Fallon pulled my body flush against his, arm around my neck, and faced the cavern exit. Two seconds later, Lorian stepped out onto the cliff, bloody blades at his sides.
“Drop your weapons.” Fallon pointed the blade above my heart, nicking the skin. A trickle of blood slipped down over my breast.
“Gladly.” Lorian dropped them with a clang, still moving toward us, fury fixed on Fallon. “I want to use my hands when I tear you to fucking pieces.”
“Stop. I’ll kill her before you reach me.” He pressed the dagger, slicing the skin deeper. I winced. “I’d planned to kill her in a much different manner.” Fallon’s lips brushed my ear, his nude body rubbing through the sheer fabric of my gown.
Lorian stopped and gazed into my eyes for the first time, crippling me with the emotion welling there. My body trembled. Warm tears slipped down my face. I made not a sound.
Fallon’s hand spread across my stomach, sliding to my hip where he squeezed possessively. He whispered in my ear, knowing Lorian could hear. “I wish we’d had a few minutes more, my love.”
The dark look of death on Lorian should’ve shut the dumb fucker up.
I found my voice despite my fear. “I hope you burn in hell a long, long time.”
Fallon let the blade slice a little deeper and raised his voice. “I’m afraid she proved more difficult than I expected.”
Lorian’s eyes noted my hands clutching Fallon’s arm. “Yeah. She can be a bit of a cat when she wants to be.” Lorian’s hands flexed.
I glanced at my hands, well-manicured as always, long nails. A cat. In a flash, I reached back with my claws and sunk them into the soft flesh hanging between his legs, gouging and yanking as hard as I could.
Fallon let out a piercing cry. I lurched sideways, the dagger slicing my arm. A whipping sound. A biting, chill wind. I blinked snowflakes from my eyes.
Lorian had Fallon on his knees, one hand on his throat, the other on his wing. Lorian shook his head, glaring at the Morgon bent backward in his grip. “Wrong woman.”
Fallon choked out a laugh, blood spewing from his mouth. Lorian must’ve done some internal damage to the Morgon in the split-second I fell to the side.
“It doesn’t matter. There are more of us. And there are more women for the taking. Even if you kill me, we pave the way for him. The Larkosians will rise.”
“I don’t give a fuck as long as you’re rotting in hell.”
Without taking his focus off Fallon, Lorian spoke to me. Soft words, filled with restrained rage. “Baby, turn your head away.”
I did, curling into a ball.
Fallon’s high-pitched scream would haunt me forever, but the sound of cracking and crushing bone filled me with the most primal satisfaction. The need for vengeance had swelled in my breast with fierce desperation when Fallon had held me against that altar. But the sound of his death echoing into the night at the hands of my lover, of my love, would never bring me anything but peace that justice was done on the most fitting scale. When there was only the hiss of fire igniting, I uncurled myself. Lorian pulled me into his arms, a violent conflagration consuming what was left of Fallon Greyclaw.
I never saw him, but Kol was suddenly there, holding out a blanket to Lorian. With trembling hands, Lorian wrapped me. He cradled me in his arms and leapt off the cliff, winging away from the nightmare. I buried my face in his neck, shivering violently. Fear replaced terror when I realized what might have happened had he not come. I cried, a shaking, aching cry like never before. Lorian held me tighter, saying nothing.
We landed and I opened my eyes. We were in dense woodland, still cold, but not snowing as it had been on the mountaintop.
“Lorian, why are we here?”
Carrying me through a line of trees, he set me down on the edge of a steaming pool. He removed the blanket and the tattered, torn gown from my body. He lifted me again and carried me into the pool, then set me down on the marshy bottom. My trembling subsided. Warm water lapped against my body. He dipped into the water, splashing his face, rubbing his arms and hands, ridding himself of blood splatter.
“Lorian. Your clothes. You’ll be freezing.”
After combing his fingers through wet hair, he cupped my face in his hands, his gaze burning, frantic. “I don’t give a damn about anything but you, Sorcha. Don’t you understand?” Voice cracking, he ground out passion-filled words. “I almost lost you.” His thumbs stroked my cheeks, eyes searching every line of my face, fingers shaking despite the warmth. “I want you. I need you, now and forever. Fuck! Sorcha, please. Say you’ll be mine. Only mine. Forever.”
