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“She’s being seen by healers,” he said, dismissing me.
“You can’t just do that!” I got to my feet, brushing invisible dirt off the pants I’d stolen from Richard.
“I can’t?” Suddenly Cole was right in my face, the distance between us swallowed in a fraction of a second. “I’ll do anything I godsdamn please. You broke out of Hell, killed a living shifter, and nearly got yourself sent to Tartarus in the process.”
“So?” My best friend needed me. That was all that mattered.
“You’re the most reckless woman in all the realms. You havenoidea about the danger you put yourself in.”
The fury in his words, laced with concern, took me aback.
It was a half-step stumble that had me against a wall. The fraction of a movement only urged Cole on, ready to give chase.
“You poisoned me with your kiss.”
“I did what I had to do,” I said, defiant. In another time, I might’ve felt bad, but I’d done it all to rescue Daphne. Who he’dpoofedaway before I could even properly check on her.
“Then I’ll do what I have to.” A threat. A promise. “Starting with replacing the taste of the poison you left on my lips.”
That was all the warning he gave before his mouth crashed into mine. He claimed my lips, devouring me. It was an angry kiss, a furious, vengeful one that threatened to sap the last remaining strength I possessed. My blood flavored the violent kiss, drenching us both. His hand rested on my throat, claiming the space Maddox had threatened to suffocate me with moments ago. The adrenaline of the fighting spurred me on.
He tasted better than I’d allowed myself to remember. Like smoke and death and a dark, dark promise. It was nectar on my tongue.
I thought I’d never taste him again.The idea was too unbearable to contemplate.
His spare hand went to my shirt. I was half drunk on the kiss, barely processing until I heard the sound of fabric ripping.
My eyes widened. Cole’s amber ones met them, glowing with fury. “Youreekof another male.”
I should’ve stopped him. Should’ve protested that I wasn’t going to get naked in front of him.
But Ididreek of Richard’s scent, and I was exhausted and had nearly died,again, and I would’ve much preferred to smell like Cole.
The shirt fell to the floor in tatters.
Then his lips were against mine again. I clawed at his shirt in turn, dragging my nails down his back as I pulled the silky fabric away. It was the same fine material he often wore, and as decadent as the sensation of my fingers over silk was, I wanted to feel him against me. It was instinct. It was animalistic. There was little awareness of our actions beyond a need to have him all over me.
He pushed harder, losing the restraint that held him back. I hadn’t even realized he was holding back until he slipped, but that was what Cole was. A storm of power in a carefully placed net.
I groaned, and the source was both pain and pleasure. Pleasure because Cole was here. Whatever our differences, he was touching me and it made my blood hum.
But also because the stone was digging into my back and I was pretty sure I had a bit of internal bleeding going on. It was probably shock that had kept me from feeling the depth of that realization. It didn’t hurt quite as much as it should, but it was starting to as the adrenaline of the battle wore off.
Cole pulled back with a foul curse.
“You’re hurt.”
I walked away from a fight with the Moon-Ghost Alpha. It’d be weird if I wasn’t.“I won.”
Cole towered over me, his gaze firm as he tilted my chin back with two fingers, as if I needed any encouragement to look at him. “You did.”
I sagged slightly, the acknowledgment making me weak.
Or the blood loss. That was also a possibility.
Cole caught me before I could fall. I was in his arms in an instant, tucked against him like I hadn’t poisoned him a few days ago.
“Where are we going?” My voice was thready.
