His gaze snapped to her. There was something special about the way he looked at her, as if she was the greatest mystery to be solved. His eyes held a spiral of emotions. She was sure the fire brewing behind them had nothing to do with the flames in front of them.
“I was right. The first time we met. I was right about you.” The air between them was electrifying, charged with wonder and want. Somehow, they had both moved closer, their knees touching. “You are special. In more ways than one.”
The corner of her lip turned up as her breath caught. “Go on. Just how special?”
His answering grin made her heart beat faster, increasing the fire in her veins. “You’re…an especially special pain in my ass.”
Laughter was spilling out of her, as free as the fire igniting inside of her.
Eyden’s eyes wandered over her face as his expression changed into something different, something wicked. The heat in his eyes made her laughter fade, replacing it with anticipation.
His eyes stopped at her lips and the light feeling in her core began to tighten into something more. She could feel his breath on her lips as their heads moved closer, compelled by something unexplainable. Something magical.
Her eyes drifted to Eyden’s lips as her own parted slightly. Lora felt the pull as they both froze. So close. The space between them almost non-existent. A moment of hesitation, of delicious anticipation.
Eyden’s smirk undid her, broke the last string holding her back as the fire spurred her on.
No more waiting.
No more holding back.
Her lips met his in an explosion of sensations. The fire increased, overriding her every thought.
At the first brush of his lips, a piece fell into place. Lora didn’t know why she’d been so insistent on holding back. It seemed ludicrous to deny herself this feeling of being a living flame.
She was melting under Eyden’s hand as he touched her cheek and deepened the kiss. His lips parting hers, his tongue caressing her own. Her hand found its way into Eyden’s hair, pulling him closer still, as she’d wanted to do so many times.
Her body tensed as his other hand drifted to her waist, under her jacket, scorching her skin through the thin fabric of her sweater. She leaned into the touch, embracing it. Encouraging it on. She was letting herself feel it all. His soft groan mirrored her thoughts and her hand tightened in his hair, wanting to keep him there forever.
Distantly, Lora realised she’d gotten her answer. She couldn’t remember why she’d ever questioned it. How could anything be bad when it felt so right? When his touch invoked this fire within her that she didn’t know existed?
In this moment, nothing else mattered. There were no lies, no unfulfilled promises.
Nothing was holding her back as she fully embraced this insane feeling fuelling the fire in her veins.
Chapter41
Amira
Amira had spent the whole day thinking about Rhay’s behaviour the previous day. Nouis had warned her that his son’s moods were fleeting, but she had stupidly assumed that Rhay valued their friendship. Apparently, he didn’t value it as much as he did his friendship with Karwyn.
She buried her head in her pillow. Her life in Parae felt dull without the presence of Rhay to distract her. Karwyn still considered her useless and had no interest in her. Once again, she was all alone. Same feeling, different place.
Amira squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep the tears at bay. When she opened them again, she saw a figure towering over her. Frightened, she sprung up, almost falling off her bed.
“You’re not ready yet?” said Varsha.
Amira tried to catch her breath. “Why? What for?” She tried to remember if she had made plans with Varsha, but nothing came to her.
“Rhay’s party has already started. Let’s go together,” Varsha answered.
Amira rubbed her eyes. “I don’t think he’d want me there. He didn’t invite me.”Because of Karwyn.
“Nonsense, he’s your friend.”
“Not anymore, apparently.” His mind had been poisoned by his best friend.
Varsha sat on Amira’s bed. “What did the bastard do?” Varsha said with a smirk. She had been living in the palace far longer than Amira and had probably seen Rhay’s shifting behaviour before.
