Page 26 of Fate Promised

Triska disentangled herself from her sheets and padded over to her small desk under the large window overlooking her backyard. Along its surface lay the sketches she’d taken out last night. Had Juri seen these? Her hand lingered on one where she’d drawn what she thought Juri might look like as a vulk.

She withdrew the necklace from under her shirt. She’d half expected him to discover it last night, but then again, he’d begun doing wicked things with his tongue. Wicked things that made her want to tear off her clothes and beg him to keep exploring every inch of her body.

She rubbed her chest and frowned. Did he feel the same need to be close to her? Would it fade when the month went away?

She really hoped so, for Juri’s sake.

Triska shook her head and scooped the drawings back into the drawer. After washing up, she tugged on a sweater and breeches, her everyday outfit when she wasn’t working. However, today was the first time she’d ever looked at her closet and seriously considered buying new clothes from Chessa’s shop.

When she walked downstairs, Juri was in her kitchen, pots and pans spread on every surface, staring up at a bit of egg dripping off her ceiling. With his size, he made her kitchen appear pint-sized like it shrank overnight.

He turned toward her, and his gaze heated. She paused mid-step, her heart flipping in her chest. Several times last night he’d glanced at her, and she’d thought his gaze hungry, but now, the way he stared at her went far beyond hungry.

Desire punched through her, wild and fierce, and her breath hitched. Pure lust licked through her veins, making her breasts tingle and between her legs ache.

Juri’s pupils dilated and the bowl he held slipped to the ground with a crash. Neither of them jumped at the noise.

“Juri—”

A pounding shot through the room, followed by someone speaking loudly in another language. Juri jerked backward, and the connection between them faded.

Triska ran her hands through her hair; she’d left it down again today. “I think your friend wants to speak to you.”

Juri spat out a torrent of words in Vulk, and if she had to guess, they weren’t very nice ones. He stomped to the front door and hauled it open. Kyril stood there, his hand raised to pound on the door again. The two of them spoke heatedly in Vulk.

Triska walked around the counter into the kitchen. As Juri spoke with Kyril, she slid the eggs on the stove onto a plate and placed it on the counter.

A loud yell shot through the house.

Triska raced out of the kitchen to the front door, heart pounding. Was the necromancer back?

When she reached Juri at the door, she snuggled against him to peer outside. No one was around except Kyril and Al, who stood a few feet in front of her front door like he did every morning.

Kyril’s eyes were wide, and he pointed at the bird. “What in the name of Perun is that?” He stepped back from the path.

Al flapped his wings and brayed, not concerned about the vulk.

Triska frowned. “Stop annoying him. He’s an albatross, and he’s here for breakfast.” She ducked back inside and tossed some herring from her icebox into a bowl.

When she returned, Juri had walked out to join Kyril, staring at him with a wide grin. “You’re afraid of birds.”

Kyril growled, but he still stared at Al. “Birds hold a lot of hate inside, and they don’t blink. It’s creepy. You never know when one will jump on your back and peck at you.”

Juri’s grin widened. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure no wee birdies fly near you when we’re patrolling the forest today.”

Kyril snarled and responded in Vulk, and Juri laughed, throwing his head back.

Triska’s stomach flipped. He was so handsome, yet also … primal. Even the way he moved was like a supreme predator, all coiled energy as if he might spring and attack any moment. But he was still Juri—her best friend and the only one who could make her laugh until she thought she’d burst a rib.

“Better hope no cockatrice show up, you might faint,” Juri said, dodging as Kyril swiped at him.

Kyril nodded toward the road. “Let’s go.”

“Do you want your breakfast?” Triska asked.

Juri rubbed his mouth. “Definitely.” His expression turned sheepish. “I left a bit of a mess. It’s been a while since I cooked in a human kitchen.”

Kyril harumphed.

---