“Maxine,” she tells me and tucks her hair behind her ears, only to fluff it back out again.
“Where is the den?”
“Two miles due south.” She turns and points to the right. “There’s only one road in.”
“We don’t need a road.” I turn to face Modeus. “Will you wait here with Maxine while I check on Melva?”
“Take him with you.” Modeus tips his head toward Egan, but I knew he would come whether I invited him or not.
I shift in a blink, making sure my wings don’t open too much in the small space. Egan runs his hand down my arm, and the sensation, while completely different than when I’m in my other form, is still fascinating.
We make our way to the backdoor, and I push off the ground and open my wings to catch the air. I don’t have the same speed as my fallen, but the branches of the trees sway from the current I create.
Egan collides with me midair, wrapping his body around mine so tightly, I have to struggle to take a deep breath. When I open my mouth, his lips are there, crashing down on mine as he steals the tiny amount of air I might have gotten.
His tongue slides against mine, and my body reacts by melting into his embrace. His wings are the only thing keeping us from plummeting to the ground because I wrap mine around his lower body, taking care not to hinder or impede his wings.
This kiss is hard, almost punishing, as he nips my lips and sucks on the tip of my tongue, but it’s also way too fucking short. As soon as I hook my leg over his hip, Egan jerks his head back, and I’m left open-mouthed and starry-eyed.
Good thing he has more impulse control than me at the moment, because I was fully willing to see where this might lead. He lowers his forehead to mine, and I watch his impossibly dark eyes close slowly. I wonder how many people he’s ever let get this close to him. I admire the length of his lashes fanned over his cheeks and wait with bated breath for him to open his eyes just so he can look at me in a way that makes me feel like I’m the only thing that will ever matter to him.
“You’re a bit of a tease,” I rasp out when he slowly blinks open his eyes. “Next time you’re going to snatch me out of the air and kiss me like I’m the only thing keeping you alive, make sure we have time to explore all the things you can do to me while I’m at your mercy.” I don’t give him time to respond, instead, I press my lips against his just as roughly as he did to me, and then I pull back with his lip between my teeth.
I taste his blood when I finally release his mouth. That should satisfy his obligation to me and the club. Egan watches me lick my lips with a very dark promise in his gaze that I can’t wait to explore.
CHAPTER16
Modeus
Lore’sarousal assaults me before she steps foot back in the shithole bar. I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to this. My dick hardens behind the fly of my pants so abruptly, I hunch forward before catching myself.
The coven leader, a witch with white hair and the face of a young woman, eyes me with greed that could rival my brother’s. I don’t bother hiding the sneer of disgust on my face as she stares at me, but even her avarice isn’t enough to tamp down the effects mybashertis having on me.
Lore steps up to my side with Egan only a few steps behind her. Whatever happened between them in the short time they were gone has my head spinning, and I wonder how soon they will be up for a repeat performance.
Lore
Modeus hasMelva’s attention when I enter the room. It allows me to take stock of her appearance and to look over the space for any changes. I can’t forget why I’m here, no matter how much I don’t like the way she’s looking at Modeus. She could have information I need. If she proves herself useful, I might be persuaded to give her a warning before I cut out her eyes for ogling my prince.
I curl my arm around Modeus’ waist when I sidle up next to him, allowing him to place his arm over my shoulders. Egan stands behind us, just as imposing as he is beautiful, but I have the witch’s entire focus.
“Lorelei.” She says my name as if she knows me, yet we have never met. “I received word of your father’s death.” Not many people were privy to our connection before Harlow’s disappearance, but the way she says it makes me think that maybe she was.
“His passing is why I’m here.”
The witch crosses her arms under her breasts, tightening her loose dress and making all kinds of racket with her jewelry. “Harlow assured me that our coven would be allowed to stay within Obsidian Angels’ territory as long as we abided by the club and Syndicate rules.”
“Have you?” I toss out the question, even though I’m not expecting her to admit to any wrongdoing.
“Absolutely. I respected your father and called him a friend.” She tips her chin back a tiny bit, lifting her nose into the air.
Modeus flexes his fingers on my hip. I’m sure he’s communicating with me, but I’m just not sure what he’s telling me. I’m not inclined to trust anyone blindly, but I don’t have much of a choice other than to offer the witch a little information in the hope she can help me get some answers.
I reach into my pocket. Maxine, the bar witch, takes a shuffling step backward, as if she thinks I’m about to pull out a weapon, but Melva stands her ground, waiting. The fabric wrapped stone is warm from being in my pocket when I fold back the material shrouding it.
I look up at Melva to see her eyeing the black stone shrewdly. “What can you tell me about this?” I extend my palm for her to get a better look.
“It’s an onyx obelisk,” she responds impetuously, but she takes a step closer as if to examine the piece more thoroughly.
