Page 174

Evan stared at Xen for a long while, making sure he was real and not a figment of his imagination born out of his desperation to see him again. After a moment of idle staring, he let out a breath, rubbing his burning temple. “Thank fuck.”

Xen grabbed his chin, tilting his face up. The fire in his eyes had calmed but those red irises were still glowing dangerously as he stared down at Evan.

“You—”

Unexpectedly, Evan reached out and touched his chest.

Xen stiffened, cutting himself off as Evan’s finger slipped inside his robe, feeling around his skin, probing at the place where Knox had struck him with the spear. “You healed.”

Xen couldn’t look away from him. He was so used to Evan’s biting remarks that his genuine concern left him dumbstruck for a moment. The scarlet in his eyes flickered at Evan’s touch. Xen let go of his chin and covered Evan’s hand with his own, holding it firmly against his chest. “I suppose I did.”

It was probably Evan’s imagination but he felt as though Xen wasn’t talking about his wound.

Evan’s eyes flickered up, a little dazed. The world blurred around them as the pair stared at each other, both searching for something in the other’s gaze.

“If you died, I would’ve killed you,” Evan said.

Xen cocked his head. “Violence suits you.”

A grin tugged at Evan’s lips. Xen stilled. His pupils dilated then shrank as if beholding a wonder of the world for the first time. Like a butterfly entranced by the sight of a dew-scattered blossom.

He reached forward and dipped his finger into the delicate hollow in Evan’s left cheek.

Heavens, Evan Blackwood had a dimple.

The King of Demons was absolutely awestruck.

Evan smiling with his whole face was a rarity more uncommon than a clear sky in Emberlyn. Very few people in the entire town knew of that gentle dip in his left cheek that elevated his cold handsomeness up several notches.

Xen traced the dimple with a finger then dipped his head, eyes slightly dazed. Evan went rigid but didn’t pull away.

Their lips hovered close. So close. But Xen paused a hair’s breadth away, struggling to restrain himself.

Watching him fight against his desires, something in Evan softened. He exhaled, then cupped Xen’s nape, pulling him closer.

A harsh breath left Xen, eyes darkening—dangerous, possessive. Evan shivered as an arm wrapped around his waist, drawing him flush against a hard chest.

“You’re playing with fire, Little Storm,” Xen rumbled.

Evan’s lashes quivered, gaze flicking to the lips just inches from his own. Emboldened by adrenaline still coursing through his system, he breathed, “Burn me.”

Scarlet blazed in Xen’s eyes as he dropped his mouth to—

“Ugh…” Aaron groaned behind them.

Evan froze. His eyes widened, warmth crawling up his pale neck and onto his cheeks. Blinking furiously, he turned away, the heat disappearing faster than it’d appeared in his eyes.

Xen’s eyes narrowed. His hand hovered where it’d been caressing Evan’s face, fingers curling around nothing before dropping away.

Aaron let out a pained huff from where he was sprawled on the ground. His tattered clothes clung to his body in bits and pieces, his face bruised and bloody. “Did I…swallow lead? Why is…my body so…so…”

“Are you okay?” Evan and Zeev helped Aaron sit up. “Can you stand?”

“I can…barely breathe,” Aaron rubbed his head and hissed, staring at the blood on his hand. Then his twisted ankle, and dislocated shoulder. “Fuck… Who the hell—” His eyes glazed over, turning distant for a moment. As his memories returned in broken pieces, he blinked away, turning to Evan. “Is it…gone?”

Knox.

“It’s gone,” Evan patted Aaron’s uninjured shoulder and supplied spiritual energy to him to aid in healing his injuries. “You can rest now.”