Quazar slid his gaze to Ellabeth who was seated across Dakairi. Her eyes were swirling aquamarine, growing darker with hunger. With need.
“Mm, she wants him.”
“Bad,”I added.
“Good thing is he’s been wanting to taste her, too. Now, has he? Don’t know, don’t care. That’s his business.”
I scoffed out loud. Ellabeth’s gaze snapped to mine. I tore into my plantains playing off the outburst.
“And us, Princeling. What is happening here?”
Quazar lifted his gaze to mine, bringing his goblet to his lips. When his pearls of emerald met mine of lavender, his eyes darkened.
“Not nearly enough for my liking,”he rumbled down the bond.
I clenched my legs as knots twisted in my stomach.
“We hated each other basically two dawns ago.”
“We’re grown, Starling. That’s behind us. We’ve dealt with it. Now I’m focused on what’s in front of us. Well…”He tilted his head. Licked those full lips I wanted to taste, to explore, so badly.“Until we can focus on what’sinsideof us.”
I’d started sipping on my mangogo cider and choked, coughing on the sweet drink. The entire table turned to look at me. Omarion patted my back with a wing until my coughing fit passed.
“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded, not trusting myself to answer. Ellabeth looked between me and Quazar, her eyes slanting. Dakairi kept his eyes on his plate but he chuckled to himself longer than I appreciated. I opened my mouth to speak when a scrollport surfaced at the center of our table.
“Burning Hèls,” Daelun grumbled.
I stiffened. What was this about?
We all put our forks and goblets down, waiting for the burning thing to unfold. The scrollport unfurled until a Babephim surfaced in its center. The messenger ranking angel was beautiful with wide eyes and a sweet demeanor.
“Hello Disciples, it’s time for your next trial. Fear of terror at twinight—nor arrows at dawn—should ever befall you. Whether a thousand fall at your side, even if you witness ten thousand die around you, evil will lay no finger on you. Keep your wings and become the pride of the Order. Lose them and be their ridicule. I wish you the Infinite’s Blessing. On behalf of Profèt Samael andHigh Farasee Manazzra Ahabiah, wings high. Ascend, or enlarge the Hèls.”
“I’m sick of this temple,” Daelun muttered.
“Truly.” Isandra sighed.
I waved my hand, summoning my sandals. I slipped them on, lacing the straps up my calves.
I snuck a peek at Quazar. Neither him, nor any of the Talons, moved to get dressed. They continued eating like nothing happened. He was in his loose robes again, opened over his chest. He looked relaxed like this. In his element.
“You’re staring, Starling.”
“I have a good view.”
He smirked, sliding his eyes to mine. A tendril of shadow slipped out from him, curling around my waist, squeezing. I bit my lip at the sensual touch, instantly hungering for more. A second tendril of shadow curled around my thigh. It slipped higher, making my breath hitch.
“That little breathy sound might just be my undoing.”
The shadow squeezed my thigh again. And rot if I didn’t skip another breath. Quazar brought his goblet to his mouth. My eyes fluttered shut as my breaths became labored.
“Safah.”
Quazar’s shadows crawled up the length of my curves like sin until they settled beneath my chin.
“Eyes here.”
