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"You were the first one to draw me in as a mortal while I was immortal. As it turns out, you'll be the last, too."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Is that your clever way of mentioning there was someone else under different circumstances?"
He gave me an of-course-I-have-don't-be-ridiculous look. It wasn't like I could say much. I still hadn't given him details on Jared, and I certainly didn't plan on doing it then.
"I've had experiences in the past. But everything I thought I knew about love changed the day I met you. Nothing in this world could ever compare to what I feel for you. No one could ever mean as much to me as you do. And nothing will ever change that."
All of my worry washed away with the smooth touch of his words. He pulled the covers down as he climbed into bed beside me. I kissed him again as I got out of bed to slip into something more comfortable myself.
After, making my selection, I headed to the bathroom to change. Smiling like a plotting vixen, I pulled on a thin pair of knit shorts that were barely long enough to hide things and a black spaghetti string shirt that dipped a little lower in the front.
Tallis's eyes widened when I walked back into the room, and then he narrowed them accusingly. "You aren't planning on making this easy for me, are you?"
The smug grin on my face refused to be banished. "You just said you wanted to wait. You didn't say I couldn't try," I said with as much innocence as I could muster.
He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. Then I continued, "Besides, it doesn't look like you're trying to make this easy on me either." I gestured toward his shirtless body.
His snickers continued as he stood up and walked over to his bag and pulled out a sleeveless shirt. After pulling it on, he motioned to his tattered shirt that I had ripped earlier.
"I was worried you would tear apart my entire wardrobe tonight."
I blushed feverishly and threw a pillow at him. He laughed as he caught it and tossed it on the bed. He quickly jumped back on the bed and lay facing me as he spoke in a playful tone. "Is that better?"
I frowned while exaggerating and exasperated sigh. "Not particularly."
He just smiled in a satisfactory way as he pulled me close and kissed me, teasing me more.
"We have all the time in the world," he said, grinning against my lips.
He broke off the kiss, and I snuggled into his side. It was then I realized how truly exhausted I was. In a moment, I was asleep, but even in my sleep I still worried about what the future held.
I would have to be ready. Everyone was depending on me. Everyone had been waiting on me. I knew in my heart I could not let them down, or I would lose everyone I loved—including Tallis. Just when I was starting to sleep peacefully, a flash came over my eyes.
A vision.
It was McKee and Yastine. They were chasing Iris and George. Iris and George had been unaware of the betrayal. My efforts to shield them from the family of traitors had left them vulnerable to an attack.
In a cold sweat, I jumped straight out of bed, scaring the hell out of Tallis as I did so.
He jumped to his feet in a defensive manner. His eyes scoured the room quickly before he turned to me.
"Aria, what's going on?" he whispered.
My reluctance to tell him about McKee was to keep him safe. Now I would just have to find a new way. "I'll tell you, but you have to promise you won't do anything. You have to trust me, and wait for the right time. You have to promise you won't leave me and do something rash. I can't be without you right now."
Confusion spread over his face, and he tensed beside me. "I'll promise you anything you want me to promise. I can't be without you either. Just tell me what's wrong."
I grabbed some decent clothes to change into, and he turned his back while I changed. I walked down the stairs, pulling my shirt down the rest of the way. I didn't want do this, especially not tonight.
I had to though. I had seen what happened if I didn't. Yastine was more powerful than I had known. She would crush Iris, and Iris was the center of our coven.
"Start calling everybody to get back over here. I will go assemble my family," I said shakily, causing Tallis to worry even more.
He resisted the urge to question me, and did as I asked. The night would be extended.
Chapter 18
A Family of Traitors
