With great reluctance, I pull back. Niko’s pupils are blown wide, and he bites his damn lip in the way that drives me crazy. I’m quickly losing my resolve, so I say the only thing I know that will ruin the mood. “I will not take Evangeline as my mate. Our dynamics are fine as is.”
Niko sobers, brows furrowing. “I see.” His words are clipped. Precise. He drops the conversation, though.
I don’t feel good about it.
“When she wakes, we should take her to the infirmary. See if any more of the cursed have been cured,” Niko says after a moment of silence between us. The tension still lingers, but at least he’s not shutting me out. Which I deserve, since that is exactly what I’m doing with his suggestions.
Maybe once this war is finished, and I no longer have to fight to stay alive, I can reconsider…
As soon as that thought forms in my head, I push it down, not willing to let it fester for much longer. Right now, we have a kingdom to protect against a powerful foe. A foe we know virtually nothing about. If only we had more intel, then…
I freeze. Niko notices, pinning me with his stare. “What is it?”
“We have a Nephilim in custody,” I blurt.
My words only deepen his confusion. “What about it?” He searches my face, trying to keep up. I can see the moment it clicks—the exact second he understands. His eyes widen, pupils blown with alarm. “You can’t be serious. You’re not suggesting weletEvangeline speak to it?”
“Oziel said?—”
“Oziel is unpredictable. We can’t trust him.”
“He risked his own wife. He may be many things, but careless isn’t one of them. If it is a possibility, we shouldn’t discredit it. What if Evangeline learns something that will turn the war in our favor? We must utilize the queen, just as Ender suggested.”
“He’s one I trust even less after the stunt he pulled leaving Evangeline alone in our kingdom,” he scoffs. My blood heats, remembering how he left her out in the open to fend for herself. We’re lucky she made it out alive.
“All I’m asking is that you consider asking her. We won’t let her do this alone. You and I will be right next to her, keeping her safe. I won’t ever let anything happen to Evangeline, Niko. Do you trust me?”
The words hang heavy between us. He just spent the last few minutes convincing me to mate with Evangeline, while I vehemently opposed. Now I’m asking him to trust me with her safety. I understand his hesitancy.
“You know I would never let anything happen to her, don’t you?” I search his face, wincing as indecision plays across his features. It hurts to see him question me, but he should know me well enough?—
“I trust you,” he says at last. I sigh, expelling the pent-up tension I held in my chest. “It will be her decision whether she’s comfortable speaking with the Nephilim or not. I won’t force her.”
“Nor will I make you force her.”
Having Evangeline speak to the creature is our best option. That doesn’t mean I have to like it. A heavy weight settles on my chest, cold and immovable. Thekind that warns you too late you’re already in over your head.
We’re walking a dangerous line—one laced with teeth and shadow—and I can’t shake the feeling that once she opens her mouth to that thing…something far worse will answer back. We must be prepared for whatever is yet to come.
Chapter 28
Evangeline
Iwake up draped over Niko’s naked body. His feathery-light touch glides up and down my spine in a gentle caress. There’s still a delicious ache between my thighs, a reminder of what transpired between the three of us last night. Except, when I lift my head, blinking away the grogginess, the spot next to us is empty. Zephyr’s gone. Like he was never here in the first place.
“He went to check in with the patrolling guards,” Niko’s gentle voice answers my unasked question. “He’ll be back soon, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?”
Considering I didn’t wake up once throughout the night and slept later than both Niko and Zephyr, I slept fantastically and tell him as much. “Have you been awake long?”
“A little while. I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful,” he admits, bringing one hand to the back of my head, gently pushing it down so he can press a soft kiss to my forehead. A girl could definitely get usedto waking up like this. I cuddle closer, burrowing my face into his neck. I never took myself as a cuddler before, but if I could spend the rest of the day wrapped in his embrace, I would.
Except I can’t. Because we have a kingdom to save. Lazy days wrapped up in my mate’s arms will have to wait.
With great reluctance, I pry myself away from Niko. His hold on me tightens for a fraction of a second before finally releasing me. I make the mistake of meeting his eyes. A primal need reflects in his gaze, smoldering in its intensity. Despite the slight soreness from yesterday, my body heats with desire. After last night, I didn’t think I would want more, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. I don’t know who this horny woman is, but one taste of him isn’t enough.
IwantNiko. It’s a bone-deep feeling that spreads throughout my body. The need to touch, kiss, and taste him. To have him fill me, pumping deep inside with long, hard strokes. To hear his moans and whimpers of ecstasy. For Zephyr to be here too, fucking Niko while Niko takes me.
The room heats up. Or maybe I do. I’m not certain who moves first, but soon I’m back in Niko’s arms, his hands roaming my body. My lips find his in a desperate, needy kiss. He makes a sound of pleasure, a deep sigh that reverberates throughout his body. The first swipe of his tongue has me coming undone.
