Page 131 of Between Soul and Vessel
“Oh . . . oh,” she whispered, heat licking at her cheeks. Her eyes shifted down to my chest, the soft pads of her fingers gliding over the crescent moon tattoo. Drawing a breath, her lashes lifted, and her gaze returned to mine. “So you intend to eat me after all?”
“Mind. Body. Soul.Everyinch of you,” I promised her. I moved to the bottom of the bed, my gaze never losing hers. I stood, my hands locked around her ankles, and I dragged her down until her bottom reached the end of the bed.
She didn’t fight me, no—willingly, she gave herself to me.
My knees met the floor, and I draped her legs over myshoulders, one at a time.
Her sex was slick with arousal. My mouth watered.
“Do you enjoy getting on your knees for me, Death?” she asked, propping herself up on her elbows, a toying smile gracing her lips.
“Do you enjoy having your cunt licked, Life?”
She swallowed, then admitted, “I do.”
“Then you have your answer.” I lowered my mouth to her clit, my tongue swirling around it, and she let out a small whimper. I laved her sensitive bud, playing and licking until I couldn’t take it anymore. Lowering my mouth to her center, I ran my tongue along her slit, a deep, primal, satisfactory growl emitting from my chest.
Just like a fucking apple.
Dark desire overtaking me, I slid my tongue into her core. The taste of her exploded across my taste buds, and my grip turned crushing against her legs. My veins swelled, filling with immense power as I feasted. I could feel the wood floor beneath me giving way, the walls around us disappearing, until my focus was solely on her, and hers on me.
I ate her until she was screaming and coming undone on my tongue, flooding my mouth with her decadent release.
“Mmm,” a husky moan, born from somewhere deep, emitted from me.
Perhaps there was a bit of dragon in me after all.
Sage
Fallon stood across the room from me, arms tightly crossed, back against the wall. She’d looked seething mad all morning. Her jaw was clamped so tightly it was a wonder her molars hadn’t combusted, but then again, maybe they had. Even when Von and I had announced to everyone we had wedded last night, she offered only a brittle congratulations before going back to her brooding.
Apparently, she and Kaleb had spoken earlier that morning, but the conversation became heated, and Kaleb had decided to end things between them. Artemesia had whispered it to me before Von and I walked inside her and Folkoln’s room a couple hours ago.
I was seated on the bed along with Lyra, Harper, and Kaleb. Lyra’s fingers were threaded with mine, her head resting against my shoulder, her other hand linked with Harper’s. Every once in a while, I’d sneak a glance at thering on my finger, checking to make sure it was still there, that I hadn’t just dreamt up last night, that Von and I really were husband and wife. Earlier, I’d shown everyone the ring, and the girls—plus Kaleb—had all squealed and fawned over it while the guys slapped Von on the shoulder in congratulations. Soren, who was more so cowering in the corner of the room, had spoken through our minds, offering me a small congratulations before he scurried back to his hole. Ryker sat in the chair next to us, his big body dwarfing it. Von and Folkoln lingered by the window while Artemesia stood in the middle of the room, leading the discussion surrounding what our plans were and how we were to get home. Von and I had yet to tell them about our plans to find out what happened to our child, but we’d get to that when the time was right.
During the meeting, the others shared how they had arrived here—which sounded horrible, by the way. Von showed Artemesia and me the travel stone he’d received from the giant. She conceded she didn’t know a great deal about them or how they worked—however, she had plenty of ideas about who might know more.
“This . . . Goddess of Knowledge that you spoke of earlier,” Folkoln started, his chin tipped ever so slightly, small bits of smoke breaking off from his imposing form. “Where would we find her?”
Artemesia turned to face him. “She resides in the south, in the Naftiah Desert. However, the palace she lives in is protected by a vicious sandstorm, something she herself was rumored to create in order to keep unwanted intruders out. Itis said those who dare to tempt the storm are rarely ever seen again.”
“I’m not opposed to it, but it does sound really risky,” Ryker said, his fingers scrubbing at his beard—a new addition. It looked quite good on him.
“It is,” Artemesia agreed, arms threading loosely over her chest.
Kaleb’s voice came from beside me. “Perhaps we should try the miner town you suggested earlier, where some of the energy stones were once harvested from. Maybe someone there will know why they quit working.”
I glanced at him. His hair was disheveled, eyes tired, and it wasn’t just from the hangover.
Fallon scoffed.
My eyes turned into slits as I slid them over to her, my gaze cutting like a lethal blade. I unthreaded my hand from Lyra’s, just in case.
“What?” Kaleb asked, his voice like death. Cold, harsh. Unwelcoming.
“Nothing,” she said with disdain, shaking her head.
“Clearly, it’s something, so why don’t you just say it?” he grated.
