Page 85 of Anchor

Now, here we were.

“The ward,” said Taland. “Illusion magic, among other things. Come. Let me show you the house.” He raised his hands for me. “If you dare.”

“A little darkness doesn’t scare me, Blackfire.” I meant it—nothing scared me when I was with him. “Whereexactly are we?”

“One of the many safe houses Selem has created for its subjects,” he said.

“Selem—I read about that. It’s that secret organization you’re part of, isn’t it,” I said. “But wait—what subjects?” And also, “Whyare you smiling like that?”

I mean, I loved it, and his smile pulled up mine, but how could he be so calm and amused and all aroundhappywhen we were running for our lives here?

“Why wouldn’t I smile? The world is spinning, the sky is dark, and we’re alive.” Suddenly he was right in front of me, wrapping his hands around me, biting his bottom lip as he looked down at mine. “It’s awonderful world…”he sang in a whisper.

I couldn’t help but smile wider, shake my head. “You’re drunk.”

“Not yet.”

“Oh, so you’re planning to drink now?”

“I’m planning to eat,” he said, then brought out his tongue to lick my lips, taking my breath away. “I’m planning to get drunk off your sweetness.”

Heat all over my body, especially between my legs. “Taland,” I warned because he wouldn’t even need to do much to convince me—a simple kiss would suffice, really—and he knew we needed to talk. To get to the bottom of this. To figure this out.

“Yes, Rosabel?” he said, and those annoying butterflies went at it in my stomach like always when he said my name like that—like a damn caress.

“We need to talk.”

“We do,” he said with a nod. “We will.”

“Right now.”

“Of course. We’re talking, aren’t we?” But the look in his eyes and that grin…

“Taland, I’m serious.” Because he looked so…highand I knew he wasn’t. He really did look drunk, and as much as I loved it, we were in a very,verybad situation here.

“So am I. Don’t mind my face. My heart is smiling, but my mind is working, I promise you,” he said, touching his fingertip to his temple. “Can you do me a favor, baby?”

Anything.“What?”

“Close your eyes for me.”

I did without even understanding that I’d decided to. My body remained at his command.

Then his arms were underneath me, and my feet no longer touched the ground. Instinct took over and I grabbed him by the jacket when my eyes opened to find myself in his arms—just like in the Iris Roe.

But there was asphalt beneath his feet here, not bones. And Taland was smiling; he didn’t look like he was going to pass out soon. He didn’t swing to the sides, and his step didn’t falter.

“What are you doing,” I whispered, and it wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway.

“Carrying my favorite person in the world to the house at the end of this road. What areyoudoing?”

Goddess, I was suddenly all warm and fuzzy on the inside. “Being carried to the house at the end of this road by my favorite person in the world,” I said, and on the inside, I thought,is this really happening?Because this was exactly like it used to be when we were in school. When we were madly in love with one another. When we existed to be with each other. It felt exactly like it, and goddess, I wanted nothing more out of life. Just this—forever.

“Sounds like you’re comfortable,” Taland said with a wide grin.

“I am. It’s the most comfortable place in the world, here.” Nothing like his arms—no bed or chair or place.

He chuckled. “Best to hold on tightly then.”

---