Page 388 of Evil Hearts

As they stood there, bound by a shared purpose and an unspoken connection, the first hints of dawn began to paint the eastern sky. Aldric’s gaze turned toward the lightning horizon, a mixture of resignation and longing etched upon his features.

“Come,” he said softly, “we must return to the cathedral before the sun’s first touch. There is still much to discuss, and the day grows near.”

With a nod, Elena followed him out of the courtyard, and he lifted her in his arms, leaping upward into the night sky with a woman who was entirely not ready for such an ascent.

Chapter Four

Aldric perched atopthe cathedral, his gaze fixed on the stars above. Each point of light felt like a reminder of his eternal vigil, still bound by the curse that stole his days. But tonight, he wasn’t alone again.

Elena had returned, just as she promised.

He watched her step carefully across the weathered stones, a dance of curiosity and caution. In the moonlight, her fiery hair shimmered like the embers of a dying fire, and Aldric felt a warmth stir within his chest that he had long forgotten.

As she drew closer, Aldric stepped from the shadows. “You came back,” he said softly, his voice tinged with both surprise and gratitude.

Elena smiled, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. “I couldn’t resist the allure of ancient secrets and brooding gargoyles.” She ran a hand over his wings. “Plus, flying was really cool once I was dumb screaming.”

Aldric chuckled, a sound that felt foreign yet pleasant on his lips. In her presence, the weight of centuries seemed to lift, if only for a moment. But as the laughter faded, a somber realization settled upon him.

He needed her help, more than he cared to admit. The curse that bound him was not broken, merely altered and there weredozens more on the rooftop. It felt wrong to be free for a few hours when his brethren were not.

And yet, you don’t ask her to touch them because you don’t want to share her time.

The selfish thought bristled him and he shook it off.

Aldric took a step towards her, his gaze intense. “Elena, I must ask you something.” He paused, searching for the right words. “How far are you willing to go to help?”

Before she could answer, Elena stumbled, her foot catching on a loose stone. Instinctively, Aldric lunged forward, his arms encircling her waist as he pulled her close. He scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest as if she weighed nothing at all.

As he looked down into her eyes, Aldric a surge of emotion threatened to overwhelm him. With a trembling hand, he reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch gentle despite how hard he knew his fingers would be for her.

Her eyes locked onto his and didn’t falter and though he held her, she did not try to move and he did nothing to set her back on her feet. Their faces remained mere inches apart and her body still lay within his grasp.

Aldric’s heart raced, a drumbeat of anticipation and uncertainty pounding in his chest. Part of him feared that she would recoil from his touch, repulsed by the monstrous form he wore.

But Elena did not flinch. Instead, she leaned into his embrace, her hands coming to rest upon his shoulders. He was shocked as her looked into her eyes and no longer saw not the fear and revulsion from just a week ago, but a glimmer of something else entirely.

Understanding. Acceptance. And perhaps, even desire.

“Elena, I...” Aldric’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I apologize. I’m uncertain if I can prevent myself from kissing you right now. It might be best if you remove yourself while I work on understanding what being awake after centuries has done to me.”

The words hung between them, a confession and a plea all at once. Elena said nothing, her gaze never wavering from his. Aldric’s heart thundered in his ears as he lowered his head, slowly closing the distance between their lips.

When he finally pressed his lips against hers, it was like a lightning strike. Her lips were soft whereas he knew hers would crush with a bruising force despite his body now only being stone colored and not made of stone.

The kiss was heated, desperate, as if they were both starving for the taste of each other. Aldric’s mind reeled as fragmented memories sprang to life—a dance in a candlelit ballroom, stolen glances across a crowded cathedral, the brush of her hand against his in a moment of shared grief.

He couldn’t make sense of the visions, but one thing was clear. This was not their first kiss. Somehow, in some other lifetime, they had been here before.

Aldric’s body responded with a ferocity that shocked him. His cock hardened and felt like the stone he was cursed to be, straining against the confines of his trousers. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted Elena higher, making certain she could feel the evidence of his desire as he carried her toward the wall.

“Forgive me,” he gasped, tearing his mouth from hers. “It’s been so long, and you feel so good in my arms.”

To his surprise, Elena’s fingers threaded through his hair, pulling him back down to her. “Then don’t,” she breathed against his lips. “Don’t stop.”

Permission granted, Aldric claimed her mouth once more, pouring centuries of loneliness and longing into the kiss. Theworld fell away until all that remained were them, entwined beneath the star-strewn sky, lost in a passion that defied the curse itself.

Aldric’s hands roamed Elena’s body with an intensity born from pent-up desire. His fingers traced every curve and dip of her form, mapping the contours he had long admired from afar. In a frenzy, he tore at her clothing, needing to feel her skin against his own. She met his urgency, their movements a symphony of passion as she yanked at his shirt to reveal the taut muscles of his chest. Their bodies melded together, each touch igniting a new wave of heat and longing between them. He was no longer stone, but it seemed everywhere she touched he went taught.

---