Those otherworldly eyes—one bright blue, one amber-gold—were glassy with emotion, so heavy was his heart. I curled my fingers over his hands to calm him, nodding furiously. “Yes, Lorian. I’ll be yours. Only yours.”
He brushed his lips gently at first, then more firm, prying my lips apart with his own. The moment his tongue touched mine, a shocking sizzle licked down my throat, pouring into my body. I clutched at his shoulders. He didn’t pull away at my slight resistance, but delved deeper. There was no turning back. The burning flowed, melting me on the inside. I gave Lorian my heart as soulfire streamed through my body, binding me tighter to the man I loved. Coiling my arms around his neck, I licked into his mouth, wanting more of him. I could hear my pulse pounding harder. Finding the rhythm of Lorian’s heartbeat, the two thumped in perfect harmony. His mouth possessed me, branding me with soulfire, making me his for eternity.
When I thought the burning had cooled, an electric snap stung me deep, searing through muscle and bone. Lorian swallowed my cry, an arm sliding around my waist and holding me tight, firming against my pliant body. An inferno scorched me clean, my defiant will evaporating like smoke, as not only our bodies became one, but our souls as well. Emotion swelled and poured out through tears down my cheeks. For in that moment, I knew, I knew he would be mine till my dying day, till my last breath. Till the last beat of my heart.
He pulled gently away, keeping our faces close, our breathing quick and ragged.
“Are you okay? Did he…did he hurt you?” Such pain in his voice.
“No. I’m okay.” I wouldn’t burden him with my fear that he wouldn’t come in time. Because he did, and all would be well now. “Except he did cut me with that damn knife.”
I peered down at the place where Fallon had nicked me over my breast, but there was no wound.“What the—?” I jerked my arm out of the water with a splash. No scratch. Nothing at all.
“Lorian, how am I healed?”
He smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek, another near my ear. “We’re in Singing Wind Wood.”
“What? You mean this is a magical healing pool or something?”
“No, I doubt that. I’ve never heard of a magical healing pool.”
“What are you saying?”
“I know these woods grant favor to ones they deem deserving. Magical favors.”
My eyes searched the line of trees. A gentle whistle rustled on a passing wind. The leaves whispered. The gibbous moon, high above us, shimmered on the surface of the water where steamy mist hovered and floated like dragon’s breath. We were not wholly alone, but protected here, guarded under these sacred trees.
“So Singing Wind Wood likes me.”
“Why wouldn’t she?” He kissed me on the temple, his voice grave. “I couldn’t help but fall in love with you.”
My stomach lurched. He’d never said such words to me. But there was no refuting how deep our emotions went after soulfire.
I smiled. “You’re in love with me?”
He arched one dark brow. “You know I am.” Strong hands held me tighter.
“Show me.”
His brow creased into a frown. “Sorcha, after what you’ve been through, I don’t think so.”
I cupped his face in my hands. “Lorian, after what I’ve been through, I need you to love me.” I placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Now.” Another one. “Here.” I traced my tongue along his
bottom lip. “In this magical place.” I opened my mouth on his, whispering against his lips. “Love me, Lorian.”
No further persuasion was needed. We laughed, trying to remove his wet clothes, clasped in each other’s arms, unwilling to let each other go. When we were finally skin on skin, Lorian lifted me in the water and eased inside my body, filling me deep, holding me close. We both sighed with profound pleasure.
Joined in every possible way, my legs wrapping his waist, his arms banded me so tight not a sliver of space separated us. He rocked slowly inside me, water lapping in slow ripples around us. His mouth on my neck, caressing me in gentle sweeps, his tender loving awoke a well of emotion. Another stream of tears spilled down my cheeks.
He stopped and held me, buried deep. “What is it, baby?” he asked, his usual cool mask broken with worry. For me.
I shook my head, blinking away the tears, born not of fear and anger but of a myriad of emotions I thought to never experience with a man—safety, belonging, deep abiding love.
