Page 62 of Elas

“Liar,” he breathes as I kiss my way up his chest, stopping to nuzzle in that nest of coarse hair. When I reach his mouth, he gladly opens for me, tugging on my shoulders to get me closer.

I grin against his lips. “Eager thing. Let me take off my armor and climb into bed with you. We’ll be lazy together.”

“Thought you said I wasn’t lazy?” He arches his brow, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners as he tries to maintain a scowl.

“No, you’re definitely lazy. And spoiled.”

“Spoiled?!”

“Yeah, doc, spoiled. And I plan on spoiling you even more.”

“I thought I was sexy. Can we go back to that part of the conversation?” He frowns at me in an adorable pout, and I toss my armor aside on the dresser as I laugh again. His eyes follow me, taking an appreciative sweep over my white undershirt and briefs. Body-warmed sheets surround me as I climb between them and scoop him into my arms.

“You are sexy, baby.” I kiss his rumpled hair as he releases a content sigh.

“Where were you?” he asks through a yawn, and my good mood falters. August must notice the way I stiffen, because he pulls back and stares at me. “Elas?”

My fingers drift mindlessly over his stomach. “The Commander summoned me.”

“Oh,” he says, his brows pinching. “That was fast. What did he, uh… what did he have to say?”

“Well, for starters, he smelled you all over me.”

“Shit,” August mutters, but I cup his head and force him to curl back into me.

“It’s fine. I’ve convinced him it’s some sort of manipulative technique I’m using to keep you close.”

“Is that what this is?” he murmurs, pressing his lips against my collarbone. “Well, color me impressed, because it’s working. You are quite the convincing actor.”

“Dork,” I say with a laugh, and his shoulders shake as he laughs. “I planted some ideas in his head.”

“What sort of ideas?”

Guilt makes a sudden grip on my gut, and I chew on my lip for a moment before responding. “I probably should’ve talked to you about it first…”

“Elas, I trust you.”

He says it with such confidence. It’s a fact, something that justis,and he doesn’t even need to consider it. A rush of gratitude hits me, and I send a silentthank youto the Fates as I squeeze him tighter. My hand moves up and down his spine, and he waits with endless patience as I collect my thoughts.

“He was discussing you like you were disposable. There were threats, August. If he suspected you knew anything, anything at all that you weren’t supposed to, that would be it. He would get rid of you. Remove you from the equation without giving it a second thought.”

“You’ll protect me,” he murmurs, and defensive instincts like I’ve never experienced prickle across my skin.

“Even I couldn’t protect you from him.”

We’re quiet for a moment as the gravity of the situation settles among us. “So, what did you say?”

“I said you’re too valuable to waste. Compared you to a prize bull,” I tease, and both of us laugh, but the lightness is missing. “I told him if you showed signs of knowing more than you should, he should consider sending you to Ljómur.”

“What?” His head pops up, confused eyes darting between mine.

“You’re a medic, and it’s a medical facility. It makes sense.”

“Yeah it’s a medical facility… one so secret, even you weren’t aware of its existence,” he argues, a rare panic seeping into his tone. “Whatever they’re doing there, it isn’t good. We know that much, Elas. I can’t… I can’t go there. I won’t take part in whatever evil they’re doing, and they can’t make me. You can’t send me away.” A sharp accusation lies in the words, and I sit up in a rush, pushing on his chest until his back falls against the bed.

“Breathe, baby. Stop for a second and think about what you’re saying. Do you really believe I’d send you away? Ship you off somewhere without being there to keep you safe? I said that because the alternative is death,August, and it would provide the opening we need. Where you go, I go… and if we go, wego.We run.”

“Run where?” he asks weakly, the fight fizzling out of him.

---