“Kilian, I’m going to–”
His other hand reached between us to the apex of my thighs, and his thumb stroked decadent circles in time with each hard thrust. It was over before it had even started. Cause of death: Kilian Valhan.
I splintered into a million pieces, the world fracturing and reforming in a matter of seconds, but still he rolled his hips against me, his pace unfaltering.
I pressed my lips to his throat, scraping my teeth against his pulse point. I bit down. His muscles tensed and darkness lashed out in waves. Thunder crashed and boomed in the distance as he finally,finally, let go. I stared up at him, realizing with somewhat alarming clarity that the brightest stars were not in the night sky. They were in his eyes. He was made of darkness and starlight, pure energy and raw power. And he was mine.
His chest heaved and he dropped his forehead against mine, as if to agree:I am yours.
“How can you expect me to let you compete in the Rite?” He sighed. “I understand my role in the Trials has been cruel, but this is diabolical of you.”
“I’m not trying to punish you.” I ran my fingers over the bite mark I’d indented into his skin. “I want to make it through the Rite so we can do this every day. Forever.”
“I can’t convince you otherwise? I won’t be able to help you during the Rite. I can’t control it when it starts. Once you’re in there, the process can’t be halted. If your body rejects the current…” Anguish laced his words, and I felt the sting ricochet through me.
“I understand. I’ve made my decision. Can you respect it?”
A heavy breath ripped through him. “I don’t like it.”
“I know.”
He gave me a grim look. “It’s been days since you’ve been away. The Rite is tonight.”
Tonight? Fresh panic clawed at my heart, but I tamped down on it. I didn’t want Kilian to know just how fucking scared I was.
I pressed a quick kiss to his lips before slipping out of his hold.
He reached after me. “Where are you going?”
Empty sadness radiated through the link, drenching me in hollow, aching despair.
“To get ready. I’ve got a big day ahead of me.” I winked, hoping that he would not sense just how false my bravado was.
Valhan House was a melting pot of activity by the time we returned. The elven, it seemed, were all preparing for the Rite. Not Syrina, though. She was at the arch, arms folded as she stared into nothing, when we returned through the scry.
She gaped at me and then rushed forward, scooping me into a hug. I blinked and slowly hugged her back. I had only spoken to her once before, but she held me like we were old friends. When she pulled back, she looked at Kilian. The pair seemed to be having a wordless conversation, conveyed only by looks.
Finally, she said, “I’m really glad to see you again, Lirah.”
“I, uhm… I’m glad to see you too.”
Syrina murmured something about waiting for a delivery and then strolled off past the archway. I gave Kilian a quizzical look. “What was that all about?”
“Syrina was worried when you didn’t come back,” he said simply.
“Oh.”
“Come on, let’s get you inside. It’s freezing out here.”
Kilian parted ways with me on the third floor, claiming he needed to find Septimus to assure his friend that he had not razed Cosanus to the ground in search of me. He kissed me softly before leaving, and all it did was make me want him more.
Lana and Moric were in the sparring room, meditating of all things. But when Lana saw me, all quiet and calm vanished. She leaped up, sprinting to pull me into her arms, Moric right behind her.
I clasped my friends tightly as they peppered me with question after question.
I told them everything. From the fae, to the geysers, to Greyhaven. They listened with wide eyes and open mouths.
“We thought you’d died. I’ve been a wreck,” Lana said, and indeed, her eyes were red and rubbed raw. “Was it terribly scary in that cave?”
