Cezar.
He was dead asleep, chest rising at a steady pace, completely unaffected by the storm rattling the windows. He’d given me everything earlier—his body, his blood, that dagger—and the bastard still had the nerve to smirk before passing out. Now he slept like a corpse who couldn’t be bothered with the living.
Meanwhile, my skin wanted to peel itself off.
Another crack illuminated the sky. My breathing turned ugly, tears stinging before I could stop them. My fingers twisted the blanket until the fabric strained.
Fuck. I can’t do this alone. Not tonight. I don’t want to, not anymore.
I rolled onto my side, watching him in the dim light. His lips parted slightly, his jaw slack, a faint bruise shadowing his neck. He looked almost innocent—untouchable. Safe.
And safe was all I wanted.
“Cezar…” The word barely formed, more air than sound. I nudged his arm, pressed my forehead to his shoulder. “Please.” I needed him to chase away the thoughts coming after me.
He stirred, groaning, eyes shooting open. Confused only for a heartbeat—then alert the second he saw my face. His hand came up, warm against my cheek. “Petal, what’s wrong?”
The thunder answered, and I flinched. His expression softened, and he pulled me into his embrace without another question. I buried my face against his neck, inhaling him.
“Hush now, close your eyes…” His voice was coarse with sleep, but the words slid through me like silk. The lullaby. His mother’s song. The one he gave me that night.
A shaky laugh dissolved into tears. “Our song,” I whispered against his skin. “It’s ours now.”
He kissed the top of my head as he hummed, each note giving me something else to hold onto. The storm could scream itself to death outside. It couldn’t touch me here—not when his arms were around me.
When the next thunder rolled, I lifted my head, searching his face. He was still singing, but his eyes met mine, softer than I’d ever seen them. I leaned in.
Our lips brushed, hesitant at first, fragile. The kind of kiss that could break if either of us pushed too hard. Then he moved with me, deepening it just enough to anchor me.
It wasn’t a kiss of hunger this time. It was about staying and breathing. About not being alone in the dark. With his mouth moving tenderly over mine, I finally believed the storm didn’t own me anymore.
I used to tell myself storms were mine to face alone. Now I know the truth. My home has always been Cezar.
Chapter 69
CEZAR
The way Lina let me consume her—it meant trust. It meant forever. However long forever lasts for people like us.
The kissing was slow, sweet. I breathed her in, burying my hand in her hair, and let myself pretend this moment could last. Her touch worked its way through me, every graze of her nails, every press of her lips.
And then my dick ruined it.
Why can’t it ever let me have one fucking soft moment without demanding more?
The kissing stopped abruptly when she realized how hard I was. Her eyes flicked down, then back up, dark with lust. My Petal was corrupted, and it was my fault. We both burst out laughing.
“Naughty,” she teased.
Her thigh wedged between mine, her knee traveled higher until it found my cock. She closed the distance, rocking against me with deliberate purpose. Pressure turned to pain; pain snapped into pleasure. I gripped her tighter, choking on the groan she coaxed out of me.
“Mmm,” Lina moaned, knowing damn well I wanted more.
“I don’t know what that means, Petal,” I rasped. “Does that mean go away? Come closer? Get off me? Get inside me? Use your words so I can please you.”
Her lips curved wickedly. Instead of answering, she slid off the bed and tugged at my wrist.
I followed, because of course I fucking did. I’d follow her into fire, into the grave, into whatever she had waiting below. The air grew cooler as we descended, her bare feet silent against the steps, mine heavy enough to betray how badly I needed her.
