Page 22 of A Harmony of Procellarum

I know Luciphia means every word of what she said. She’ll be in here in no time, so I press my forearms to either side of Tiny’s head, slipping my fingers through her silky strands. I look her in her eyes as I brush my nose along hers. I wonder if she can feel the way my heart pounds in my chest, frantically trying to escape the confines of my ribs to nestle itself home between her breasts where it belongs. My cock twitches and I’m on the verge of release, but I’m afraid. I fear this is the last time I’ll be with Tiny and it feels like the end of my life, like I have nothing else to live for.

There was a time when I felt the same about Torrent, that if he were to ever leave me, I would perish. As I thrust for the last time inside of Tiny and spill my seed, my thoughts are on the man who made it his mission to stay away from me these past few years.

My face lands into the crook of her neck as her nails drag up along my back. I can hear the wheels in her mind moving, thoughts forming into questions begging to be voiced.

“What is it?” I ask as I pull out of her and lean up to look into her eyes.

“Why do you need to speak like that when we’re …” she pauses, her kiss-swollen lips sucking into her mouth, “doing stuff?”

“I thought you liked it.” I push off her, not quite answering her question and hoping honestly to avoid it, but this is Tiny. There’s no avoiding her when she’s looking for answers.

“Is it because of your mother?” My body freezes as if ice water has been thrown over me. I sit on the edge of the bed, my back to her as I try to focus on my breathing. Deep inhale, slow exhale. “Do I look like her?”

I could lie and tell her she’s crazy, but that’s not the last impression I want to leave of myself with her. So I turn and say, “A little.”

She nods in acceptance and moves down to the end of the bed, sitting there and looking at me as a sharp knock comes at the door.

“Yeah!” I call out. “I’m coming.”

I keep eye contact with her as I dress, making sure she sees the agony I’m in, but also that I’m not abandoning her.

“I think Torrent is going to kill me,” she confesses as my heart stalls in my chest.

“Does he threaten you?” I can feel my hands beginning to grow numb as I clench them by my sides.

“No,” she whispers. “But I can see it in his eyes. The way he looks at me tells me he wants nothing more than to see me bleed. It’s not as bad as back in that temple, but it’s there.”

“I don’t think they would force you two together if it went against their plans,” I try to reassure her. “I will make the conditions clear if I can’t get her to release you. I know this sounds insane that I can’t just fight my way out of here with you, but they will use you as an example to teach me obedience. Tell me you understand.”

“Why does this feel like I’ll never see you again?” Her chin dimples as she forces herself not to cry. “Don’t do anything stupid, Squall.”

My hand glides along her cheek as another knock sounds at the door. I want to tell her something I’ve only ever told one other person. The impulse to just lay everything out in the open is overwhelming.

“Squall?” Tears finally escape the confines of her eyelids to slip down over her cheeks in a slow descent of despair. No, she’s better off without me dragging her in deeper.

“I won’t do anything stupid,” I repeat, and lean down to kiss her cheek. “I better go before they bust in here.”

“Okay.” She nods as I turn away, forcing myself to walk to the door and give the handle a tug. When it doesn’t budge, she lets out a sarcastic chuckle. “You can’t open it from the inside.”

Right.

The lock is disengaged and I come face to face with the guards, trying my best not to smash their faces in. I need to think of her.

I follow them out of the building, knowing I just left behind the last remnants of my soul. I have never felt so empty in my entire life.

TORRENT

I did what I was supposed to, but instead of going to the hotel with two guards, I decided to take a red eye back to headquarters. I can’t describe the feeling inside of me, but I refuse to ignore it. My insides feel like they’re on fire and I can’t help but think it has something to do with Squall. I swear if he’s done something stupid to rescue that bitch, I will kill her and him with relish.

The car pulls up in front of the building and I don’t bother to pull my hood up to cover the blood in my locs. This anxious feeling inside me only grows when I see Luciphia waiting for me in the lobby.

“What happened?” I demand as I stride inside, catching the eye of one guard, his face screwing up with disgust. I stick my forked tongue out at him and turn back to my leader. “Tell me.”

“You have no authority to demand anything from me,” she snaps, and I hiss into her face, making the guards gather in close.

“Try again. You and I both know I am the only one who can do the jobs you’re asking.” I turn and growl at a guard whose breath is heating the back of my neck. “What has happened?”

“Squall has been camping outside on the street,” she says with a sweet, saccharine smile.

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