“I know.” We’re silent a moment, and then I breathe, “Thank you so much. I’m going to give you a raise.”
He lets out a laugh. “You’re not paying me. But in all honesty, I think that toy was raise enough. If you come up with something else…” He clears his throat. “Yeah, that was fucking hot.”
“Oh, so Rathyn liked it?” It feels weird to be talking normally after my entire world just shifted, but the fact that I can—the fact that I don’t have to deal with the aftermath of another Vyastil touching me—it’s enough to calm me.
“He loved it. He won’t stop yapping about it.”
I let out a small laugh, realizing my eyes are leaking. I sniffle and swallow. “I’m glad. Let me see what I can do next, and you can be one of the first test subjects.”
“Right after Cielo, amiright?”
I huff a small laugh. “Yeah. You’re right.” I feel a sudden ache in my bones. An impending flare, but hopefully I can stave it off. I reach for the tin of tea and peer inside, but there’s only a small leaf left. “Oh, hey. Is there any chance you can bring me a bit more zitha? I’m almost out.”
“Shit. I am too. But I’ll be making a run to Erethar for that and a few other things this afternoon. I can pick some up for you.”
I sag. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“When can I drop it by?”
My brow furrows, then I turn to look at the little magnetic calendar on my fridge. Thursday has a big circle on it and a birthday cake for Gia’s thirty-first. Shit. In all the chaos, I fucking forgot that was happening. It’ll be a whole family affair, but none of them have problems with the Vyastil, so it might be good to have Rathyn there to help make Cielo more comfortable.
Hell, I haven’t even told him yet that we are having company.
“We’re having a birthday party the day after tomorrow for my cousin, if you and Rathyn want to come? My whole family will be there, so it might be a lot, but I’d love to have you.”
Everest giggles. “Oh my god, I don’t think he knows about birthday parties. This is going to be hilarious. Count us in.”
I grin. “Sounds good. Talk soon?”
“Yep. And have fun telling Cielo. He’s gonna be happy, and hopefully his ears do that cute little twitch I love.”
“I love it too. So much.” And I mean that in more ways than one.
Everest gives me a knowing hum and then the line goes dead. I drop the phone to the counter, allowing myself an intense moment of shaking apart.
I was relieved not to have to go through with it today, but to know I might not have to do this ever again? That I can save myself entirely for Cielo?
I feel a strange but familiar pulse in my temples, and I push it aside, reaching for the milk when suddenly, I’m profoundly aware of another presence in the room. My body stiffens, and just before I can turn, clawed fingers are on me.
They tear at my shirt as they ruck it up, and suddenly, those powerful hands are spinning me. Cielo’s in my space, a growl rumbling in the back of his throat. His tail slides up my back, then down my thighs, before wrapping around me as he dives in nose-first.
He inhales, his long tongue following the path, licking a wet stripe over me. He’s done this before, but it feels…different now. More intense.
Powerful.
Primal.
I swallow thickly, trying to find the words, but before I can make a sound, he rips himself back, and his eyes bore into mine.
“Dante,” he says. My name is so clear on his lips now.
I reach a hand up, but before I can touch him, he snags me by the wrist and shoves his nose against my palm, sniffing deeply.
“Dante,” he says again. This time, there’s a questioning note in his voice. “Dante.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him. I dig my fingers into his sleep-tangled locks and pull him fully against me. “It’s okay. No one touched me.”
“Nnnnoo one?” he manages. He pulls back again, looking down into my face.
