“Really?” I ask.
Nyx nods, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I’ll take any opportunity I can to have you in my bedroom.”
He winks, and I turn my head to hide my blush, prompting Nyx to let out a deep, throaty chuckle. “I love when your cheeks do that. So pink and adorable.”
“I love it more.” Rhune dips down to nuzzle the side of my neck. “So much more.”
“It’s not a competition,” I say with a laugh.
“Of course not,” Nyx says. “Because I am the clear winner in every aspect.”
Rhune growls, his eyes flaring bright. “I?—”
“Found her first. You keep saying that.” He grins, his eyes lighting with mischief. “But do you know how to keep her?” Slowly, Nyx pulls me out of Rhune’s grip, placing me on the furs between their massive bodies. He rests his hand on my thigh, his gaze searing into mine as he slides it higher. “Would you like me to show you?”
I swallow hard, all too aware of the heat pooling low in my stomach. I slide my thighs together, trying desperately to think past the lust fogging my mind.
“I… um…” My gaze darts toward Rhune just in time to watch his tongue slide over his lower lip, and the sight sends a shiver through me.Fuck it.
My control is just about to snap when an unearthly screech sounds from deep in the tunnel, shattering the spell we were all under.At least, the oneIwas under.
“Poor Cin.” Rhune’s eyes move toward the exit, creasing with sympathy. “He’s hurting.”
“I know. But we can’t let him go. Not yet,” Nyx says. “As soon as he’s lucid, I will free him.”
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask. “Did he lose control of his demon, like Dravik?”
Nyx and Rhune share a look I don’t understand. “Not exactly…”
“Then what?”
“You remember when I told you about how we were all brought to life?” Nyx asks.
I nod.
“Well… when Cin was brought back, he wasn’t exactlywhole. Cin’s formation was never complete, and it never can be. There are parts of him that are still scattered around this world, long-lost to the wind and the dirt and the ocean. In part, it’s a good thing, because it means Slaine can never be brought back together—like in a traditional sundering. But it also means that Cin’s mind and his body are damaged. It is why he wears the mask, and why we had to chain him to keep him from hurting us.”
“So he’s evil, like Slaine?”
“Gods, no!” Rhune shakes his head violently. “He is good, deep down. I have seen it. He just… he loses himself, sometimes. His mind and soul are dark places, filled with vile memories, and it weighs heavily on him. He has these nightmares?—”
“I think that’s more than enough information, Rhune,” Nyx says, softly. “If Cin wants to share his story with Willow, he will.” He turns toward me with a small, sad smile. “What Rhune says is true, though. He is good deep down in his soul. You should not fear him.”
“Wasn’t he going to attack me?”
“Not you.Us.Me and Rhune.” Nyx reaches out, brushing my cheek with the pad of his thumb. “Before he shut me out, I had a flash of his inner feelings. He was never going to hurt you. I don’t believe that he can, even if he wanted to.”
“Oh… that’s relieving, I guess.” For some reason, my mind flashes to the interaction between me and Cin earlier.What was it he said? Ser… seraf… serafyn?
“Hey, Nyx…?”
“Yes, lovely?”
I clear my throat, trying to focus despite the heat creeping into my face.
“Um… Cin said something to me earlier. Something I don’t understand.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
