Her words brushed over my lips, and her sweet, flowery scent filled my lungs. My blood heated for a whole other reason and a low rumble sounded deep in my throat. My gaze fixed on her lips.
This woman infuriated me to my core. Her relentless talking, taunting, her unique ability to constantly get under my skin. The last few weeks played out in my mind, and a shiver ran through me.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, or the looming possibility of our deaths, but I reached out, my arm encircling her waist and my other hand finding her collarbone, splaying across it. She didn't resist, simply waited as I gently moved my palm up her throat to cup her chin. My gaze rose to meet hers.
“Maybe I’d like to see what else that mouth can do besides talk.”
I smirked and her eyes flashed, but I didn’t allow her time to speak as I crashed my mouth onto hers. She leaned into thekiss, her hands moving up to rest on my chest, her nails digging into the fabric.
Fuck,how I’ve wanted this.
Ever since that day I saw her in that clearing, I’ve thought of nothing and no one else. I wanted her. Craved her nearness, her annoying ranting voice, the way she scowled at me, bickered with me. I loved the way her eyes lit up when snacks arrived, the way she relaxed when she was near me, how others seemed to open up and laugh whenever she was around.
She whimpered as our lips parted and my tongue swept into her mouth. She tasted like the sweetest sin, and I never wanted to taste anything else again.
Our kiss deepened, and I groaned as she clung to me. My hand went into her hair as I held her closer to me, afraid she would slip away. That this was somehow a dream, and the moment this kiss ended I would wake up, and I never wanted to wake up from this. I could stay like this forever, just her and me and this kiss.
The moment seemed to stretch for lifetimes, and I cherished every second of it, not wanting to waste it, but our mouths slowed, the kiss becoming soft and lingering. I kept my eyes shut, afraid of what I would find when I opened them. Would she still be here? Or would I wake up in the mud, my drunken imagination on overload.
Cynthia pulled away first, and I took a shuddering breath. My forehead pressed to hers.
“Maybe if you survive tomorrow, I’ll show you exactly what my mouth can do.”
My eyes shot open, and I was met with her blazing gaze.Fates this woman.
Cynthia kissed my lips softly, her eyes burning with challenge. She took a step back, and my hand instinctively tightened on her lower back to hold her, but she shook her head at me. I loosened my grip, letting her slip from my arms. My skin burning where it had met hers.
“Goodnight, Theo,” she whispered and strode toward the exit. I stared after her, my eyes drifting down her curves to her ass, to her bare legs, and I practically purred, a rumble vibrating in my chest. It took all the will I had not to run after her, to grab her and throw her on my cot and have my way with her.
Cynthia looked over her shoulder, pausing at the tent's entrance. She leaned over and plucked a shirt that had been hanging over a chair and winked before disappearing into the night.
Chapter 33
Xavier
The cool night air kissed my cheek as I stepped out of my tent. The leather straps across my chest dug into my skin, holding the swords to my back. My boots sank into the soft earth, mud coating the already caked leather. I inhaled deeply, my lungs filling with the aroma of sodden leaves, the musky scent of the rain-soaked forest, and my mate.
Any moment now, the horns would sound, announcing the approach of Morgana’s armies, and I'd have to shadow Zara away, just as Soren had instructed. It felt like a betrayal. I wanted to protect her, not abandon her to my enemy. My entire being wanted to hide her away until all of this was over, but the Fates had a plan, and I had to trust they knew what they were doing.
I couldn't be selfish, or I risked unraveling more lives than just my own.
Thanks to Gunnar's teachings, my mental barriers were strong, and I felt confident I could resist Morgana's commands if she tried to use our bond to her advantage, or at least for awhile. Atticus had caught me off guard, but now I knew what to look for, how it felt, and how to properly secure my mental barrier to deny them access. I only prayed this battle would end quickly.
It was an hour before dawn. The sky was still full of stars, and a faint glow on the horizon hinted at the rising sun. The camp hummed with the clinking of weapons, the rustle of fabric, and the hushed sounds of prayer. I turned to see Aria and Dedra, armed and ready for battle, their matching leather jumpsuits bringing a smirk to my face. They approached where I was standing, their shoulder armor glinting in the dim light. Vicious smiles on their faces.
Theo was cursing behind them, his twin axes strapped to his back as he hopped on one foot, trying to tie up one of his boots. Soldiers laughed at him as he hopped by, and Theo flipped them off as he passed, finally managing to lace up the rest of his boot. I chuckled and started to walk their way. Leave it to Theo to break the tension.
“Any sign of Jaxon?”
They glanced at one another, and my stomach turned.Where was he? We needed him.It wasn’t like him not to check in. Aria’s face mirrored my concern, and at least I knew I wasn’t overreacting. Something was wrong.
A yawn sounded from behind me, and I turned to see Julian approaching, his hair pulled back into a tight bun. He wasn't wearing his glasses, which was a bit startling. He held them in his hand, his gaze unfocused as he polished the lenses on his shirt. The moment he put them on, his eyes enlarged and snapped into focus. He was dressed in leather, daggers strapped to his sides, and I frowned.
“No.”
The cry was echoed by the others, who'd come to the same realization.
“I'm not just going to stand by while you all fight,” he growled, his injured arm still tightly bound from shoulder to wrist in bloodied cloth.
