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“Meat Suit? If there’s any other tragic fucking news, I am going to need a moment,” I warned. My head was between my knees, which applied pressure, even as my eyes squeezed closed.
“I think you’re supposed to sit down before trying to shove your head up your own ass,” Lore’s rasping voice tugged at my heartstrings.
He sat down beside where I was trying not to hyperventilate. My gaze inspected the deep gouges in his flesh, knowing precisely what Hecate had done to him. Being near him made it effortless to distinguish the claw marks of the dire wolf from its long canine incisors. My heartstrings pulled as I leaned forward, resting my arms over the top of my knees, the same as he had done. I felt the sting of tears burning behind my eyes as he released a long-shuttered breath, as if he’d been holding it this entire time.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you,” I whispered as I rested my head against my arms, poised on my knees.
“We’re all just glad you’re back now, Aria.” My smile slid to his, which didn’t touch his eyes. Lore’s light was dimmer. The amber gaze he held on me lacked the normal sparkle of golden light in their starry zeniths. “The dragon needs you to save him, damsel. Occasionally, all things need to be saved, even if it is from themselves.”
“Are you okay?” My voice shook as a single tear slipped free. I’d been unable to conceal the tremble of my tone, or tears from Lore.
“I’ll be alright now that you’re back where you belong. Knox left you a letter,” he informed, then slowly sat up, leaning against the bookcase. I saw the slight flinch caused as his back went flush against the wood.
Lifting my head, I frowned as I realized why he wasn’t healing. “There are no witches here.” I stood, even as Lore looked at me like I’d gone off my meds. “It’s dire wolf saliva. It’s poisonous. Once it is in the flesh, you need a salve to remove the toxins. That’s why your scars aren’t healing, Lore,” I simplified it when he merely narrowed those dull, amber eyes on me.
“See,” he muttered softly. Lore smiled, exposing the severity of what Hecate had done to him. His eyes held mine, uncaring as I stared at the damage. “It’s okay, Aria. I hear chicks dig scars.” He winked, but I didn’t feel the same way he did.
Hecate had placed him in a pillory, then allowed a starved dire wolf to rip his face and arms apart. Though, she’d probably used the magical restraints on it, ensuring the wolf hadn’t killed her bait for the beast she really sought. I carefully lifted my hand, noticed he flinched, then shrank away from my touch. Sitting back, I gave him a reassuring smile.
“I need to know if she allowed him to use toxins, or venom, Lore.” At my softly whispered words, he dipped as his eyes closed.
“Aria?” Killian called, then sat down beside me. “He isn’t okay.”
“I won’t hurt Aria. One day, she’s going to be my baby momma. Maybe sooner than I thought, since we lost fucking Knox.” The guilt bore heavily on his words. Pain fought to roil through me, but I shoved it down. “If she can even stand the sight of me now.”
“I think I prefer this version. The other was entirely too pretty for my taste,” I returned, leaning closer as I smirked at the sparkle lighting in his eyes. “Who knew it was true, huh? Scars really make a girl wet after all,” I lied, uncaring if he bought it or not as my fingers skimmed against the deep cut beneath the skin, where he would never heal without assistance to extract the toxin.
His hand reached up, gripping my wrist. Sliding my gaze to hold his, I offered him a smile as his lips skinned over my knuckles. Dropping to my knees, I cupped his cheeks between my palms and exhaled.
“We are going to be okay, Lore. This? This will pass too,” I promised, knowing he’d come back from it. He had to. He was Lore. The one good thing I’d had, no matter which side they’d assumed I was on. “We’ve come a long way from when or how we met.”
“You fucking throat punched me,” he recalled with a genuine smile glittering in his eyes. “That’s the moment I knew I loved you, Aria. My fucking dick was rock-hard, even though I couldn’t breathe.” I laughed outright at his remark, then shook my head.
“She’s a queen,” Eva whispered to Zyion. He smiled, then chuckled at the sight of me on my knees, tending to my friend as I coaxed him back from the darkness.
“You’re right. She’s the queen. And that is her friend who is in pain right now. I knew a queen like her once before,” Zyion returned.
“I need fresh mugwort, borage, saffron, and feverfew,” I stated as I turned, eying the room. No one moved, which caused my eyes to narrow. “I need it yesterday, gentlemen!” The entire room moved into action. Returning my attention to Lore, I noted the way his eyes devoured me. “Lore?” Before I could react, he had me pinned against the floor.
“Pretty.” His rasping purr caused Ember to rise, peering through my eyes. “I see you, creature. Even better, I smell you,” he hissed eerily.
“That looks like your problem, Aria. Not mine. Mommy isn’t playing with . . . whatever he is. He’s about to show you how daddy likes it,”she snickered. I felt her stiffen as his eyes spread with thin, golden vines that spider-webbed down his cheeks.“He’s a super freaky one!”Ember began hummingSuper Freakin my head, which left me annoyed and worried.
“Lore, stop.” His smile was lethal. It sent a shiver of heat straight to my core, which had him inhaling the tendon at the base of my throat. “Please.” My eyes closed as his scent slammed against me, forcing arousal to coat my sex. The sound of feet rushing over the floor sent worry for Lore. It also gave me hope I wouldn’t have to hurt him in order to make him stop.
Basilius yanked Lore off of me, holding him as he struggled in his arms. My eyes held Basilius’s gaze fleetingly before drifting to the amber eyes, which were tracking me with predatory awareness. I stepped to the side, and Lore’s head swung toward me, laser-sharp focus as he released a primal rattle, which had my thighs clenching.
“Incubus, and dragon. Born of Isadora and my father, Lennox,” Brander muttered from behind me. Turning, I watched the strain playing on his face. “It isn’t a delightful combination to watch struggling.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, with Lore’s demand to bow drifting against my skin, causing goosebumps to rise.
“It means he needs to fuck, and fuck often. Only, Lore doesn’t stop feeding until death occurs. Once he starts to feed, even if you remove the meal he’s feeding from, he can still consume her soul. In short, feeding him is a death sentence to anyone brave enough to try doing so.” Brander looked exhausted, as if he’d not rested once since Knox had left.
“When’s the last time you slept more than a few hours?” I questioned, which had his vibrant, bedroom eyes sliding to lock with mine.
“Honestly, I don’t remember when I slept last.” Guilt radiated through me as I nodded. “You shouldn’t feel guilty about what happened. It would’ve happened with or without you here. Knox would’ve still sent the soldiers out to find the caravan lost in the passes. Lore would have still requested to go since most were women, and you know how he is. Hecate would have still been there and captured Lore. The only difference would have been, you’d have traded yourself before you ever let Knox do so. If that happened, it would be a disaster for everyone, Aria. If Hecate got to you, it would be game-over,” he warned.
“I still should have been here, Brander. If I’d known going into the mountains would make me lose months? I’d have fallen off the damn dragon to stop from being flown up there.”