“I never”—voice breaking, I cleared my throat—“I never thought to trust a man again.” He waited as I regained composure and continued. “My father abandoned me and my mom. Left us and never came back. Never called. Cut us off like we were nothing.” I sucked in a shaky breath, having locked away my bitterness toward my father long ago. I’d dismissed him, as he’d dismissed me. I’d pretended his breaking of my heart as a girl meant nothing to the woman I’d become.
Lorian lifted one hand out of the pool, dripping warm droplets on my shoulder as he combed his fingers around my nape in a gentle but firm grip. “You are everything. I’ll never leave you,” he said, voice gravelly with his dragon’s possessiveness. “I’ll never let you go.”
I smiled, my heart hearing the truth along our newly-made bond. “I know.”
Our gazes lingered on each other, as if permanently pressing this image, this moment in our minds forever. Then he slanted his mouth over mine and burned his promise into my body, my blood rushing in a mad torrent at his bidding. He began to move again, pulling out slowly and thrusting deep, showing me with his hands, his body, his mouth that I was the center of his world, his most precious treasure to be coveted from now till death do us part. Soulfire lit aflame again, bringing us to ecstasy multiple times. In the shelter of the woods, we made love again and again, while the wind sung through the trees, whispering words I couldn’t understand, but resonated in my bones—warmth, home…love. A soft, beautiful melody I would never forget.
Chapter 13
“You did an outstanding job. Outstanding!” Adicus Nightwing clapped Lorian on the shoulder. We looked out over one of the fourth floor balconies at the milling crowd of humans and Morgons.
Spire Maiden had been put on hold for weeks because I hadn’t been in any state to focus on finishing the final touches and marketing for the grand opening. After the nightmare with the Larkosians, I wasn’t in a frame of mind to do much of anything at all, except seclude myself from the world and meet with a psychiatrist several days a week. When I finally had felt ready to go back to work and finish the job we’d started, Lorian refused to let me. “You’re not well yet.” I had told him to go to hell, but he’d been adamant, insisting my mental health was more important than a fucking job. He was right, of course. So Willow had carried on in my stead for another month until I was finally able to venture out into public without breaking into a sweat and watching over my shoulder for an unseen enemy.
“Thank you, Father.” Lorian tipped his glass to me at his side, a protective hand heavy on my waist. “It would be nothing without Sorcha.” He dipped his head closer to my ear. “I’d be nothing without Sorcha.”
I elbowed him as my mother approached from the elevator area. “Mr. Nightwing, I’d like you to meet my mother, Miriam Linden.”
She pecked me on the cheek with a smile and held out her slender hand to Adicus. It didn’t escape my attention his eyes widened at the sight of her. Though in her late forties, my mom was a knockout. With flaming hair and creamy skin like mine, her gentle, brown eyes softened her face. Mom said mine always “shone with mischief.” Not hers. She looked like a fiery angel. I had always thought it was a waste of a good woman to spend all her time slaving at the office.
Adicus engulfed her hand in both of his. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Ms. Linden. We’ve spoken so often and never actually met.”
“Call me Miriam, please. And yes, it’s wonderful to put a face to the voice. I must say you match your voice.”
“Oh?” The Morgon man hadn’t let go of her hand.
“Yes.” She smiled and tilted her head. “Strong and husky.”
Good God, my mother was flirting with Lorian’s dad. And he was entirely too receptive.
“Would you like to get a drink, Miriam?”
“I’d love to.”
He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and led her away.
Lorian bit back a laugh, watching them go.
“Stop it. What if they hit it off and date or something?”
“What if they do? Nightwings and Lindens fit each other well.”
“You’re talking about our parents.”
“No. I’m talking about us.” He nuzzled into my neck, planting a kiss at the curve between my neck and jaw.
I sighed. “I can’t think when you do that, Lorian.”
“I know.” He did it again.
“Stop it.”
“There you are!” Jessen hauled me into a hug before I could even register it was her. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. This place is freaking amazing!”
