t mourn for me.
My throat tightened, and my heart twisted so hard it hurt. I blinked fast, willing the tears back before they betrayed me.
Tugging my hands free, I caught his jaw, pulling him closer until our foreheads touched.I will die for you, Lore. Do anything for you. But you do not get to tell me I cannot mourn. I’ll break. There’s no way around that. Which is why we’re going to save you.
His eyes searched mine. For once, he didn’t argue.
We stayed like that while the storm of everything we hadn’t said surged under the surface. Then he stepped back.
Reality crashed in. Naveer's trials. Dorion's desperation. The talisman we still needed to find. We moved to the bedroom, theheat between us banked but not extinguished. The moment the door shut behind us, I crossed to the armoire and pulled out the black leathers I used for training. The supple fabric was well loved and worn, but it hugged curves without squeaking and was whisper silent when I moved. I stripped quickly and slid into the outfit piece by piece, fastening each clasp with barely a thought.
At the dresser, I cinched my belt and clipped on the sheaths. The twin daggers Lore had made for me nestled into place at my hips, their hilts smooth and familiar beneath my fingertips.
Behind me, Lore finished strapping a curved blade to his thigh. “Just like a regular night in the tower,” he said without a touch of humor.
“Exactly.” I tilted my head toward the bathing area. “Can you give me a moment or two?”
“Of course.” He sat on the edge of the bed and Farris wiggled over for pats.
I hurried into the bathing area and shut the door.
I'd been thinking about that portrait since dinner, the way those painted eyes had seemed to track my movement. If there was any chance the former queen could provide answers…
Would flitting work for me now? Closing my eyes, I pictured the dining room, Naveer’s chair, and the portrait behind it. I added power.
A blink and I stood peering up at the former queen.
Her eyes locked on mine.
“You were speaking to me,” I said softly. “Tell me why or I’m gone.”
Davalon’s lips curved up on one side.I’m grateful you heard me.Her voice echoed through my mind like dried leaves scraping across stone.So few can.
“What do you want?”
To warn you about my daughter's hunger.The painted queen's expression shifted, becoming almost maternal.
