Fear prevented her from asking about the ‘my love.’ It wasn’t the first time he’d used the term, and her heart soared higher every time he uttered those words. But she convinced herself it was a turn of phrase, a term of endearment. It didn’t mean heactuallyloved her. He was an immortal star, and she was…her. Nothing special, regardless of this Aztia nonsense. A nobody healer without a tattoo from a tiny village in the desert. A small part of her hoped he meant it literally, though—that she was his. She couldn’t say she loved him, exactly, but she knew she was falling. And hard.
Altair interrupted her thoughts by setting aside the sketchbook and pulling her into his lap. He ran his thumbs along her cheeks until her hair tangled in his fingers. Gently tugging her toward him, he placed a light kiss on her lips. Iyana moaned into his mouth, feeling him harden underneath her yet again. Wetness pooled at her core, and she lifted herself up, settling down on Altair until he was filling her completely. She rocked her hips slowly at first, relishing the deepness while her clit rubbed against his stomach. Altair’s hands found their way to her hips, guiding her through the motions. When the pleasure spiked, she wanted to increase the tempo, but his large hands held her firmly to the slower pace.
“I want to savor you, my star.” He nipped at her lower lip, then trailed kisses along her jaw to her ear. “Gods, you’re perfect. You fit me just right, like you were made for me.”
Iyana’s heart rate doubled, a whimper escaping her. Altair only smiled, finally removing his hands and giving her free rein. She swirled her hips so his cock hit that one divine spot deep inside her, and she moaned. She moved faster, matching the racing pace of her heart, burying her head in Altair’s shoulder. Her core tightened.
“That’s it, love. Come for me.”
Iyana wanted to, desperately. But she hung at the precipice and wanted to draw this out, not knowing when they would have another chance at this.Ifthey would have another chance.
“Now, Iyana,” he growled. That one word propelled her over the edge, and she cried out with her climax, biting down on Altair’s shoulder to muffle the sound. His own release followed, and he nuzzled into her neck, breathing heavily.
Iyana wanted to soak in this moment of bliss, but a thin layer of sweat and dirt covered her body. “Can we take a bath now?”
Altair chuckled. “Of course, astalle.” He rose, still buried within her, and walked them both to the bathing room, drawing them a bath, only then sliding free to lower her gently. A small mirror hung on the wall, and when she turned to climb into the hot water, something caught her attention. Three thick scars, raised and puckered, slashed across her back. Tears immediately sprang forward, falling down her face with silent loathing. Altair had told her some of the scars hadn’t healed completely, but she hadn’t been able to see them. Oh gods, they were ugly, marring her previously flawless skin. Iyana couldn’t tear her gaze away from them.
Altair ran a gentle finger down one of the scars, and Iyana hiccupped a sob. How could he possibly want her when this was what she looked like? He followed his finger with his lips, kissing down the length of the disfigurement.
“These do not define you, Iyana,” he said against her skin. Gentle kisses rained down onto the second defect, then the third. “They are a testament to your strength and fortitude. You survived. You’re free. Wear the scars with pride. Show Uther that he does not own you. You are master of your own fate, and so, so beautiful, my star. I’ll remind you of your beauty every day for the rest of time if I have to, just so you’ll stop looking at yourself as if this makes you lesser.”
Iyana wiped her tears free, Altair’s speech moving her beyond words. She wasn’t quite sure she believed him, but his words made her feel slightly more beautiful than a minute before. It would just take time for her to adjust to the new feature of her body. After a tender kiss, he helped her step into the tub then settled in behind her. The water was blissfully hot, and Iyana sighed, her worries of a moment before melting away. A small moan escaped her as Altair began washing her hair, fingertips massaging her scalp.
“Oh gods, never stop.”
He chuckled. “How is it I can get you to say that now, and not earlier?”
“You weren’t massaging my head like this earlier, otherwise I might have.”
“Duly noted. Scalp massages next time.”Next time.Iyana was elated; this wasn’t a one-night arrangement for him.
“What were you thinking about? While you were in the chair.”
His fingers stilled in her hair. Altair was silent for so long she didn’t think he’d answer her. “I was thinking about our path ahead. I worry about you, and the last thing I want is for you to get hurt.” He began shampooing her hair again. “Enough so, I contemplated going after Uther myself.”
“I thought you said you’d be banished back to the sky if you interfered directly.”
“I would.”
Iyana turned to face him, soapy water sloshing out of the tub. “Altair, you can’t do that.”
“It would be worth it if it kept you safe.”
Furrowing her brows, she shook her head. He would hate being back in the sky, confined, after tasting freedom. “I don’t want you to do that. I want you to stay.With me.” Iyana shut her lips tight. She hadn’t meant to voice that aloud, not knowing if he reciprocated her emotions. Suddenly, she felt more exposed than she had when she was laid out naked in front of him. This was her heart on a platter, placed at his feet in an offering.
“Then I’ll stay with you.” He kissed her tenderly, easing Iyana’s worries. He would stay.
But for how long?
Chapter 34
Zane
The twins were all in with him. Zane outlined what had happened—Talon and Emmeric had rescued Iyana, and Uther had tasked him with finding them; but, in reality, Zane had questions only they could answer. He’d been questioning his father’s motives, and his own place within the kingdom’s future, but Geoff and Gordon didn’t need to know all of his personal business. The brothers had enthusiastically agreed to help him. It seemed they loved and trusted the other two soldiers in their little retinue and were willing to commit treason to aid them. Zane wouldn’t lie to himself; if any of them were caught, they would all be killed. Uther would not make an exception for his own son.
They had trekked south towards Huton, and it didn’t take long for Zane to sniff out one of Uther’s tails—a man disguised as a merchant farmer who was following them a little too closely. After a quick interrogation, the man admitted to working for the emperor. He was supposed to watch their movements, make sure they were actually searching for the girl, and report back to Uther. He told Zane all the information without coercion. His father needed to find better spies. Zane offered the man money to lie low in Huton for a while, then report back to Uther that the prince was doing exactly as he was told, but he refused, too scared of the repercussions from Uther should he be caught. So Zane had no choice but to slit the man’s throat. He didn’t want to, and he felt terrible, but he told himself there was no other way. The twins never questioned his judgment.
Without going all the way into Huton, the trio turned around to head north, staying off the well-worn road and covering their tracks as they went. By ridinghard for a few days, they picked up the escapees’ trail without difficulty. Zane was appalled to discover they hadn’t attempted to conceal their tracks at all. Horseshoes, footprints, doused fires, and food refuse were all left in the open. Blood spotted the ground in a pattern suggesting a gallop, and horsehair of such a high quality the beasts could only be from the capital littered the ground and shrubs. A tracker with much less experience than he could have followed them easily. He was sure his father did not trust him enough to get the job done and would hedge his bets by sending out another team or two to hunt down the girl. Zane didn’t see any evidence yet of anyone else following them, but he would stay vigilant and deal with them as well if the need arose.
