Page 83 of An Empress of Earth & Darkness

She turned to look at him, and her chest tightened when she did. His face was full of apprehension. “No,” she said quickly. “Not at all. Do you?”

The sparkle came back like a tidal wave in his crystal eyes. “Not even my nightmares will dare to dream of it.”

She laughed as his fingertips made their way up her spine, sending shivers across her skin. Before she could lean in and feel the warmth of his lips, embers broke in the fireplace. Emara looked up to see that there was a fireletter hovering above the flames. She leaped from the bed and opened it.

“Who is it from?” Torin asked, relaxing back into the same position as before.

Emara rolled her eyes. “Artem.”

“What is he saying now?” Torin sighed.

Emara tried to hide a small smile that was sneaking onto her lips as she read it. “He has advised that they have readied the supplies, and Gideon has organised the weaponry and the men. And he’s afraid of you gutting him alive if he knocks to wake us.”

“Dramatic prick.”

“You love him really.”

Emara saw a shy smile tuck into Torin’s lips, and his dark lashes swept down as he said, “I wouldn’t go that far.”

A rattle came from the door, causing Emara to leap from her skin.

“Did you get my letter?” a loud voice broke through the door.

“Are you not supposed to wait until we respond to the letter to knock on the door, Stryker?” Torin called. He stood, revealing that he was entirely naked under the sheets.

Emara’s face must have revealed her surprise because he gave her a quick wink and one of his most wicked grins. “It’s not like you haven’t seen it before, angel.”

By the Gods, why did this man make her feel like her heart had never been alive until him?

He paraded across the room and pressed his mouth to hers, claiming her lips. It stole her breath, and her stomach flipped as she melted against him. His hands caressed her face once and then he pulled back reluctantly.

“I couldn’t have started my day without doing that.” He rubbed his thumb on her chin and then passed her, leaving her robbed of more kisses, breath, and the heat of his body.

She swallowed, collecting herself as Torin opened the door, still entirely naked. “Good morning, Stryker.”

“Well hello, sailor.” Artem whistled and made his way into the room uninvited. “What a way to greet your best friend, Tori-boy.”

Torin blinked. “You’re not my best friend.”

Artem’s booming laugh could have been the alarm clock for the full Tower. “You have no other friends, Torin, which makes me your best one.”

Emara sniggered, and Artem threw a wink her way as he tucked his inked hands into the groove of his weapon belt.

Torin turned and mouthed, “Traitor.” The look in his eyes told her that he would get her back for betraying him. But why did that look make her toes curl?

“What made you so chipper this early?” Torin asked as he strode across the room to find bottoms to pull on.

“I am ready to seize the day, Commander Blacksteel.” His golden eyes glittered as he announced Torin’s new title. “And by the looks of things, so are you two.” His eyebrows wobbled suggestively. “Did you manage to get any sleep at all, you little love tigers?” He made a pawing action that almost sent Emara over the edge.

“We have a long journey ahead of us, Artem.” Emara sighed. “Let’s not make it painful.”

“We have a long journey and a wedding.” Artem grinned.

“Okay, Artem. I am fine with you just barging into our space, unannounced—”

“I did announce myself—by fireletter and by door. What more could you want from me?”

Emara’s eyebrows rose. “Maybe a little privacy?”

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