Page 63 of Elas

“Anywhere but here.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, rolling up on his side and pressing his face into my chest. “I didn’t mean to accuse you of anything, I’m just…”

“Scared,” I finish for him, and he nods. “We discussed Ronan again as well. I suggested that if he sends you away, he should use the trip to let me scout for him.”

“Smart. It would get us both out of here.” I nod, the air slowly feeling less restrictive around us. “When do you think we’ll know anything, El?”

“Khors always struggled with patience, even when we were young. He’s arrogant and needs to be seen as someone who takes action. It doesn’t matter if he’sright, as long as he’s doing something. If I had to guess, he won’t wait long.”

August is quiet for a stretch, his feet kicking restlessly under the sheets as his breathing speeds up. Whatever occupies his mind has his complete attention, and I give him time to process. As he pulls back to look at me, my gaze roams over the defined features of his face and snags on the permanent creases in the corners of his eyes.

My happy, smiley mate.

“You won’t like what I’m about to say.”

“Oh, joy,” I mutter, but wait for him to continue.

“Those files are still sitting in the closet. We need to sneak them out and bring them here. I need to read them.”

“Why?”

He shoots me an incredulous look. “Knowledge. We need to find out exactly what’s going on, Elas. Don’t you think it’s strange that everyone from your side believes no mates have ever been found when there’s an entire room full of paperwork that proves otherwise?”

“Yes, it’s strange, but it isn’t my concern right now.”

“Well, it should be,” he argues. “Wicked men run the world when the good ones refuse to act, Elas. Isn’t that who we are? Aren’t we the good guys?”

It’s my turn to scowl, but he hooks his leg over my hip and rolls me onto my back. The sheets fall away, and he’s only wearing his briefs as he straddles me. Thick thighs bracket my hips, his dusting of blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” My hands land on his legs and drift upward, and I grin as goosebumps lift in the wake of my touch.

“Stop trying to distract me,” he complains, and I sigh.

“Just because I amgoodwith you doesn’t mean I’m not a monster, and you’d do well to remember that,” I say as I jerk him closer, but he doesn’t even flinch, just sets his stubborn jaw. “For a century, I’ve followed their orders and done their bidding, been their fucking errand boy. Do you haveanyidea the amount of blood that’s on my hands?”

“They don’t get to define you, Elas.”

I snarl, ignoring the stinging hope that his words bring. “You’rethe good guy, August.You’rethe one with the heart of gold, but not me. Never me. If it means slaughtering every person inside that clinic, I’ll do it in a heartbeat to keep you safe.”

“Youaregood,” he insists, placing his palm over my heart. “Here. You’re good where it matters, and you can knock it off with the theatrics, because you don’t scare me.” He leans in until he’s hovering over my body, his chest pressed against mine and our mouths inches apart.

“Maybe I should,” I argue, but he silences me with his lips. They’re insistent but patient, his weight pressing into me as he kisses me as though we have all the time in the world. Lips move on lips, his tongue traces the seam of my mouth, and when our tongues meet, they're patient, too. Soft and sure.

I could never tire of lying with him, just like this.

When we come up for air, we’re both breathing heavier, and he rests his forehead against mine. A deep breath fills my lungs as I stare at the determination on his face. “There’s no talking you out of this, is there?”

“I need to know,” he whispers, desperately quiet.

“Alright.” I force the word out on an exhale, shaking my head. “Alright, I’ll agree to this, but we have to be careful.”

“I will be,” he breathes. He closes the distance between us again, and then I’m lost in the soft caress of his lips on mine, and scheming flies out the window for another time.

August

Elasisdeadonhis feet as he walks me to work. Dark rings sag under his eyes, a result of the few hours of sleep he managed. Halfway into the day Saturday, another messenger showed up, ordering Elas to report for an emergency twenty-four-hour watch assignment. It stretched into thirty hours before he came crashing home last night, barely able to stand.

It was undoubtedly a power play by Commander Khors. He did the same thing after their last conversation, when he was put on night rotation for a few shifts. It’s Khors’s way of reminding Elas who holds the authority.

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