Drustan’s eyes were hooded as his lips parted. His pupils were overly blown out again, daring to conceal all of his gold irises.
“Are you ready?” I whispered, stretching on my toes.
Drustan’s hold on my waist tightened, helping me reach his face. He leaned down toward me. We were close enough now that loose strands of his red hair kissed my shoulders.
“Always,” he replied with a shallow exhale.
I nodded, licked my lips, and cautiously stretched higher. I wanted to taste him so badly. Something deep in my DNA loved being wrapped up in his embrace like this. A primal part of my brain kept chantingyes, yes, yes, finally. I was grateful Audrey was gone, so I could enjoy it. But then the pang of guilt stabbed through my core. I waited until our noses bumped, and right before our lips were about to touch, I smiled and said with regret that I couldn’t mask in my voice, “Then you better pull through for us.”
Drustan’s fingers flexed on my waist, and his eyes softened at me in response. A flash of disappointment had flickered across his face as he heard the shift in me, changing my mind at the last possible moment.
“Clever woman,” he muttered. I patted his cheek twice, the second time rough enough to make a gentle slap, before I dropped to my heels. Drustan held me a moment longer before finally releasing his hold on my waist. When I looked up at him, I wasn’t too surprised to see his pupils fighting to dilate again.
“Help us take down your shitty father.” I kept my voice low and intimate, a moment just for us. “And I’ll willingly and happily kiss you. Mouth to mouth. For as long as you want.” Because I would be lying to myself if I said I didn’tdesperatelywant to kiss him in return. That if I was going to do this, I wanted there to be a decent reason for it, so I could enjoy our firstrealkiss.
Drustan heavily exhaled at that, and goddammit, even his breath smelled good to me.
“That’s a dangerous thing to say.” Drustan lifted a finger to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and heat scorched my cheeks. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop once I do.”
“We’ll cross that bridge once we get there.” I grinned at him, because I could. I enjoyed the idea of Drustan wanting me. I closed my lips and gave him a casual shrug. His eyes darkened, his pupils slowly covering the entirety of his eyes again, before Hush suddenly returned.
“Alright,” she clapped her hands, making Drustan blink his eyes back to their natural gold. “We need to get back.”
“Great.” Drustan nodded. “I’ll return Van to her realm.”
I raised a finger at him as soon as he stepped toward me. “I want to stay, like I told Audrey, and you need to deal with it.”
Drustan frowned and retorted, “And if I refuse?”
“I’ll protect her,” Hush argued.
“Yeah.” I jerked a thumb toward her. “Hush will protect me.”
“I can’t,” he grumbled and pressed his fingertips to his temples as he squeezed his eyes closed. “I can’t just live with that.”
“Figure out how to,” I argued. “Because I’m leaving with Hush.”
He grimaced, scraping a hand down his face, as he glared at Hush and uttered, “I’ll escort you two back, then.”
“Fine,” Hush sighed. I didn’t say anything. I just followed her. Drustan strode next to Hush, and I let them have whatever silent conversation that ensued between them while I focused on not tripping over rocks and stray twigs and other random forest debris. Based on the annoyed looks they kept giving each other, I assumed the mental conversation they were having was a heated one.
After a few more moments of heavy silence, I decided to break it.
“I can’t believe you stole my condoms,” I grumbled to Drustan’s back. Hush turned to look back at me with a pinch of confusion in her brows.
Drustan didn’t say anything; he just kept walking.
“Really?” I asked him, “You’re not even going to try to deny it?”
“Why would I deny it?” Drustan retorted, glancing around the woods.
“I guess I just want to understandwhy.” I continued, “Does the idea of me being at risk thrill you?” Drustan stopped, and I had to catch myself before I walked right into his massive back. He turned, revealing his own furrowed brow.
“Why would the idea of my mate being at risk thrill me?”
I raised my eyebrows at him and crossed my arms. “Without condoms, I’m at-risk during sex.”
Hush asked, “What are condoms?” It was my turn to be shocked.Was my assumption that night correct? Did they not have those here?
