Page 110 of Blooms of Darkness

“Stay here.” I pointed at Kade as I tied the string of my robe closed.

He propped himself up on his elbow, staring at me, his hair splayed wildly from our activities the night before. Buttits and daggers, he looked delicious.

What would it take to make him open up to me? To have him trust me implicitly. To make him mine because he wanted me. Craved me the way my body clearly craved him.

His lips raised slightly. “I don’t take orders from anyone,” He looked me up and down, “but I think I could get used to taking them from you.”

“Flirt,” I muttered, rolling my eyes and leaving my bedroom. I hurried to the larger chamber door, cracking it open before fluffing my hair out of the robe and taking a breath.

I yanked my chamber door open. “Sorry, I…” Pausing, my cheeks heated as I came face-to-face with IanandStorm. “Overslept.”

Ian pursed his lips as he tried desperately to hold back a smile. Storm had his arms crossed, eyeing me with the same playfulness he had last night at the festival.

“Can I help you?” I asked when they didn’t say anything.

Storm cocked an eyebrow. “I think we both know the only reason I’m here.”

“I don’t know why you’re here actually.” I lifted my chin defiantly.

Ian snorted. “Even I’m not that dumb, Lan.” He brushed past me, walking straight to my bedroom door, without taking hiseyes off me once. He pushed it open, still staring at me. “Good morning, Kade.”

Storm’s laughter rippled through the air as I stammered and dropped my face into my hands.

“I will throw each and every one of you out.” I shoved Storm and grabbed Ian’s sleeve to drag them out. Kade moved to get out of bed, and I threw my hand out toward him. “Except you.”

Storm howled louder with laughter.

Ian wasn’t as entertained, but he wasn’t angry, either. Although, he shook his head at me, clearing his throat. “I told Ruppert you wanted to speak with me this morning, so you’re welcome. Can you imagine if it was him banging down your door instead of me?”

I crinkled my nose at the idea.

Kade shuffled in the bed into a sitting position as we all stood at the foot.

This was awkward.

“Whatever brought you here better be the most important things of your life,” Kade grumbled to his friend.

“I do have news, I promise,” Storm said, holding his hands up defensively.

We watched him expectantly as he leaned against the wall next to the door. “There’s no way Edmund could have worked alone. Ian and I retraced the contenders’ steps the entire morning. The razorven wasn’t part of the obstacle course either, meaning we have to assume Edmund had a hand in that as well.”

I frowned, trying to comprehend.

“He had help,” I said.

Storm nodded along with Ian.

“From inside the palace?” I asked.

“It would have to be,” Ian confirmed. “Because he was infected with the darkness, we’re dealing with someone who knows enough about it to not only have somehow turned him,but who also knows the happenings inside these walls to have coordinated it.”

“Fuck,” Kade said, wrapping my sheet around his waist.

My mouth watered as he stood, taking in the way his muscles shifted with each movement of his body. The blessings certainly had been bountiful at this year's Festival.

Heat pooled between my legs and the current I’d gotten so used to feeling from him swarmed over me, this time joined by desire.

Focus, Lana!

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