Lucius shook his brother’s hand. They conversed in low tones. As soon as they’d moved off, Jessen bounced giddily. “So we’re really like sisters now!”
I laughed. “We always were.”
“True.” She grinned. “Oh, wow. Who’s that guy?”
Kol had joined the Nightwing brothers, their voices low, their faces grave.
“That’s Lorian’s best friend, Kol Moonring.”
“He’s, um, well, intense.”
“You have no idea.”
Lucius and Lorian’s cousin, Paxon Nightwing, joined the huddle of Morgon men, his voice dipping low so only they could hear. The Nightwings held a monopoly of nighclubs, retail stores, and even owned a percentage of the Vaengar Stadium where a Morgon sport was played and celebrated. I’d overheard Lorian speaking to Paxon on a couple of occasions about his management of the stadium.
Jessen frowned. “What’s going on? Is this about you?”
By the bent of their heads and their aggressive expressions, bordering on anger, I knew they weren’t talking business. “I think it’s about the Larkosians.” I’d already spent an entire day telling Jessen the whole story, omitting some of the uglier details. “Fallon’s threat is hanging heavy with all of them.”
“Yeah. Lucius has been worried there are more out there.” Her eyes softened. “I’ve been worried. About you. How are you doing?”
“Me? I’m fine. Have you seen the hunk of man over there who’s all mine now?”
We laughed as Ella walked up with a guy, a human guy, I’d never met before.
“Hi, girls.”
“Hey, Ella. Your mom let you out of the house?”
She smirked at me and gestured toward the guy whose arm draped around her shoulder. “My parents like Clayton. Jessen and Sorcha, this is Clayton Kerrington.”
That was a mouthful. The dude had sandy-blond hair and perfect teeth. Even deep dimples when he showed off his pearly whites. “Hello, ladies. I’ve heard so much about you.”
I eyed him skeptically. “So, you’re in favor with the Barrows, Ella’s parents?”
“They seem to like me.” An arrogant arch of the brow.
“And how do you feel about Morgons?”
“I’ve got no problem with them or anyone else. Hell, I love the Vaengar games. One of my favorite sports.”
The three Nightwing men joined our li
ttle party. Kol had disappeared. Not surprising.
“I think I’ve seen you before in the Box.” Paxon stood between myself and Ella.
“Yeah, yeah. I remember. You were with the Rowanflame brothers. I’m Clayton Kerrington.”
Still a mouthful.
“Paxon Nightwing.” Paxon shook his hand, but his eyes were elsewhere. I followed his gaze to…Ella.
Hmm. Interesting.
Paxon dragged his attention away from my oblivious, blond friend back to Clayton. “I’m sure I’ll see you again soon. Of course, if we had a better stadium”—he turned to Lucius—“we’d have more room in the Box.”
The Box section was delegated for the more affluent Morgons, but sometimes humans squeezed their way in.
“Pax, it’s on the agenda,” muttered Lucius. “A project of this magnitude takes time.”
“Yes, well, I could lure more elite teams to play here if we had a proper stadium. We can’t handle the crowds like Drakos and other Morgon provinces.”
Lucius wandered off again with Paxon, muttering about funding and political support.
“Holy crap! Look at Jed’s new band,” said Jessen.
The grind of a guitar warming up and the beat of drums drew the crowd’s attention to the stage.
“Wow.” Ella stepped up to the balcony.
Four blond rock-gods, three Morgons and one human, warmed up for their debut performance. Jed stepped up to the mic. “Welcome, everyone, to the grand opening of Spire Maiden. Everyone having a good time?” A whoop and a few whistles lit up from the audience. “Well, grab someone and hold on tight. We’re Elysium and we’re gonna make you party tonight.”
Jessen tossed her head back and laughed. “Jed and his cheesy opening lines.”
Ella giggled. “Yeah, but it works.”
The band slammed into their first tune to the sound of screaming fans. Jessen joined Ella and Clayton at the balcony.
Strong hands wrapped my waist, pulling me against a familiar, hard body. I draped my arms over his. Lorian swept my hair over one shoulder, his mouth pressing an intimate kiss to my neck.
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