Karl’s eyes become brighter with unshed tears, and his Adam’s apple bobs up and down. “I never touched another female after you. The very idea made me sick to my stomach. It was only thanks to Solomon and his concoctions that I didn’t seek death when the pain became unbearable.”
His confession makes me feel even guiltier, and angry. Why couldn’t Solomon have done the same for me?
“I would have done that too, if that had been available to me. Even tricking my brain into believing I was with you, the guilt that came after was crippling. I hated myself.” Tears roll down my cheeks, and this time, I don’t wipe them off.
Karl stands up and turns away, pressing a fisted hand against his mouth. His body is shaking now, and thanks to our connection, which is as strong as it was before all the tampering, I know the turmoil that lies in his heart.
“You’re not a wolf shifter. Feeding and sex go hand in hand for vampires. I think that’s why Solomon’s potions wouldn’t work for you.” He looks at me. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but he came to the New World with Cheryl and me as a personal request from King Raphael, with the sole purpose of helping us adjust to our new reality.”
My jaw drops. “I had no idea my uncle did that.”
Karl nods. “When he asked me to resume my duties as your familiar, I couldn’t say no.”
He didn’t enroll at Bloodstone Institute for me, then. He did so out of duty to my uncle. The knowledge feels like a knife twisting into my heart.
What did you expect, Manu? You destroyed Karl.
I finally wipe my wet cheeks. “I know it’s probably too late for us, but… my feelings for you have not changed. If anything, they’re stronger than ever. I will always love you, Karl.”
I get up, needing to move away from him and his aloofness. Besides, we have to get out of here, and I have a feeling we’ll only find the way out after we locate the Magna Vis King Ruel so desperately desires. The mist is very thin now, allowing me to see the plains of a bare landscape.
“Your actions weren’t for nothing, Manu,” Karl says suddenly. “Queen Maewe didn’t lie about the curse.”
I whirl around and face him again. “You’re still alive. Clearly, she did.”
He shakes his head. “No. Nightingales don’t lie. I don’t know if it’s not in their nature or if they simply can’t.”
“Then how do you explain the fact that you’re standing there and not dead?”
He glances around, furrowing his brow as if in deep thought. “I think it’s this place. Selor said it was akin to purgatory, and that no kingdom in Ellnesari had a claim to the Valley of Lost Souls. The magic here must cancel out Queen Maewe’s curse.”
I let out a shaky breath while the tightening in my chest returns. Closing my eyes, I turn away from Karl, not wanting him to see me cry again. “We’re back to square one, then. Nothing has changed.”
His steps crunch over loose gravel as he shortens the distance between us. When he stops behind me, I can feel the heat radiating from his body. He places his hands on my upper arms and leans down, bringing his lips close to my ear. “You’re wrong. Everything has changed, Manu. I know now why you sent me away. I can help you break this damn curse.”
“Why would you want to do that?” I ask through the lump in my throat, not daring to hope.
He kisses the back of my head and whispers, “Because it’s not too late for us. As long as I’m breathing, it will never be too late.”
I let out a whimper, and this time, the tears rolling down my cheeks are of pure joy. Karl spins me around and frames my face with his hands. “My love for you has no bounds. It’s bigger than the moon, the stars, and all the galaxies. You’re my universe, Manu. Life without you has no meaning.” He kisses my cheek. “No color.” Then the corner of my mouth. “No joy.” He claims my mouth, kissing me deep and slow, taking his time, as if he wants to savor me.
But I’ve been deprived of him for far too long, and I can’t accept this pace. I need more—so much more. Using my good arm, I grab Karl’s shirt and pull the fabric upward. He groans against my lips, then finishes what I started, yanking his shirt off. I almost weep at the sight of his wide chest, of his taut muscles covered in the freckles I adore.
Unable to resist, I run my tongue over his pec, grazing my fangs around his nipple. He gasps, then grabs a lock of my hair, twisting the strand around his fist. “Manu… fuck.”
I lower into a crouch while running my tongue down his abs until I reach the edge of his jeans. Too eager to get rid of the barrier, I pull the fabric too hard, and the button pops off. Karl doesn’t even notice, especially when I free his cock and suck his length into my mouth.
“Manu…,” he rasps, then begins to move his hips, pistoning in and out. “Oh God, how I’ve missed your mouth on me, Princess.”
I keep my fingers wrapped around his base and play with him, alternating sucking and licking his velvety skin. He grows larger and harder in my mouth, and his pace increases. His release is close; I feel it on my tongue, sense it below my skin. I want to take him there more than anything in the world, but he pulls out suddenly.
“No. I want to surrender to the bond while I’m inside you, beautiful.” He pulls me up gently, then lowers my jeans to my ankles, mindful of my many scratches. I barely feel my injuries anymore, though.
His fingers dig into my ass as he lifts me off the ground—not that I wasn’t already planning on climbing him. I have no idea where we’re going, but I open my legs nonetheless, and using my hand, I guide his cock to my soaking wet pussy. His mouth is back on mine the moment he enters me with a hard push, making me moan against his lips. I missed the feel of his cock filling me, stretching me, making me whole.
Because of my injuries, the only way we can be together is like this, standing in the middle of the wasteland. But Karl has no issues fucking me in this manner. He’s doing most of the work with his arms, moving my hips back and forth. It doesn’t take long for tingles of pure ecstasy to radiate through my body. I cry out when the most intense and fastest orgasm I’ve had in centuries shatters me, turning me into stardust.
Karl grunts, then bites my lower lip, drawing blood. The pain sends another wave of pleasure through me and ignites a different type of hunger.
