Page 38 of The Illuminated
“And I you.”
“Why did you do that, Áine?”
“Do what?” But I knew what. He was asking why I kneeled before him.
He blinked at me, raising his brows.
“I—I wanted to. I needed to show you that I was yours, always. No matter what.”
He stroked the side of my face, looking away for a moment before returning his gaze. “He will never lay a hand on you.”
I nodded, drawing my brows together. “Of course not.” I was angry that Lucius had even managed to make it into the bedroom with us.
“I don’t think you understand, Áine. He wants to. I know him, and he’s made it very clear.”
I swallowed. “Why are we talking about this? The only way he would ever have a chance is if I agreed to whatever coronation ritual he’s planning, and even then, it would only be because I wouldn’t bemeanymore. And that’s what he really wants. Lucius doesn’t want me. He wants a version of me that doesn’t exist—a version that will never exist. Because I will never be his Queen.”
“I’m not so sure,” Daelon said, and the words were like a dagger.
“Sure of what, exactly?” I said through clenched teeth.
He shook his head. “That he doesn’t want you as you are, right now.”
I looked at him incredulously. “I understand why you’re jealous. Because you have no idea how jealous I am, too. But it’sLucius.He tells me every day that he doesn’t like who I am. Not to mention, it doesn’t matter what he feels because there’s no way in hell I’d ever reciprocate.” I scrunched up my nose. “Why are we talking about this right now?” I repeated. I was literally naked underneath him and he was talking about the worst person in our multidimensional reality, whose energy made me physically and psychically ill.
“I don’t thinkjealousadequately describes how I feel when I think of the prospect of you and Lucius together,” he hissed. “The situation with Renata is hardly even comparable. And you have no idea the lengths Lucius will go to get what he wants.”
“What do you want me to say?” I wasn’t sure if I was angry or desperate, my emotions mixing together in a whirlpool of intensity and confusion. “Because I’ll say anything… do anything… to make you see that none of these fears will ever be a reality.”
He opened his mouth and then closed it. I inhaled sharply as I felt his hand in between my thighs, and I knew we were done talking.
Our conversation should’ve killed the mood, but it only made everything more intense. I moaned, digging my nails into his back. We kissed like we had never kissed before, like we were each proving something to the other.
I tensed with surprise as his shield dropped, and I could taste his energy unfiltered for the first time in my life—tasted the pink and golden hues of love, the strong blue of loyalty and devotion, the murky gray of grief and loss, the sharp red of lust, paranoia, and jealousy, and something darker and more erotic. I felt his thirst for control and possession, and it weaved through his usual desperation to protect me from everything and everyone. I tasted the bright white light of my power, reflected back to me like a mirror into my own soul.
I was hungry for it now, and it was the strongest drug I’d ever consumed. He tried to pull back, but I pulled him closer to me as my hands tangled in his hair. He was caught in my web now.
I’d wanted to read his energy since the first day we met, and the desire was always there from that moment on. I knew I was strong enough to break through his shield if I ever truly wanted to, but to do so would’ve been a grave break in trust. The fact that he was giving me what I wanted, finally, without any parameters, meant everything to me. Unlike before, I didn’t want to read him because I didn’t trust him. I wanted to read him because I wanted to feel every part of his soul that I possibly could.
I clung to the darker red and murky hues, getting high off the sheer intensity of his desire for me. His desire to dominate and protect me. His desire to stand by my side forever.
When he finally managed to untangle himself from my grasp, his eyes matched the energy I’d tasted so much it made my toes curl. Suddenly tasting wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel it inside of me.
“Can I…” I trailed off, my fingers grasping his wrist.
Daelon hesitated, vulnerability passing through his deep brown eyes. “What did you see, when you read me?”
I blushed. “How you feel about me. I’m sure I could’ve studied everything in great detail if I’d had the time. But it’s hard to focus on much else when we’re naked.”
His lips quirked up. “You’re becoming more like a witch every day.” He turned over his arm in a silent granting of permission, and I handed him my own. He paused. “You have to be careful. I don’t have as much to give as you are capable of taking. Just a taste, Áine.”
I bit back a grimace, remembering the time I’d accidentally drained a witch of all her energy at the witchy sex party. It could always grow back, of course, but it was obviously uncomfortable to feel empty in the meantime. That was why energy vampires were so dangerous—they drained people on purpose, harnessing their power like batteries or getting high off the act of taking what doesn’t belong to them. The thought of witches like that preying on humans made me sick.
Just a taste. I leeched some of his energy from his skin, tentatively, and I could feel it blend with my own in a melody of color and emotion. It washim, unfiltered and pure, a cascade of strength, secrecy, passion, and longing, and it covered me with a thick layer of warmth. Like wine, energy was unique to each person, and Daelon’s felt like it was made just for me. I sighed deeply, my head now swimming with pleasure.
“Áine,” he said sharply, and I let go of his arm. “Good girl.” He grasped my face, and I felt a slight pinch as he syphoned from me.
I could feel some of the starlight from the park leave me once more, and for the first time, energy sharing feltgood. Not intrusive or violating. The discomfort turned to ecstasy, from both the act of Daelon taking from me as well as his own pleasure as he felt the deep wells of my power.
