“Have you not listened to my stories?” Kaleida asks, wiping Milo’s cheek with her pinky and licking it clean. “I’ve been telling you guys for years that food was actually good before the Separation.”
“That’s not good food,” I say. “He makes his own cheese in his apartment bathroom.”
Sypher pokes a sandwich, leaving a finger-shaped impression behind in the crusted top. “What’s wrong with bars?”
“Nothing until you’ve actually tried something else,” Kelter says. “I know what to get. It’s a little far. We can stop by my place for money first.”
“Since when do you take charge?” I ask him, leaving my suspicion unsaid.Is it the Eli in you?
Kelter shrugs, no bitterness in his response. “I still remember my first meal in Caldera after eight years of bars. I want to make it memorable for them.”
But another thought hits me, and I can’t help but feel as if my mind serves them up in an attempt to stave off happiness. “You want it because you plan on leaving me here and never coming back.”
Kelter runs a hand through his golden hair and down his neck. “I told you there’s nothing here for me.”
“I didn’t even want to come back!”
Kelter’s fists roll into balls, an unsettling glint in his eyes as if he might actually use them to inflict pain, but it’s Eli who lets the growl escape him.
“Enough!”
“Enough what?” I snap. “What areyouupset about? Did the border bruise your balls on the way in?”
Eli reaches for my throat, eyes near black, invisible darkness billowing around him. “I’m trying to keep your stubborn ass safe.”
I lift my chin. “Go ahead.”Enjoy the pain of touching me.
He freezes, his hand so close that his coldness hits my neck. I shudder, goosebumps pebbling my skin.
His hand still hovering at my throat, Eli looks toward Kelter. “Take Sypher, Milo and Kaleida with you to get food. We’ll meet you at Never’s place.”
“Why should I let you take off with her? How do I know she won’t end up dead by your hands?”
“Because you don’t have a choice.” Eli pulls his hand away slowly. “And if I decide to kill her, I’m sure I’d have the decency to wait a bit. She was stabbed only hours ago.”
I roll my shoulders back, not sure what to believe. Or if he’s even capable of decency.
“The pain relief is about to wear off, and I suggest we get out of the street before you start screaming,” Eli says.
“You’re—” Kelter argues.
“Go.” Eli doesn’t even raise his voice, but his command reaches my toes.
Kelter forces out a sigh. “Don’t take any detours, Ever. Go straight inside and wait for me. I’ll bring your favorite for dinner, okay?”
Eli scoffs. “Her favorite thing to eat is my—”
I plant my palm on his chest, sending him barrelling back in pain. “We both know that’s a lie.”
Kelter gasps and loses his balance out of nowhere. Then his freckled nose twists with contempt before he takes off, beckoning the others to follow.
“Liar. You were too much of a coward to let me suck you off,” I say as soon as they round the corner out of sight.
A small sound leaves his throat, a hum of delight. “Did I fuck you so hard you forgot? I was very clear I wanted to come in your pussy before I fuck your face, and watching you choke on my cock would have been too much to resist.” He leans in close, too close. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be your favorite, little Never.”
I fight for air, trapped in the heated storm he awakened inside me. “We’re never going to find out. And also, I don’t need to rest.”
“I know. I wanted to get rid of them.” He’s calm again, gold puddling in his eyes.
