Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 109477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
He dropped the chalice and breathed deeply. It landed heavily and bounced away. A droplet of sweat fell from his bow as he sagged.
“Well,” he said into the dim interior, glancing at the ceiling. Still no sound. No thumping or dust shivering down. This time his ward would hold. They could be sure of it. The extra boost of power had helped.
And now he knew how to use the chalices.
“At least we didn’t piss ourselves when confronted by a darkrend.” He reached for her hand. “Take that, Celestials.”
Despite her last realization, she heaved out a laugh, her face buried into his back. “I thought you said those wards could handle anything.” She still shook, but the tremors were receding. That reaction was magically created. Next time, she’d need to push harder to ignore it, mind over matter.
Next time? He twisted to look at her. Blight destroy me, there better never be a next time. He shook his head while pulling her away from the door. “Usually, I would never admit vulnerability but…I need to hear our voices right now. And nothing else. That was… I don’t have words for what that was. That creature wasn’t balanced. It had magic way beyond its capabilities.”
He tugged her toward the window, going at an angle. At the side of it, he glanced through, pulled his head back quickly, then did it again. He breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s somewhere else at present.”
“Probably on the roof,” she said.
“Yes. Thank you. I was trying not to envision that.”
She spat out a laugh as he lowered the shade. Once done, he tugged her to the back of the room toward the bed. He turned to face her, looking down into her eyes. The dim interior made the gorgeous green of his irises impossible to see, but softened his sharp cheekbones and severe jaw, enhancing his handsome face. “I can’t imagine enduring one of those alone. Lennox, battle-hardened and afraid of absolutely nothing, froze. I’ve never seen that in all my days. Look”—he held up his hand—“I’m still shaking.”
So was she. She felt the tremors all through her body.
“But from just one meeting,” he went on, “you learned enough to keep your cool. You saved lives tonight. Lives of those who would imprison you. Lives of those you had no obligation to save. For that, I thank you.”
She hadn’t thought about things like that. She hadn’t thought about anything at all. She needed to get help, and she knew Tarian would be that help.
“Survival,” he whispered.
Survival, she thought, because what else would it be? What else would any of this trip be? Stay alive long enough to get free. To save herself. She had family back home, wondering where she was. Wondering if she was okay. She hated the idea of hurting them with her death. Of leaving them.
On that note, she looked at the ceiling. At the door. Felt a tremor of uncertainty.
He shook his head and pulled off his tunic, exposing his delicious chest with the single tattoo that looked like a metallic necklace. “No thumps,” he said softly, kicking off his shoes and pushing down his pants, showing a human pair of boxer briefs.
She quirked an eyebrow.
He looked down at them and shrugged with a lopsided smile. “Fae don’t wear a lot of undergarments. I find these more…comfortable when I’m working.”
“You’re not working.”
He glanced at the window. “Like hell I’m not.”
Fair.
He stepped closer to her, and his gaze raked up her body, devouring every inch. It burned a trail from her toes, along the slip he’d given her, to the budded peaks of her breasts. He gave her a sensual and provoking smirk at the fervor he saw lurking in her eyes.
Just his look dazzled her. Fluttered her stomach. His appreciation for her body and who she was glowed in his eyes.
The smirk still in place, he bent to pull back the covers on the bed. Then he straightened, watching her, daring her to go next. Daring her to follow his lead and make the next move.
Breath catching, strangely nervous, she silently pulled the slip up and away from her body. She still wore panties, but only that, exposing the rest of her to the air and his eyes.
His gaze dipped, taking her in. He reached forward as though he couldn’t help himself and ran his palms along the sides of her belly and up. His thumbs grazed the edges of her breasts, not venturing any farther.
“Daisy,” he said, like he was praying to one of his gods. “Such a dainty name that fits this petite, doll-like creature I see before me. And so perfectly hides the monstrous beast that rages within. It is truly a pleasure.”
After a glance to the shade, knowing that if the ward failed they’d be dead anyway, she pushed the outside world out of her mind. Like last night, she focused solely on the moment. This moment. There was no better time to do things she might regret. Things that might not be wise.