Page 70 of Premonition of Peace

The tension built.

Seconds passed.

The lack of air was sending me into a spiral of ecstasy.

Each sensation inside me intensified.

Every electric touch sent jolts through my body.

I fluttered around him, my inner walls clenching him tight as my orgasm spasmed uncontrollably. My eyes rolled as I came so hard I almost passed out. When he released my throat, stars exploded with the onset of air. A tidal wave rushed through,coating him beneath me as I cried out. He let out a low, deep groan when he pulled my hips down hard and thrusted up, bottoming out and emptying inside of me.

Aftershocks rolled through me, and I fell forward, exhausted, and intensely happy. My head nestled into the crook of his neck. His heartbeat was fast and strong. Healthy.

“I’ve waited so long,” Marcel said softly, splaying a hand on my back and caressing the skin. I hummed, not having the energy to form words. “All I ever wanted was a future with you.”

“I’m here now,” I whispered, mirroring the sentiment he’d shared with me earlier.

The beauty of the moment stalled, but I didn’t want to let him know. There wasn’t time for me to think about the future. I didn’t know if I was going to survive another day.

Living in the moment was all I had, and I wanted to give myself to him without that hanging in the balance. We’d finally stopped the sand in his hourglass, but a new hourglass had been turned, and this one affected everyone I loved. I would do anything to protect them.

Only I could shatter the glass before time ran out.

I just didn’t know how.

twenty-three

NATHALIE

Fucking dreams.

You’d think after mind-blowing orgasms, you’d sleep soundly. Apparently not.

Too many times I’d startled myself awake, my hand clutching my chest and feeling my pounding heart while my breath came in ragged gasps and sweat coated my body.

Each time, Marcel woke with a jolt, pulling me back into his arms and lulling me back to sleep with his warm embrace.

Visions of raging fire and fields of glass. Wolves and ravens attempting to shred each other to pieces as they fought. Everyone I loved standing on the other side of a dark, bottomless canyon while I helplessly watched The Morrigan destroy them.

“Marcel?” I whispered softly, checking to see if he’d stir. The gentle rhythm of his breathing was my only answer.

Good. I felt bad enough waking him up so much. He’d always been a deep sleeper, but someone thrashing next to you was hard to ignore.

A glance at the clock told me it was nearly three in the morning. If my anxiety refused to let me sleep, so be it. I slipped out of bed, deciding that tea and a comfy blanket in my reading chair might be what I needed. Grabbing sweatpants and an oversized sweater, I pulled them on quickly and left, shutting the door softly behind me. The floorboards creaked under my feet as I made my way to the kitchen.

The familiar routine of making tea helped to steady my racing thoughts. As the kettle heated up, I leaned against the counter, staring out the window into the dimly lit, sleeping city.

My sister was still out there somewhere. So was Morgan Le Fay. Katherine was biding her time, staying hidden. She was good at it, thankfully. My hope was that bought me a few more days. For someone who had been in control for so long, it was terrifying to know how much of this wasn’t in my hands, but I wouldn’t let fear paralyze me. The fact I wasn’t in control pissed me off as well. This was my city. My family. If I was going to let an emotion drive me, I’d choose the latter.

The kettle whistled, pulling me from my thoughts. I poured the hot water over the tea leaves, watching as the steam curled into the air. The scent of jasmine filled the kitchen, soothing and familiar. I wrapped my hands around the mug, letting the heat seep into my skin.

Tea in hand, I walked around the sigil and headed to my den. The French doors creaked lightly as they swung open. The smell of books mingled with the scent of jasmine, and I felt at ease.

“Maybe I can sleep sitting up,” I said aloud to no one but myself. Even if it were a small cat nap, if it was dreamless, I’d take it.

I audibly sighed in relief as the comfort of the chair held me.Mindset,I told myself.You can sleep. Safely. You can rest.”

My body relaxed. The tea had worked its magic, and I was in my favorite spot. As I began to drift . . .

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