Page 55 of Dark Sun (Wicked Lovely 6)

All that was left was for Katherine to tell her mother, and then she could start her new adventure.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Urian

When Callisto stopped a few blocks away from the building where Katherine resided, her doors opened, and a clip of a woman saying, “You can’t stay here” came on the radio.

“You never used to talk this much,” Urian said.

The car engine revved, and before the doors were even closed, Callisto drove away, spitting gravel and dust.

“I don’t think I can apologize for her,” Urian told Katherine, wiping dirt from her face. “She never communicated until she metyou.”

“Aww, poor Urian. Do you think she just likes me better?” Katherine patted his cheek, wearing a faux sympathetic look.

“I do.” Urian shook his head. “Makes sense, though. You’re definitely prettier, and I bet you’re a lot nicer.”

Katherine’s laughter was the reward he sought, so he preened a bit at hearing it. If he could gather each giggle, each smile, each flutter of her eyelids like jewels, he would. It felt like there was a hole inside him he hadn’t noticed until her. She made him feel complete, that secret feeling that he was notenoughwas eased. Obviously, she didn’t change everything about him, but she changed enough that he was grateful in ways he wanted her to understand.

“A lifetime of your attention and love isn’t going to be enough for me,” he told her. “We’ll find a castle, build a moat, fill it with monsters. No one will get near you. I’ll keep you safe and—”

“Wrong century, pretty,” she said dryly. “And I’m not interested in being your damsel.”

“Fine. We’ll find the castle, build a moattogether, fill it with monsters we pick outtogether. No one will get near youorme. I’ll keep you safe, and you keep me safe. Better?” He caught her hand in his as they walked through town. Just twogancanaghsin a desert town. “I wasn’t born in the same century as you, Katherine, and I hadn’t expected . . .you.”

She glanced at him. “Well, a castle would give us space for all my fantasies . . .”

“Keep talking,” he teased.

“Lock you away until I get tired of you.”

“Would you?” he asked, feeling that insecurity that had only ever come since meeting her. He knew what he was, and no one—fey or mortal—looked at agancanaghwithout a sizzle of lust. He was, in a word, irresistible.

Except to another gancanagh.She could destroy him.Like Irial destroyed my mother. Like he reputedly destroyed the current Dark King.

“Lock you away? Most definitely.” Katherine squeezed his hand.

“No. Get tired of me.”

Katherine paused and reached up to pull him down for a kiss. Her lips tasted like something he hadn’t known could exist in the world. Her kiss was as if every flavor he could want was right there: every breath, every need. His free hand clutched at her, as if willpower alone could keep them from needing to exhale, as if need was enough reason to forego breathing.

When she pulled back, her words feathered over his lips. “I don’t think I’ll get tired of you anytime soon. Possibly ever. I haven’t known you long enough to give you a vow, even though I feel like I could.” She stared at him as if she could will him to understand. “We just met, Urian. And until you, I never even talked to a faery other than my father. You have to give me more than a minute here.”

A coil of fear in his belly unraveled. He was used to being desired, but this raw gnawing need he felt for her was new. If he had his way, he’d follow her inside while she packed.

“I don’t want to be apart,” he whispered. “Ever.”

“For a minute. My mom . . . I don’t want her meeting you,” Katherine confessed. “It’s silly, but what if because my dad was what we are andyouare, too, . . . what if it makes her sick to see you? What if—”

“It doesn’t work that way.”

“Are you positive?” Katherine looked more like a warrior than a girl who had been hiding from the fey. Eyes glittering. Chin up. Shoulders back. She was frightening.

“I’m fairly sure, but if you want me to wait out here, I will.” Urian traced her face with his fingertips, as if she were a painting he couldn’t believe was right there to behold.

Mine.

She caught his wrist, pressed a kiss to the palm of his hand, and said, “I want this back later.”

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