“You will.”
My insides clenched with anticipation.
His bottom lip just barely grazed mine before he pulled away.His grip tightened.For half a heartbeat he froze, then abruptly began walking us with quick, annoyed strides back toward the rocky edge.
With visible reluctance, he set me back on the stone ledge, more forcefully than necessary.
Confusion swept through me, mingling with the frustrated desire still throbbing in my veins.
Dalkhan was already moving out of the water.
I scrambled upright, droplets streaming from my clothes “Did I—”
“No.”He turned his head to the side, as if listening to a voice only he could hear.“I’m needed elsewhere.Now.”
He crossed back to me, tilting my chin up.
“Don’t pout.”He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip.“You’ll be screaming my name soon enough.”
Then the world shattered around us.Or at least, if felt like it.
As he pulled me through whatever magic he commanded, reality twisted violently, and the world lurched before snapping back into place.
Suddenly, the viewing balcony stretched before me, and the deafening roar of the crowd filled my ears.
I staggered, reeling from the abrupt shift.
Dalkhan looked over me one last time, hunger and something like regret written in his eyes.Then with a rush of smoke and flame that made the air shimmer, he was gone.
I was still trying to piece myself back together when the others joined me on the balcony.
Jasila was among them, sweat glistening on her dark skin.Her knowing eyes took in my dishevelled appearance.
Theo halted mid-stride when he saw me, his brows shooting up in surprise.“Why are you soaking wet?”
I ignored him, turning to Mira instead.“We should go.”
Jasila’s lips twitched with suppressed amusement, her eyes gleaming with knowledge she mercifully kept to herself.
The others fell into conversation, their voices filling the space behind us as we walked back inside.
Mira stepped back admiring her work.She’d spent the last few moments adding delicate touches to make me stand out even more.
I sighed but didn’t argue.
Mira arched a perfect brow, her expression playful.“Aren’t you going to complain that a boob might fall out?”
I barked out a laugh, shaking my head.“That’s your plan, isn’t it?”
Her grin was shameless.“Always.”
Warmth curled around my chest, comforting yet bittersweet.
How was I supposed to leave her here?How was I supposed to leave at all?
Besides my mother, I had nothing back in the mortal realm.Here I felt seen.I wasn’t just existing.Even Jasila wasn’t as unbearable as she used to be.
As if summoned by a mere thought, Jasila walked in, with Theo and Tavrik flanking her like twin shadows.Her voice was calm, so different from the sharp-tongue woman I’d come to know.
