Page 12 of Hunted By Darkness

Dugan’s smile grew, then he removed a little pouch from his jacket and held it out to Silas. I was worried he’d leave Dugan hanging, but he took it without argument. Peering down at the pouch with caution, Silas seemed to miss the way Dugan’s smile faded and his eyes dropped out of sight. But I didn’t. Something about him was off, like he was here on borrowed time, and my gut twisted at the thought.

I tried to take a step toward him, but he rejected me with a shake of his head. “I’m very glad to have known you both. I’m so very glad, Nika, that you came here and trusted me. I know whatever the future holds, you’ll take it on in that brilliant way of yours. Because nothing in this world is stronger than the love you give, darling.Nothing.”

Then he was gone. He disappeared from sight and left me staring at a field of flowers.

6

Silas

My bird had been nose to book since she got that bleeding journal from Dugan. She’d barely touched the food I’d brought a few hours earlier. Her legs were crossed on the sofa, hair in a messy bun that dropped curls into her eyes as she penned indecipherable scribbles on a notepad. I’d asked about it once, but she said she needed time to explain and had been buried in the book ever since.

Nibbling at the end of her pen, she didn’t notice me come sit beside her. She didn’t give me that saucy eyebrow when I cleared my throat and widened my legs, taking up as much space aspossible. And after a few minutes of trying and failing to get my bird’s attention, I plucked the journal from her hand.

“Hey—”

I put it on the coffee table and scooped the feisty thing up, then sat her adorable bum on my lap. Her eyes went from the book to my face, anger twisting her mouth in a fucking adorable way, but she didn’t move. I touched her jaw and brushed the line of her cheek.

Oh aye, my little rebel was a force to be reckoned with when she was on a mission to help the ones she cared about, but I’d be an absolute twat to let this beauty wither away in front of me the way Dugan had. I’d rather face her wrath than leave her vulnerable to our enemy. Because the way things were going, she’d whittle away to a fraction of her strength without proper rest and mealtimes.

She might be a beast of myth and legend, but no one was invincible, and certainly not without any energy to fight.

“If Bane saw you now, he’d have it out with me for letting you work yourself into this state,” I whispered, noticing the slight shake in her hand as she tossed the pen on the table. “It’s been four days, love, and you haven’t left this bleeding sofa. You haven’t slept, save a few hours. You’ve barely nibbled the food I’ve left for you. Do I need to make a trip to Maude and Dick so they can feed this little baby bird?”

Her eyes danced around my face, clearly agitated by the threat, before she sighed. “You’re right.”

I didn’t believe my ears. “I am?”

“Father was ruthless when it came to training, and one thing he never let me forget was how vulnerable one becomes when they don’t take proper care of themselves.” Her body relaxed, and she leaned into me, her head settling on my shoulder.

The smell and feel of her were toxic to the senses, and I always turned into a blubbering troll whenever she was in any way softon me. I, the knobhead, just stared at her like I hadn’t two brain cells to rub together to offer a coherent reply.

She giggled a little to herself and swiped the sandwich I’d made her from the plate. Taking a few bites, she hummed happily to herself. “Since when did you become the domestic housewife, mercenary? Has Lev rubbed off on you?”

I caught her wrist and brought the sandwich to my mouth. With a sleazy grin, I took a huge bite out of it. “What kind of man would I be if I couldn’t make my woman a sandwich?”

Rolling her eyes, Nika finished what was left and straddled my lap. My hands quickly went to her hips as she settled, her arms dropping around my shoulders. Dainty fingers that had punished plenty of men—myself included—teased through my hair before her mouth came down for a light kiss. My tongue swept out, but she pulled away before I could have my cheeky way with her.

I groaned and dragged her closer. “Don’t tease me, love. It’s been four days since you were last in our bed. Days since I’ve been given a proper kiss, yeah? Don’t make this sorry sod work for it. A bloke can only take so much.”

Her lips twitched, hiding a smile. “I thought you wanted me to rest?”

My hand traced the length of her spine until it curled around the delicate nape of her neck. “I’ll be quick,” I lied, stealing another kiss.

Her fingers gripped my hair, and her waist rubbed and rolled over me the way we both liked. “That pent up? You’ll…‘only be but a minute, love,’ right?”

Her eyes sparkled in amusement. It might be at my expense this clever minx was humoring herself, but I’d take it on the chin so she’d keep smiling like that.

Careful not to hurt her, I removed the hair tie keeping her bun together. Purple hair fell around her face and shoulders insoft waves and curls. I teased a little between my fingers before sinking my hand in. Her eyes closed, weak to the gentle way I wrapped her hair around my hand and tugged.

In these quiet moments, it was her and I. She’d never stop fighting me, but it made the times she gave in all the more entrancing. Every day this beautiful Soul Collector chose to keep me by her side was a day worth living.

Our mouths collided. No matter how many times I’d kissed her, it was never enough. I always craved her. Have it my way, and she’d never leave our bed. I’d pleasure her until the end of the world if she’d let me. But my bird was kind and wanted the rest of the world to thrive. She wouldn’t abandon them to their fate, so neither would I.

Taking on Death himself was a small price to pay to stay by her side.

I dipped down and bit her throbbing pulse. Slipping a hand under her shirt, I grazed her soft skin with calloused hands before cupping her breast. The dangerous beauty pushed into my touch, asking, begging in the only way she knew how.

“Fuck me, Nika. You drive me bloody mad,” I groaned, lifting her shirt and yanking her bra down just enough to tease her nipple with my tongue.

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