Page 95 of A City of Smoke and Demons
‘Why?’ It was the question she would ask if their positions were reversed. She didn’t blame him for being wary.
‘Because it’s not your fault. I wasn’t truthful with you, either—I didn’t tell you what I was. You knew, anyway, but …’
Ezra reached for her hand. She let him take it, weaving her fingers through his, smiling as he brushed his thumb over the back of her knuckles gently.
Warmth settled in her stomach.
‘Do you want to try the experiment?’
His spare hand lifted to his shoulder, where the demon mark was. ‘Do you?’
‘I’m terrified it will go wrong.’
‘It won’t,’ he said confidently.
‘How can you be so sure?’
He grinned, a sly, smug grin that meant he was going to say something wildly inappropriate. But that was Ezra’s way of coping. ‘Because you’d never find someone else who could make you come three times in one night.’
Analise laughed. ‘I’m certain I wouldn’t.’ She slipped her hand free and stood, stretching and smothering a yawn. ‘I needto go back to bed. You should probably get some sleep as well. I want to see Charles in the morning—there is something I need to ask him.’
Ezra fiddled with his glass. ‘Sleep well.’
She paused at the end of the bar, watching him, her heart suddenly in her throat. She swallowed and licked her lips, nerves rippling through her. ‘Are you coming?’
‘You want me…’
‘Just sleep, Ez. I really am tired.’
The following morning, they had breakfast together, sitting near the window, as if nothing in the world had changed. As if she hadn’t agreed to end his life in the hope she could give it back to him.
Charles’ eyes widened when Analise told him that she’d agreed.
‘Will it hurt him?’ she asked quietly; beside her, Ezra made a noise.
‘No,’ the alchemist said gently. ‘It will be like going to sleep.’ He turned to Ezra, who was watching Analise closely. ‘Despite that, the human body doesn’t want to die. Even though you’ve chosen this, you’ll most likely fight it instinctively. We will have to strap you down. It will be for your safety, and for hers.’
Ezra fingered his chin. ‘Where will I go for those two minutes?’
‘I don’t know,’ Charles said. ‘When you get back, perhaps you can tell me.’
Analise was scared of sleeping, worried about what she’d see in her dreams. But she pushed that fear and that beautiful smiling face aside. She needed to stay focused.
Tomorrow, she was going to kill a man. And not just any man, but one she cared about, more than she’d ever cared about anyone. He was in her bed, where he’d ended up again, without consultation or any discussion. It felt right to have him there, to curl up beside him and tuck her face against the heat of his skin, but sleep wouldn’t come.
Analise didn’t want to disturb him, so she slipped out of bed and reached for her coat. She made it as far as the door when he spoke.
‘Where are you going?’
‘I can’t sleep,’ she mumbled.
‘Me either,’ he said. ‘Come back here.’
She returned to bed, but didn’t lie down. Ezra reached for her hand in the darkness. Neither of them spoke. The energy between them was like those few precarious seconds before lightning illuminated the world during a storm. Her racing heart threatened to swallow her.
‘I need to kiss you,’ Ezra said eventually.
‘I need you to kiss me.’
