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“I know,” I say, burning with shame.
“The dark elves will be watching the ocean now. You are not safe on land or sea.”
“I know,” I say again, wanting to shrivel up and disappear completely. He’s not being harsh with me, just truthful, but shame wells up regardless. “If it’s too much to ask, just say so. I never meant to break your trust, I just…”
Just what? Thought he was a monster with sinister plans for me?
He is. And he does.
Despite our growing familiarity, I have a feeling he has not shown his hand yet. I shudder to wonder what it would be like if I gave myself to him entirely. But I am not allowed to live a normal life if I am to be his. I thought I could appeal to reason, for the little joys of being a two-legged creature on Protheka. Will it really come down to this?
Warmth and good food, or the wet slabs of khamer and Laiken’s cold embrace. As easy as it should be, it is not a choice I want to make, now or ever. I’m falling into my thoughts when his deep voice breaks the silence.
“I will go with you.”
I don’t quite understand the meaning of his words at first. I glance up, noting the seriousness of his expression and the firm set of his mouth. He is not one to let his treasure go twice, if that is what he considers me, and I know this is my best chance at finding some semblance of normalcy in a world not made for my kind.
I feel myself brighten. “You mean it?”
He nods slowly. “I do not like it.”
I try to hold back a grin and fail. “I promise, it will not take long once we reach the island. I know where everything is, and we can be back home before daybreak.”
A vulnerable look comes over him when I say the word ‘home.’
It’s a small concession, but I know that is what he wants most of all. For me to consider this place my home. And I could, after getting used to it. It would be a fine place to call home, in fact. The temple is so big that I can forget the dangers of the world beyond, here next to the ancient tree, or scouring its faded histories.
Laiken’s gift is two-fold.
It is what I’ve wanted my whole life, to belong somewhere. To feel cherished. But can I tolerate the other edge of Laiken’s affections? His possessiveness and overbearing nature?
He leans in to kiss me.
I want to express the depths of my gratitude, but my enthusiasm is muted for reasons I can’t quite place. I yield to his quick tongue and rolling breath, tasting his rolling musk that deadens my resistance. Soon we are entwined again, his tentacles coiling around my limbs to keep me close as he explores me. I shy from the raking of his teeth.
He slows, freeing my burning lips, and trails a kiss down my neck. “You will stay with me.”
“Yes,” I hiss in response.
Those dangerous teeth graze my flesh as he drags me closer still, as if to squeeze the acquiescence out of me. Like he can’t bear to let me go again. The next time he speaks, his voice rumbles through both our chests. “If I tell you to hide, you will hide.”
I nod vigorously.
His nails drag down my back, then settle around my hips. “If I tell you to return, youwillcome back to me without question.”
“Of course,” I say breathlessly.
“Good,” he rumbles, catching my hair and reuniting our lips in a fierce kiss. I can do nothing but surrender to his insistence, remembering why it is impossible to choose the very air I breathe over him.
My gills flutter open as if to take in a breath of their own volition.
Laiken’s mere presence is an abomination, a challenge to the gods below. He is the only one of his own kin that I know of. He shouldn’t exist.
But here he is, tethering me to him irreparably.
It is impossible to know what is right when I’m with him. The world could fall into ruin above, and I wouldn’t care if I knew he would be there to catch me.It’s wrong,comes the thought.It is so wrong!
And yet I’ve let him take me. Let him ruin me for anyone else.
