“I know, Mouse, I know.” He dropped her hand with one last caress. It might be the last chance he had. Lowering his voice, he said, “I don’t trust him. Not completely. Please keep your guard up.”
Iyana’s brow furrowed. “You don’t trust him?” she asked, her voice raising, all traces of sadness dissipating. “You seriously don’ttrusthim? I trust Altair with my life, Emmeric. He broke me out of the dungeon, he’s been training me to strengthen my magic, and he’s been helping us this entire time! What more do you need?”
“Why didn’t he come for you on the road to Athusia, Iyana?”
“He…he couldn’t.”
“Butwhy? Did he ever explain himself?” Iyana didn’t answer him. “He didn’t, did he? Phaedros take me, Mouse, he’s blinding you with a handsome face and pretty words. Wake up!”Great.Now they were fighting again—exactly the thing he said he didn’t want to do.
“You haveno fucking right, Emmeric,” she yelled. She stood in a flurry of anger, and he was sure the others on the lower floors heard her, Altair included. Iyana stuck her finger in his face. “Stay out of my personal business.”
Then she was gone. Emmeric ran a hand down his face, groaning.
“That could’ve gone better,” Kaz said, leaning over the back of the couch. Emmeric slumped down on his back and groaned again.
Zane
Talon flopped down on the sofa next to him, jostling the book in his lap.
“Well, thatwas entertaining.”
Zane glanced towards where they had just overheard most of the argument between Emmeric and Iyana. “Should we do anything?”
“Nah, Kaz is with him,” Tal said.
“Aren’t he and Kaz…”
“Yup.”
“But Iyana?”
“He’s in love with her,” Talon said, nodding.
“But she’s with Altair.”
“Yup! They seem pretty serious, but I’ve caught her ogling Em, too, so anything can happen.” Tal’s eyes sparkled with the gossip.
Zane whistled. “That’s all incredibly complicated.”
Talon laughed. “That it is. But such thrilling entertainment for those of us outside of the drama.” He nudged Zane and winked at him. It allowed the red head to close any remaining space between them, and he leaned in over Zane’s shoulder to glace at the book he was currently reading. Tal’s fingers found their way to the hair on the nape of his neck and began lazily playing with the strands. A shiver traveled down Zane’s spine at the gentle, casual touch.
A surge of panic made him want to tear himself out of Talon’s reach. To separate himself to keep them both safe, even if it meant neither of them would be happy. But he forced himself to stay put, to relax his tense body, and he marginally succeeded. He even leaned into Talon ever so slightly. The other man’s lips curled at the corners, so Zane knew he’d caught the infinitesimal movement.
“Find anything?” Talon asked.
“Not yet.” He rubbed his tired eyes with the heels of his palms. Zane sighed. “There have been mentions of the Aztia and Kanaliza, but nothing describing how their magic works. Absolutely nothing on the astmina. I just wish I knew where to look.”
“You’ve been at it nonstop. You need a break.” Talon dug his fingers deeper into Zane’s hair and massaged his scalp. Zane moaned at the sensation, closing his eyes, but not before he noticed the heat consuming Talon’s bright blue ones at the sound. Butterflies filled his stomach.
“I need to figure out how to stop my father,” he said as Talon continued his massage.
“You won’t be able to if you don’t take time to rest.”
Zane sighed. “You’re right.” Opening his eyes, he smiled at Talon. The man really was gorgeous, with his long, wavy red hair and spattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks. There were shallow lines around his eyes from constantly laughing and generally being in a good mood. Zane glanced at his lips. An overwhelming urge to kiss Talon overtook him. The Zane raised by Uther Holygazer hesitated at the staggering amount of passion, but the Zane he so desperately wanted to be demanded change. To shed the mask Uther’s presence had demanded. And Zane realized they were alone. His father was nowhere near. Everyone here was a friend or ally. Talon sat there quietly, letting Zane make his own choice.
Zane closed the distance and gently placed his lips on Talon’s, asking the question he was too cowardly to ask with words. Talon moaned into his mouth, sounding relieved. Then the hand in Zane’s hair was tightening, and Talon tugged the prince in closer while deepening their kiss. Tal eased Zane down onto his back on the sofa. Having the weight of Talon on top of him was amazing. Mind-blowing. Talon was kissing his cheek, his ear, down his neck. His hand roamed down Zane’s body while Zane held the man closer to him.
Something lodged underneath him dug into his back, so he reluctantly took one hand off Talon and retrieved the scroll lost within the couch. The scholar in him glanced at it and startled.
