Page 15 of Fated In Forever
“For now, but the rift is…” I squinted, disbelief warring with shock at what I saw. “Shrinking.”
The sudden silence that followed was almost deafening. The supernatural winds died away, the temperature began to return to normal, and the ancient stones of Château des Ombres Éternelles settled back into place with a grateful groan.
“Good.” Wolf said. “Perhaps without Ravok to hold open the tear, it will continue to grow smaller. We have time, maybe days, to close this down entirely.”
“Perhaps.” I said aloud, thinking—we were seldom that lucky.
“Check on Lady Fiona,” Nash called, his gaze fixed on her and Eldric, Riordan crouched down beside them. “She took a hard hit.”
I headed over that direction, relief loosening my chest when I found her already awake, cursing Ravok and halfway through what she’d do to him, once she got her chance.
“…anyone who jeopardizes the stability of this realm in the name of vengeance deserves to rot in hell,” she spat, letting Riordan lift her into a sitting position, the blood on her forehead nearly the same color as her hair. “I know a spell that will turn him into a doorknob. And I know just where to fucking put him after I…”
“Eldric.” I squatted down beside her brother as he blinked up at me. “I see you ran out of books to throw, library boy.”
He blinked, like he was seeing two of me. “Oh, fuck you, Marten. Just because you’re some big, brawny asshole warrior, doesn’t mean…”
“That’s what’s known as a joke. You did good today.” I offered him my hand. “This is also what’s known as a peace offering. Take it, asshole.”
“Fine.” He grumbled, swaying slightly when I hefted him to his feet. “Even though this is probably some weird hazing thing you came up with to humiliate me.”
“The binding will hold,” Fiona climbed to her feet, blood still slowly leaking from the wound on her forehead. “For a few days. But the rift isn’t stable. And once my binding weakens…I’ll have to come back and continually reinforce the warding. But for now…I’d say we dodged the proverbial bullet.”
7
MALACHI
An hour seems like a long time to wait.
You heard Brendan. He has to make preparations.Evie scolded gently.We showed up out of the blue, I highly doubt he has everything readily at hand for a monster exorcism. Hopefully when he comes back…he’ll have news about the rift.Her eyes flicked to mine. About Blake and Riordan.
Guilt seeped from her like poison, and I held her tighter.They can hold their own. Ravok’s not one to stick around, and Nikolai sent his brother and Dravin.I reminded her.They have backup now, plus Nash and the Knightsguard.
I know, but I can’t help worrying. We’re here, we’re safe, and they’re…well, I just hope you’re right is all.
I didn’t feel like reminding Vicious thatsafewas exactly where Riordan and Blake would have wanted her. Instead, I buried my face in her throat, drinking in her scent, her warmth, her utter perfection.
Remember that ridiculous show you put on for Tyrell with the red tablecloth and the candles?A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Let’s hope whatever Brendan’s ritual is goes better than that. I’m not up for more bloodshed right now.”
I closed my eyes and glutted myself on her laugh. All I wanted was to stay like this, caught in this perfect moment that I wanted to make last forever. But that fast, blackswirled into my thoughts like a poison, corrupting everything good and pure with a foulness I didn’t want anywhere around this female I loved.
I moved to set her down, but she reached up and cupped my face, her eyes soft.
“Now that we’re alone, let me look at you,” she whispered, almost shyly. “Just for a minute.”
How the fuck could I refuse her?
How could I refuse her anything, especially when she asked like that?
So there I sat, her warm, soft palms sliding over my skin, lust racing through my veins in hot spurts, the only thing keeping me from being inside her a cloak of shadow and her still-damp clothes.
I was too aware of the way her soft ass draped over my hardening cock, how every little shift and movement created lightning hot friction. I wasn’t a complete fool. I knew I wouldn’t fit inside her, but fuck…the barest touch and I was ready to explode.
“I can’t get over how much you still look like yourself. You’re just…so much bigger.” She went up on her knees on the bench, trapping my thighs, my aching cock brushing my belly as she pushed up to get a better look, those soft palms constantly rubbing, her warm, damp breath washing over me.
How I wanted to surge forward and take her, right here, on Brendan’s floor, drive my cock into her wet heat—into her sweet arousal I smelled all around us—but I stayed right the fuck where I was, warning my beast to stay put as she explored me like I was a work of art, slowly and thoroughly and with the patience of a fucking monk.
This sad, sweet feeling—allthese fucking feelings Iwasn’t prepared for—swirled through me, and I was helpless to stop them.
