“Mmm,” I moan as I drag my tongue through the wet mess she’s left me on her thighs.
She giggles and wriggles as I nibble and kiss and lick her sensitive spots.
“I love it when you’re like this.”
She stills.And I realise what I’ve said, what precious word slipped out without my permission.
Love.
“I do, you know…” she says.
“Do what?”I say, nudging her legs open so I can lie between them again.
“Love you, Architecti.I think I did the moment I saw you.”
This time, it’s me who freezes.I want this.And yet my entire being repels it.The more I love her, the worse it will be when my sister inevitably takes her from me.
“You can’t,” I whisper as two shimmering tears fall to her thighs.
“And you can’t stop me,” she says, running her fingers through my hair.
“But Interitus will.”
“She’s stayed under the radar for years, maybe she’s just living her life the way she wants now.”
I scoff at this.“You don’t know her.There is no stopping.She will not relent until she gets exactly what she wants.And what she wants is the total annihilation of our system of fate.”
“Then we’re safe, what would she want with me?”Gellara says and nudges me until I move to lie next to her.
“Because as relentless as she is, I am far more so.I will not let my sister bring any more ruin.And if I stand in her way, then she will come for everything I love and anything I care for.”
“You don’t know that…”
But I do.
It’s a truth that lives in my soul.It’s a kraken, a serpent, a monster shaped like Interitus.
A muffled noise blares outside the windows.Gellara frowns and gets out of bed and strolls to the window, pulling the curtain aside.
Her shoulders stiffen.
“What is it?”I ask.
When she faces me, her stance is rigid, her expression hard.
“They found us?”I whisper, goosebumps breaking out over my arms and neck.
She yanks the curtain shut.“We need to leave.”
I’m out of bed dressing and shoving clothes into bags.
This is what she does.A bubble of anger rises into my throat.It’s not Gellara’s fault, but she doesn’t listen.I told her Interitus would ruin everything, but she won’t ever have it.
And now we’re having to run again.
The chanting grows louder outside.My name a curse in their melody.
My chest tightens.
