I laughed, heading into the washroom, closing the door. I washed up quickly, getting dressed in the bathing chamber before surfacing. Quazar noticed my unclasped gown and licked his lips.
“Soon, Safah,” he promised in a husky breath. “Soon, all this fabric won’t be in my way.”
My eyes fell shut as I strangled my growing need for him. Quazar floated into the washroom leaving the door propped open.
“Quazar!”
“Just in case,” he taunted. “I’m always in want of your company, Starling. Fabric-free preferred.”
I knew the temple might break me. I could’ve never guessed that Quazar Valoryen would be my undoing. I shut the door after him before I got tempted.
Quazar took his lambasting time in the washroom. I tapped a foot and hummed while massaging makristi oil into my hair, getting my curls to shine again. My ringlets were perfect, the tight coils hanging down to my calves in lengthy vines.
My wings still had a buzz of pain from the trial where the Stareaters had shot their majik into me. I didn’t even bother going to see Zara. I had a feeling she’d been ordered by Kaelthos to never mend me again.
Burning Kaelthos.
I needed to talk with someone from my family to understand why the Zamariens hated us so much. It couldn’t be just because we were the only females who’d been admitted to the Order. That was too ridiculous a reason for them to be so hateful. It had to go deeper than that. When I was finally able to see Papi again, I’d have to ask him.
“Rotting Celestials, thishair.”
I jumped, looking up in the mirror to find Quazar floating behind me. Wearing only a towel around his waist.
“You’re not dressed.”
My eyes widened as I stared at his chest. His stomach.
Lower.
Holystars.
I wrenched my eyes upward, my cheeks burning hot.
“And you’re hungry.” Quazar smirked devilishly.
“Of course I’m hungry. We haven’t had firstfast yet.”
He leaned over my shoulder, pulling one of my curls, twirling it around his finger.
“You know rotting well I didn’t mean food, Starling.”
I looked away from him, my cheeks flaming.
“Clothes. You need clothes.”
“And you need to relax.”
He slipped his hands into my hair, pulling me into his hardened chest. My eyes fell shut as I leaned into him. I sighed, drowning in his delicious scent of mint and sandalwood. He wrapped his arms around me, tucking his head into the crook of my neck.
“I love that we don’t hate each other anymore.”
“Me, too, Princeling.”
Quazar’s eyes flashed with gold, his lips curling into a smirk. His arms tightened around my chest. He littered my neck with kisses, nibbling at my skin.
“Hearts-stealing thief.”
I angled my head to look at him, giggling.
