Page 132 of His Darkest Desire

She shuddered at the memory, which was somehow both vivid and hazy.

Vex’s arm curled tighter around her, and he let out a slow, heavy breath. “I shall forever be haunted by that night.”

“As shall these ones,” Shade said, hovering closer and trailing ghostfire along Kinsley’s arm.

Kinsley smiled at the wisp before resting her arm atop Vex’s. “I don’t blame you. Any of you.” She shifted to the side to look up at him. “I don’t regret coming here, but that was an experience I could’ve done without.”

Brow creasing, Vex leaned down and kissed her temple. “I’d have spared you that suffering, had it been within my power.”

“That you were there at all to save me was enough.”

“Would that I could take credit for fate’s doing.” He kissed her temple again, letting his lips linger there, warm and comforting. “Had you reached your cottage, what would you have done? Would it have appeased your desire to wander?”

“No.” Kinsley smiled and cupped his jaw, stroking his cheek with her thumb. “I think you were the only cure for that.”

Vex’s fingers flexed against her, and his crimson eyes glowed brighter as his slitted pupils contracted.

She lowered her hand before the heat in his eyes could further intensify. “The cottage was more just meant as a stop along the way. A staging point. I was planning to vlog my hikes and discoveries here for a time before moving on to my next adventure.”

Withdrawing his finger from between the pages, he set the journal aside and combed his claws through her hair. “Mayhap it is time for a new story. Not Alythrii’s, but yours. Tell me of the places you’ve explored. Tell me of your land beyond the sea. Be my eyes, that I may see what you have seen. Vlog to me.”

“These ones wish to hear also,” said Flare, their flames brightening as they floated closer.

Echo bounced excitedly beside Flare. “Please vlog for these ones, Kinsley.”

Kinsley laughed. “It’s not really vlogging, but I would love to tell you about some of my favorite places.” She laid her head against Vex’s chest, taking pleasure in the feel of his fingers running through her hair. “When I was twelve, my parents took me and my sister Maddy to the Grand Canyon. Even though Maddy’s two years older than me, she was too scared to get close to the railing. She hates heights. But I walked right up and looked out.

“It was breathtaking. So wide, so long, and so, so deep. The sandstone walls were red, orange, and brown, and as silly as it sounds, I remember thinking it looked like a layered cake. And at the very bottom was the Colorado River, bright turquoise and sparkling in the sun. I think standing there, staring out at this immense canyon, was when I first realized how huge the world is. That I was just this tiny little person in a vast place…but that realization never frightened me. It was exciting. Because a world so big meant that much more to explore.”

“It sounds unlike anything I’ve seen,” Vex said softly. “And little Kinsley strode, undaunted, to its edge and beheld it with uninhibited wonder.”

“I did. And it freaked my mother out when I climbed onto the rail.” Kinsley snickered. “She thought I was going to fall in. I mean, if it were my kid doing that, I’d likely freak out too. But I just wanted to get closer, to see farther down. I wanted to hike right down to the bottom and dip my toes in the water. Of course, I probably would’ve been too tired to get back to the top, and my dad would’ve had to haul me out… But kids don’t usually think that far ahead.”

Vex laughed and brushed his knuckles along her arm. “We’ve no canyons in our little realm, but I’d gladly carry you anywhere you wish to go no matter how far, no matter how deep.”

Something warmed within her, but then the potential meaning of his words clicked. She looked up at him. “Carry me? As in…fly?”

“We could soar amongst the stars.”

She smiled wide. “Really?”

“Yes.” Vex caught her chin and smiled down at her. Desire blazed within his eyes. “You shall be the envy of the heavens, my moonlight.” He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “And I know just how to make you shine all the brighter.”

Heart quickening and breath catching, she stared into his eyes. There was something more to his words. A hint of promise, an implication. And whatever wicked thing he intended, Kinsley wanted it.

Her gaze dipped to his mouth, and she parted her lips when he stroked his thumb across the lower one.

“These ones would fly with you,” said Echo.

Spell broken, Kinsley blinked, and a blush crept beneath her skin.

“These ones would do best not to claim unoffered invitations,” Shade said.

Echo bowed their head. “Apologies, magus.”

“No apologies,” Vex replied distractedly, his own eyes having fallen to Kinsley’s lips. “I shall be selfish and claim Kinsley’s first flight for myself. But we will soar with you afterward, my friends.”

“These ones cannot wait,” Flare said.

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