Page 23 of Of Wind and Terror

I lick my suddenly dry upper lip and then move to perch on the bed. After only a moment, Blaze joins me, his huge body causing the bed to creak ominously.

I lift my hands and begin to sign slowly, carefully, giving him ample time to read each flick of my fingers.

“Calan took me,” I begin. “He wanted my help in finding the Death Whisperer.”

Blaze goes perfectly still—almost like a statue—and his hands form tight fists on his massive thighs. His body reverberates with what sounds like a growl.

Calan is unaware that this entire time, the fae he’s been looking for is…me. I’ve been directly under his nose this entire journey.

“Calan blames the Death Whisperer for the death of his brother,” I sign.

Despite everything Calan has done to me, I still feel a pang of pity and grief on his behalf. I’ve never been overly close to anyone before—unless you count my imaginary friend Raven—but I can’t imagine the pain one would feel losing someone you love, especially a sibling.

Does that excuse Calan’s actions? Not at all.

But it does make it easier for me to forgive him. After all, there’s no room in my heart for anger.

I gloss over my journey to the Summer Court—and the heated kiss I shared with Calan that still makes my lips tingle deliciously—and explain what happened at Gaia’s temple. Through it all, Blaze remains very, very still. I only need to repeat myself a few times. He must’ve been practicing Falkan while we’ve been separated.

The prospect makes my chest feel warm and tight.

“Who in the bloody hell would attack Gaia’s temple?” Blaze rages, baring his teeth.

He jumps to his feet and begins to pace. I rest my gloved hand over his in an attempt to calm him and use my free hand to sign.

“I have no idea. But that isn’t even the strangest thing that happened.” I debate my next words carefully.

Do I trust Blaze enough to tell him the truth of what happened with Aleksander and Patric? The answer should be a blatant no. Blaze has done nothing in all the time I’ve known him to earn my trust. He kidnapped me, used me, and treated me as a pet.

Yet…

My hands move before my brain can catch up, forming the words that may change the future for us irrevocably.

I tell him about Aleksander, the Amorites, and Patric. Before I can mention the mysterious Mark of Chaos, Blaze does something that surprises me.

He lunges forward, hauls me to my feet, and kisses me.

My lips part instinctively, and Blaze uses the opportunity to tangle his tongue with mine. I’ve kissed before—heck, I’ve kissed Blaze before—but not like this. Never like this. It’s like he’s trying to imprint himself on my mind, body, and soul.

Gaia, it’s working.

I know Blaze has experience, and before, that may have bothered me, but right now, I feel nothing but gratitude. I could have him kiss me forever.

Nerves tangle in my belly as Blaze tilts my head to the side to deepen the kiss. Two contradictory voices scream in my head.

STOP THIS! NOW!

Don’t ever stop this.

I never really considered someone to have a taste before, but I have to say Blaze’s is delicious.

Sweet, almost, but not in a way that’s sickening. There’s a bitterness to the kiss that fits the male before me perfectly.

His fingers move to my hair, and I don’t hold back the involuntary gasp that escapes me. It feels so good. Too good.

I’m not used to feeling good.

Sensations claw through me, but I can’t put my finger on what they are. All I know is the heat from his gaze drives the lingering chill away, and my skin prickles as it regains feeling. It’s almost as if I’ve been encased in ice for my entire life and his kiss is capable of thawing my prison, reducing it to nothing but liquid.

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