Page 122 of Facade

The only sound besides the rain was our heavy breaths and erratic pulses as we lay there.

The storm slowly dissipated, and light filtered through the window once more, casting a golden hue over our entangled bodies.

It also highlighted blood running down his arm.

“Shit, my talons must have shifted—” I breathed, hands cupping my mouth.

Strong arms wrapped around me, his laugh rich, sending goosebumps all the way to my toes as he rolled to the side.

“I’ll wear the scars proudly.”

As he kissed my head, I burrowed into him, laughing for the first time in a long time, taking comfort in his smell, his heat, his body, just… him.

35

Evanee

We fell asleep in each other’s arms, sleeping until the sun rose the next day. When I woke to his hand on my hip, his soft snores warming the back of my neck—I had to remind myself it wasn’t a dream. I had my memories back—I had Ryker.

I rolled, careful not to wake him, but he opened his eyes the moment I did.

He smiled sleepily at me, not looking at all like the hardened warrior he was, and lazily caressed my hip. I watched his arm move, admiring the tattoo on his shoulder. He had it when we first met, but the ink bordering it at the bottom was new.

“When did you get that?”

“Hmm?”

“The new tattoo. I don’t remember you having it before. It kind of looks like the one I have—”

“I don’t remember.”

“How do you not remember getting a tattoo?” I scoffed.

He mumbled something unintelligible while I studied my own arm. It wasn’t like I remembered where this one came from. Which was odd. I couldn’t wait to ask Aniah as uneasiness spread. Could this be left over from Cressida? I couldn’t go down that road right now. I shook my head, needing to think of anything else.

“Whose cabin is this?” I blurted instead.

“Thaddeus’s,” he huffed, voice sleep-ridden.

“Seriously?” The blood in my face drained, as if the Elemental could see what we’d done in the beautiful, chic room—rooms… Shit.

“Mmhm,” he mumbled, his face getting lost in the darkness of my hair.

“How did you get access to one of his cabins? How do you even know him?” I asked as his hand ventured up, grazing my breast lazily, making my core tighten.

“Aniah made a deal with him. He offered allies and help in return.” His voice was muffled, low, as if he were halfway back to sleep. No telling how long it’s been since he’s actually rested.

Too bad.

“What sort of deal?” I demanded, turning until his head fell onto the pillow. He looked up groggily, his white hair in disarray. The band tattoo stretched as he propped up on his arm.

“She has to go with him for a year. I was fucking livid. She made that deal without consulting me first. Now, she’s magically obligated to fulfill her end of it. If she were to try to break it or not hold up her end, it would be instant death.”

My stomach dropped.

“And what exactly is her end of it?” I growled, my own hand tracing the tattoo that looked so similar to mine. Or is it the same design? Why would—

“I’m not sure. She failed to gather those details. Don’t look at me like that. There was nothing I could do, and I gave her a fucking earful, trust me. She knows Thaddeus from long ago and swears he’d never do anything… untoward.”