Page 63

Sebastien was there, the creature’s limp body slipping between his hands, dissolving into a puddle at our feet.

I gasped in relief, struggling for breath that burned my throat, the world shifting in and out of focus. His arm shot out, steadying me as I took great, dizzying gulps of air.

‘What was that?’ I rasped.

‘I don’t know,’ he said darkly. His eyes were trained on my face, scanning. His brows furrowed. ‘You’re hurt.’

I glanced over my shoulder and winced as something hot sliced down my arm, seeing the tracks of crimson that tore through my shirt. I leaned back against the bedpost, my chest heaving. The pain throbbed in time with my racing heart but the tightness in my lungs eased.

Sebastien stepped closer. His gaze searched mine in a way that only made my breathing more erratic. I reached for his arm, still catching my breath, unable to find the words to thank him.

I held his gaze, my heart slowing and speeding up all at once. There was a current pulsing in the air between us, a tide that tugged him that final step, chest brushing up against mine.

Something metal clattered to the floor. My dagger, the one I’d been holding, ready to use.

‘Are you all right?’ Sebastien asked quietly, his voice like sandstone, scraping against every part of me. My spine tingled.

‘I’m not sure,’ I whispered, finding it hard to swallow. Finding it hard to do anything, really, but curl my hand tighter around his forearm.

His rough fingers slid along the sensitive flesh of my wrist, sending goosebumps prickling over my skin. I am now, I thought. The more he touched me, the more the rest of the world seemed to right itself.

The coarse texture of his bandages brushed against my blouse. The smell of him – salt and sand and steel – was intoxicating. Sebastien lifted his free hand, fingers gliding along my jaw, slipping into my hair.

Something hot fluttered in my belly and I angled myself closer, feeling my quickening pulse in every part of my body.

‘Kiss me,’ I breathed.

‘Why would you want that?’ he murmured, eyes never leaving my mouth.

I shook my head. I had no answer to give, except that I wanted it. Gods, I wanted it. ‘Just this once.’

His head tipped forward, warm lips closing over my cold ones. So gentle, so fleeting, it tugged my heartstrings along with him when he pulled back.

A sigh escaped me, but I didn’t open my eyes. Didn’t want it to be over.

‘Again.’

I tasted my whisper on his tongue as he complied, lips recapturing mine. His fingers slid around the back of my neck and I caved, melting into his cruel, capable hands.

His kiss was soft, tongue like silk as it slipped past my lips, dipping into my mouth. He caught my bottom lip gently between his teeth, drawing my mouth open wider before he took it again, tongue searing hot and salted.

Oh.

Shivers cascaded down my body and I tilted my head back, letting him in deeper, letting his arms hold me as my knees went weak. The bedpost was firm against my back, the only thing stopping me from crumbling completely as the rest of the world slipped away.

Again, again, again.

I grew hungrier, biting his lip, trying to draw out the power I could feel him withholding. His shadows were thick in my chest, my heart racing with the thrill of power that shot through me.

He tasted of salt. Of the sun. Of a warm, calm sea, settling my nerves and setting them alight again as his tongue grazed over mine.

Sebastien pulled back, panting, and our eyes locked. I couldn’t tell where his pupils ended and his irises began – it was all so dark, all so consuming. Glinting like coals, like the promise of fire.

Again, I wanted to say, craving the taste of him, of relief. But I couldn’t find my voice over the heat creeping through me. Sharp pangs rippled from my shoulder to the rest of my body, making my head spin. Not just from his body against mine – there was pain there, a lick of flame.

I glanced over my shoulder. Blood trailed down my arm, dripping to the floor that seemed to be getting further and further away.

Warm fingers closed around my arm and a voice rang in my ear. ‘Ria, can you hear me?’