Page 3 of Bound By Darkness

“For believing me.”

He chuckles, deep and low. “You’re welcome.”

“I’m not lying to you, Dragan. Everything I’ve told you is the truth. Well, as far as I know, anyway.”

“I know, Eilish,” he says, and his voice tells me not to worry about it anymore. “I know.”

***

DRAGAN

We sit for some time in silence, listening to the sounds of the forest and to one another’s breathing. The breeze through the leaves sounds like rushing water. Birds chirp, signaling the slow withdrawal of night and entrance into dawn.

It’s hard to be near her, especially when only a few moments ago I was reminding myself how dangerous closeness was. I continue to question myself over who the true Eilish is. Is she this innocent angel, or is she a highly deceptive demon?

The fucking worst part about the whole damned situation is that her being Succubus hasn’t changed my need for her. And this amazes me. Given what I went through at the hands of Lamia and her daughters, I never imagined I’d become ensnared by another Succubus again. And that subject on its own raises questions in my head…

Lamia and her daughters were supposed to be the last of their kind. So how is it possible…

I can’t even begin to comprehend the answer to that question now.

I look at Eilish and immediately regret it. I crave her just as much now as I did before I learned the ugly truth.

There will never be a moment when I don’t want her.

I force my brain away from the thought.

“He was a good man. He deserves a burial,” I announce, deciding Thoradin is the safest direction for our conversation.

“He does,” she agrees. “But we can’t go back. Anona and Dravon are still after us. Anona won’t fall for our tricks twice.”

“If I see her again, I’ll kill her.”

She moves closer, until our arms touch. I shift away from her as though she’s burned me, and she glances up at me, frowning slightly.

When she speaks again, her voice is tentative, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Yes.”

“If Flumph hadn’t told you I had my wings, would you have saved me from Anona?”

In this moment, she seems smaller than ever. Staring up at me with her large, questioning eyes, she looks so vulnerable, it makes my chest lurch. I want to kiss her again, to tell her how I truly feel about her. I want to feel her body beneath mine, to show her that I would kill anyone who even attempted to hurt her.

Instead, I answer her question, “I don’t know.”

“That’s what I thought.” She looks away and I can feel her disappointment in my response. “And if you thought I was a crossbreed—”

“I would have left you there,” I answer immediately and though my words are cold, they’re honest.

She nods slowly, her eyes downcast. I see the tears forming again, adding a sheen to her beautiful eyes.

Fuck me, but I want to extend a hand to lift her chin and look deep into the blue of her irises. My gaze drifts down to her lips, so full and beautiful.

She still needs you,I tell myself.

“Eilish,” I start but she moves back, away from my touch. She reminds me of a frightened doe.

“Cambion is almost finished with theTransmutation Stone,” she says in explanation. She’s upset. I can read the truth in her expression. “It’s time we get back.”

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