“There is nothing to be gained from whatever it is you’re asking of me.”
“Nothing to be gained?” The look on his face was so stricken, so forlorn, that it stole Elyria’s breath.
“Cedric, I—” She closed her mouth. She wasn’t sure what she meant to say. Was she going to apologize? To scold him?
To admit he was right?
Whatever might have tripped off her tongue, Elyria wouldn’t get the chance to find out. Because suddenly he wasthere. Her pulse thundered in her ears as Cedric leaned in, his gold-ringed eyes half-shuttered, until he was so close that his own features were swallowed by her hood.
It didn’t take sharp fae eyesight to know he was looking at her mouth, however. Didn’t take a genius to know what would happen next. Time slowed enough that she could have stopped it, had she wanted to.
She didn’t want to.
Cedric’s lips were soft and gentle as he pressed a featherlight kiss to the corner of her mouth.
It was hesitant. The barest brush. The gentlest graze.
Just enough to send a spark zipping through her, racing over her skin, down her spine.
And that was all she needed. Unable to resist thetugin her chest, pulling at her, begging her, Elyria surged forward, crashing her lips into his with a hunger that surprised even her. She fisted a hand in his shirt, yanking him against her until she felt the hard planes of his torso against her own. His hands snaked around her waist beneath her cloak, brushing up her back, heated, fierce, drawing her closer as the kiss deepened.
Heat surged between them—bright and fevered, magic thrumming in Elyria’s veins, that pull behind her ribs vibrating. It didn’t burn though, didn’t hurt. It was light and warmth and welcome, and in that moment, Elyria understood why walking into this tavern had felt like coming home. It wasn’t because this place reminded her of her old favorite haunt.
It was because ofhim.
She drew his bottom lip between her own and sucked gently, urging him closer. Cedric made a small, stunned noise—half moan, half breath—that echoed in Elyria’s bones as she devoured the sound. His hands gripped her tightly, his fingers digging into her skin as he planted soft kisses up the curve of her jaw, nipping at her earlobe, before returning to claim her mouth once more.
He kissed her like she was the very air he needed tobreathe. Like he had been drowning, and this, right here, this kiss, this closeness, their bodies pressed together in this dark corner, was the only thing keeping him alive.
For several glorious moments, nothing else mattered.
Until she remembered.
Remembered that they were sitting in a crowded tavern. That Tristan, Thraigg, and Ollie would return any second. Remembered that Cedric was drunk, and he wasleaving, and she still had a job to do. That the path they were dancing down could only end one way, and she’d already experienced enough heartbreak to last the rest of her considerable lifetime.
Her breath was ragged, her thoughts a tangled mess, when she broke the kiss. “I think that’s my cue.”
Cedric stared at her, his own breath coming in short bursts, as she scooted to the edge of the booth and stood. “Wait”—he reached for her—“I swear to you, I’mreallynot that drunk.”
She smiled down at him. “That’sreallynot the point. I need some air. We can talk more later. Before you le—” She cleared her throat and turned away. “Before you leave. I promise.”
She heard his sharp intake of breath as he stood behind her. Felt the brush of his fingers against her shoulder, grasping for her. “Please, Elle, just wait. I?—”
But she was already mid-step, already walking away. And when Cedric’s hand caught her cloak at her shoulder, it snagged her hood, pulling it back.
Pulling it down.
It might have been comical, in other circumstances, how the entire tavern seemed to go still at once. How one moment, the space was full of friendly chatter and bawdy laughter and clinking mugs, and the next it was silent as death.
Then came the gasps. The hushed whispers. The unmistakable ripple of fear as the room took in the periwinkle hair braided atop Elyria’s head, the sharp ears protruding from either side. Gazes whipped to Cedric next to her, recognition dawning on faces across the tavern.
And chaos erupted.
Elyria groaned,a deep, chest-rattling weariness seeping from her as she swore under her breath. “I swear to all five fucking celestials, I do not do this on purpose.”
“What the fuck just happened?” Ollie was back, his body a wall between Elyria and the surging tavern patrons forming a large semicircle around them, eager for a closer look at the victors in their midst. Either that, or they were looking for an opening to try and take down the Revenant. It was hard to get a grasp on the sentiment around them with so much noise and movement. Either way, it didn’t take long for the pushing and shoving to start, and Elyria knew it was only a matter of time until punches would be thrown. The liquid courage had spread far and wide tonight.
A bottle shattered across the tavern. The bartender released an indignant cry, even as she ducked behind the bar. Several patrons bolted for the door.
