Page 239 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Positive.’

‘I don’t think it’ll help.’

‘Devil’s in the details, right?’

Wind moves across the roof.

Varrow City is beginning to light up for the incoming night.

‘What’s his plan, then?’

‘So far it’s just sneak inside, but Riley thinks I might need to use my… Vox thing,’ Kade admits.

Lachlan’s arm tightens around his middle. ‘How do you feel about that?’

Kade stares down between his boots at the impossible drop.

‘I don’t want to.’

‘Then don’t.’ The last of the lowering sun catches along Lachlan’s face, turns his eyes briefly molten. ‘You don’t even understand how it works.’

‘That’s what scares me.’

The wind moves Kade’s hair into his eyes. Lachlan smooths it back, fingertips lingering at his temple. The touch is absent-minded, automatic, but warmth spreads everywhere this man touches him.

‘Why don’t you practise?’ Lachlan suggests.

‘What?’

‘See if you can feel yourself activating it.’

‘No!’

‘It won’t work on me.’

‘What if it does? You were human before this, and we only have Lee’s word that it doesn’t work on non-humans.’

‘Ask me to do something you know I want to do, and I’ll resist.’

‘Like what?’

‘Come on, surely you can think of something I want to do to you.’

Kade nudges his shoulder, but only a little.

It’s still a dead drop beneath them.

‘Fucker.’

‘Tell me to kiss you, try to make it…’ Lachlan gestures vaguely with one hand. ‘Voxy.’

Grumbling under his breath, Kade frowns at the sunset.

Focus. Control. Sway.

‘Kiss me.’

Nothing.