“Mmm, yes, I know Loelle. They seem a good fit, the utter twat and the vain bitch,” I conclude, and Blaise titters further.
“If that is all, I would like to wash away the humiliation of getting beaten up by a girl.”
Killian nods in approval, and Blaise turns around, striding towards the exit.
“I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t be the first time,” I holler after his retreating form, and he waves me off with an offensive hand gesture.
“Walk with me,” Killian says, and I fall into step next to him as we exit the hall and stroll through the castle’s corridors. Hisshadows float around us contentedly, caressing my skin from time to time.
He keeps stealing brief glances my way, and I swear I can almost see behind his stoic facade. There’s been something on the tip of his tongue for a few days now, something he wants to say, but he doesn’t find the right way to say it.
I nudge his shoulder playfully, trying to coax words out of him. “Anything in particular you want to talk about?”
His lips part with a sigh, as if he’s decided yet again to keep his thoughts to himself. I can’t blame him though; I’m doing the same thing, more than he knows.
“Not really, umbra. Walking just helps me clear my head, and your presence, well, it’s become the highlight of my day.” His gaze lingers on me for a few seconds before returning to the hallway ahead. “But the issues are the same as usual—the war, Morweena, your sister, the prophecy.”
I nod silently, because what else is there to say to that? Besides the truth, that I’m unwilling to give?
The silence between us is not awkward, but I can’t help falling back into my earlier thoughts. Would he hate me if he ever found out the secrets that I’m so adamant about keeping? Would he feel the sting of betrayal? An inexplicable ache constricts my chest at that idea. No matter how pointless I know our tryst is, I can’t help but wish things could be different.
It’s getting harder every day not to fall for him. He might be ruthless, a true-born killer, but the softer side he’s shown me has me up at night, when I leave his bedroom and sink into the cold emptiness of my bed.
I’m adamant about keeping things separate, as even if I allow myself the decadent treat of his body wringing pleasure out of mine, I don’t linger in his quarters a minute longer than necessary. I lost the battle with addiction when it comes to my needs, but I am still fighting tooth and nail to keep my heartafloat, untethered and unharmed, although it’s proving more difficult with each passing day.
He hasn’t breached again the subject of what happens when Aurora appears, and I’m thankful for that. I can’t resist his allure anymore. I can’t seem to stay away, as much as I might want, and I’m realizing I don’t even want to, most of the time. I’ll take any chance I get to bask in his affections, his possessive sway over my body and soul.
He’s become my personal magic bullet, the cure for all my ailments, mental or otherwise. With him I feel not only wanted, but cherished, for the first time since I drew my first breath. It’s an addictive emotion, sweet as it is dangerous. I’m well aware I’m setting myself up for total heartbreak, but I don’t have it in me to stop any longer. When the time comes, I’ll pick up the shattered pieces of my spirit, and slink into the shadows, out of sight, out of mind. It’s the only acceptable outcome, as hard as it is proving to be. I just pray I’ll be able to vanish out of sight before Aurora senses our connection.
He might not understand my motives or my reasoning. He might even hate me for my actions once I am gone, but he will eventually forget about me. A destiny such as his, bound by the fates for greatness and honored with realm-encompassing responsibilities, doesn’t have the luxury to stray from its path. His beautiful, warm, compassionate heart shall remain stoic, and he will move on. The fact that this moving on will be with my spiteful sister makes me want to break a castle window—or all of them.
“All the gold in Wrahta for your thoughts?” Killian whispers my way, his longing gaze lingering on my lips. He must sense something is off, insightful as he always is, so I do my best to steer things in a different direction.
“I was just wondering if you’d be prone to installing some sturdy hooks in your ceiling, and procuring for me some aerialwraps. I would like to dance for you.” My smile is lazy, and I give him my best wistful gaze.
His eyes darken, the onyx pools scorching me from the inside out with promises of never-ending carnal delight.
“Consider it done.”
CHAPTER 27
Killian
Myfingersdrumsilentbeats on the black expanse of my bedsheets as I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for Aimee to arrive. It took a full day to install the hooks she requested yesterday morning, and to locate the best aerial wraps in all of Imiryion. The flowy golden wraps shine bright, catching the warm glow from the fire burning in the hearth. They remind me of her fiery eyes, the way they sparkle with such furious intensity when I’m deep inside her, like bottomless pools of molten lava, deadly traps created by Akaori herself to doom me. When we are connected at the most profound level, and she’s unraveling beneath me, I feel as if I am a God myself, a being untouched by time’s cruel passing, or the fickle whims of fate.
It kills me inside, every time a little bit more, when she retreats to her room at the end of the night. I crave to sleep with her inmy arms, to wake up to her blissful presence. To know that she is unmistakably mine, not just in the fleeting throes of passion, but for all Akaoridamn eternity.
I’ve allowed this ruse so far, but it’s becoming impossible, when all I want and need is to confess the depths of my undying love for her. I’ve had to restrain myself from saying it for days now. Just like yesterday morning when we were walking after her training.
I can’t wait to utter the words, to hear her give me the same vows in return. To sink my fangs into her perfect flesh and suck mouthfuls of the lifeblood that courses through her veins. It will be my total undoing; I already know it. The nectar of the Gods has nothing on my little umbra’s essence.
I’ve completely embraced this insanity of feelings I can’t quite explain. I don’t care if from the outside it might seem too fast to feel this way, too sudden. On a spiritual level, my soul recognizes hers as if they’ve known each other for eons. If I didn’t know any better, or if I’d believe in such balderdash, I would say we’d been together in another life. But could that even be possible? My soul certainly reacts as if it’s true.
Maybe we loved each other before, who knows? It wouldn’t be the first time that I’m proven wrong in this existence. Far from it.
The door opens, and I suck in a harsh breath as Aimee saunters inside my chamber, wearing a black velvet robe that’s flowing down to her ankles like a midnight dream.
“Umbra.”
