I blinked at Quazar, not comprehending. I didn’t understand a shred of what he was saying. Conversations about some Ashiris star, dragons, ancient power, were ones that never took place in our home. We kept our noses out of such affairs. Papi made sure of it.
I tucked in my knees, leaning my weight on his bare thighs.
“We were brought here as hunting dogs, love. Think really hard about why they mated me, of all angels, to you.”
“So…you’re supposed to…hunt me? And prove I am this angel…or not?”
He smiled. I nearly lost my balance with how beautiful he was.
“Hunt you. How adorable. I’m supposed tokillyou, Starling.”He leaned in, tilting his head.“Too bad I fell for you instead.”His grin stretched, showing not one, but both of his dimples.“Oops.”
I opened my mouth to ask him more questions. Instead, I let out a major yawn. My eyes drooped. I was exhausted.
“Too much. This is all too much. I’m beat,”I said, half yawning again.“Stay with me,”I whispered.“Spend the twinight with me.”
He brushed strands of hair from my forehead. His throat bobbed as his eyes colored with desire.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“I know it’s what I want.”
Quazar leaned forward, kissing me on the neck. Once. Twice. He wrapped his wings around our bodies. One moment we were on his couch. The next we were in my chambers.
“Then I surrender. Yes, Starling. I’ll stay with you this twinight.”
Chapter 45
Stretching like a feline, I popped multiple bones in my body before relaxing into the ball I’d woken up in. Yawning, I wriggled around in my sheets. Two iron rod barricades were on either side of my body, keeping me in place.
What in the stars was happening?
I snapped my eyes open, panic threatening to settle in. I turned around. And found myself locked in Quazar’s embrace. Those beautiful jeweled eyes watched me, amused. He looked at my head, then back into my eyes, chuckling.
“What’s so funny?” I mumbled.
“Your head scarf is so cute.”
Quazar’s voice was a deep baritone, rumbling over my skin under my twigown.
“Thank you. It’s either a cute head scarf or not-so-cute bedhead that will take too long to wrangle when I wake up.”
He laughed again. The sound made my hearts sing.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He shifted his head, tilting it down at me. His hair was an absolute mess, the raven strands falling into his eyes. Stars, he looked like the Celestials. So perfect. So handsome.
“For what?” He nudged me with his nose. I cuddled deeper into his embrace.
“For staying. You didn’t have to but?—”
“I wanted to, Safah. Stars. Ialwayswant to.”
The way he said my name, like he was uttering a prayer, made my skin ignite.
“That was the best twinight I’ve had in a long time.” He nudged me with his nose again. “If you let me in again, I’m coming back. Every time.”
“Good. Now, we should probably get ready. We don’t have Sanctuary this dawn, but there’s always something.”
