“I believe the best course of action is to take… one… step… at… a time,” he said, pausing between words to kiss down my neck, making me moan as I arched into him.
“Well, I do like where those steps are taking you,” I teased playfully, winking at him when he glanced up at me from where he was kissing the side of my breast. He chuckled at that before purposely looking down, telling me,
“Steps I plan to enjoy… immensely,” he hummed before making his way to the center where he licked out at my nipple, making it pebble instantly. I moaned again, but unfortunately, it was drowned out by the sound of sudden pounding on the door.
“I swear I am buying an island without any fucking doors,” he grumbled before snapping at the door,
“This better be fucking important, Torin, as in life or death, or someone will die!”
“Wye!”I scolded, making him grin down at me, but it vanished just as quickly. No, now it looked like the life suddenly drained out of him the second Torin shouted through the door,
“It’s Iridessa…”
“Is she alright?” Wye asked immediately, the concern in his eyes unmistakable now, cutting through everything else as his body stilled above me. A sense of worry that seemed founded when Torin replied back…
“No, she’s…”
“She’s dying.”
26
SINISTER SMILES
“Wye, did you hear what I said? You need to come, now!” Torin shouted through the door, and something in my chest tightened at the reaction. Because it made one thing painfully clear, whoever this woman was,she mattered.
He moved without another word, rolling off me as he dragged the covers up over my body before crossing the room in a storm of motion. He was completely unbothered by the fact that he was still naked when he reached the door and pulled it open.
“Tell me,” He ordered darkly. I pulled the covers tighter around myself as I sat up, pressing my back against the padded headboard, my attention fixed on the doorway as Torin spoke.
“She was dumped through a portal, right at Walder’s feet. She’s unconscious… and she’s injured.” I watched as Wye’s back tensed at that, every muscle tightening as though bracing for impact.
“How bad is it?” he asked, his voice lower now, more dangerous for it.
“Fuck, Wye…” Torin exhaled roughly, dragging a hand down his face before continuing,
“It’s bad. Walder has a healer with her now, but…” he trailed off, shaking his head, and for the first time since I had seen him, Torin looked shaken. Like something far too close to breaking was clawing its way to the surface.
“Where is she?” Wye demanded, already turning away, grabbing his clothes from the floor and pulling them on with quick, efficient movements.
Torin’s gaze flicked briefly toward me, acknowledging me just enough not to be rude before returning to Wye.
“She’s in one of the rooms down the hall. Walder’s there… and so is the Kobalos demon.”
At that, Wye’s head snapped up.
“Why the fuck is that cretin there?!” he snapped, the sudden venom in his tone making me flinch as I realized exactly who he was referring to.
“He was there when she appeared,” Torin replied quickly.
“Said he recognized the sickness. Walder and I thought it might be important.” Wye didn’t respond immediately, but I saw it in the way his jaw tightened. In the way something colder settled behind his eyes as he finished pulling on his shirt, his movements meticulous, yet edged with something that felt dangerously close to slipping.
Then he turned back to me and the shift in him was immediate. Gone was the silent fury, replaced instead by something far more focused. As he crossed the room in a few quick strides before reaching out, the back of his fingers brushing gently down my cheek.
“Get dressed, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice softer now, though the urgency beneath it hadn’t lessened.
“Torin will wait outside for you and bring you straight to me. Be quick for me, yeah.” His touch lingered as his thumbtraced slowly across my bottom lip, the gesture almost absent, as though he hadn’t realized he was doing it. I nodded, my breath catching slightly as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead, one that felt… heavier somehow.
Almost reluctant.
