ThenRavikpulled back, breathing hard, and turned to him.
Everything inSeverinwent still again as he stared into his best friend’s face.Hehad no idea what was coming.
Ravik looked at him for a long moment.Hisgolden eyes were bright, almost feverish.Thiswas something there.Fear, maybe?ButSeverinalso saw decision in those golden depths.
Ravik had made a choice.
“Sev,” he said quietly.
Severin stood slowly.Hedidn’t trust himself to speak.
Ravik stepped closer, andSeverinfelt every inch of the distance between them disappear like a wall crumbling after years of standing too long.Hecould see the pulse inRavik’sthroat, the faint tremor in his jaw, the uncertainty in his eyes.Ravikwas afraid…but he was still moving forward.
Severin met him halfway.
The kiss was nothing like the one in theTenebrianpleasure house.
That one had been half-drunk, half-dared, and half-denied before it was over.Thisone was sober and deliberate but also filled with passion.Ravik’smouth was warm and firm against his, rougher thanCassandra’s—familiar and shocking all at once.Fora second, neither of them moved.Theysimply stood there, lips pressed together, breathing the same air.
ThenRavikmade a low, broken sound and kissed him harder.
Severin’s control cracked.Helifted one hand toRavik’schest, feeling the heavy beat of his friend’s heart under his palm, and opened to him.
Ravik’s hand gripped the back of his neck—not forcing, only holding him there as though he was afraidSeverinmight vanish if he let go.
When the kiss finally broke,Severinwas breathing as though he had been running.Hefelt like he was in the middle of a dream.Washis best friend really acknowledging that there was something besides friendship between them?
Cassandra was looking at both of them with shining eyes, one hand pressed over her mouth.Tearswere still streaking her cheeks, but now she looked like someone who had seen the sun rise after a long, terrible night.
“Does this mean you’ll do it?”she asked softly.“You’llhelp us make the vaccine?”
Ravik looked at her, then atSeverin.
“Yes,” he said.“I’lldo it.I’llhelp.”
Cassandra’s breath hitched unevenly.
“And…and if we all end upBondedtogether?”she asked.
For a moment,Ravik’sold fear flickered in his eyes.Severinsaw it and he knewCassandrasaw it too.Butthis time,Ravikdidn’t run from it.
“Then it must be theGoddess’swill,” he said hoarsely.
Severin stared at him and sawRavik’smouth twist into a rough, emotional smile.
“She came to me,” he said.“TheMotherofAllLife.Sheshowed me what happens ifIleave.Sheshowed me what happens ifIstay.AndI…”Hisvoice broke for the first time.“Gods,Sev,Ialmost chose wrong.Butif it’s not too late,Iwant to stay.”
Severin reached for him then—he couldn’t help it.
“Of course we want you to stay,” he said, his voice coming out rough.“Gods,Ravik—that’s all we want.”
Ravik met him, and suddenlyCassandrawas between them too, all three of them tangled together in a tight, desperate embrace.
Severin held them both, his face pressed againstRavik’sshoulder and one arm locked aroundCassandra’sback.Ravik’sarms came around both of them, huge and muscular, andCassandrastood on her tiptoes and kissed them both.
For the first time sinceVisslickPrime,Severinlet himself believe that things might be all right…if they could actually form theTriuneBond.
65
