Page 13

A low growl of warning sounded from the shadows.

Skye growled back, though his was morefrustratedthan threatening. His body sagged in defeat, head dropping into the cradle of her neck.

“Why does this keep happening?” His voice was muffled.

“He’s not that bad,” Taly insisted, breathless.

“Not that bad? Taly, I can barely touch you without that thing getting its hackles raised.” He lifted his head, leveling a glare at the otherworldly blue stare peering at them from the shadows. “Shoo.”

Long tail flicking, Calcifer stepped forward and plopped himself down. He would not.

“It would help if you were nicer to him,” Taly said. “Then maybe he wouldn’t think you were attacking me.”

“If anything, you’re the one attacking me,” Skye countered. “I’ve got scratches on my back.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No,” he said, grinning. “I like it when you mark me.”

There it was—that telltale flush. He wanted to pin it down, claim it, and make damn sure no one else ever earned it.

He kissed her again. How could he not? She was so close, her lips parted, and she tasted like something he’d been missing his whole life.

Calcifer hissed, low and insistent.

Taly broke the kiss. “It’s okay, baby,” she said breathlessly as Skye licked and nipped his way down her neck. “Mommy’s—oh—busy right now.”

Skye pulled back slightly, eyes twinkling. “I think he’s plotting my demise.”

“Too bad,” she whispered, pulling him back in.

Skye barely had a second to sink into her before—

“… hello?” Kato’s voice floated up from downstairs, thin and painfully mistimed.

“Oh my Shards,” Taly groaned as Skye sighed and flopped onto his back in defeat.

If it wasn’t the overgrown cat, it was Kato. Honestly, he couldn’t tell which was worse.

“I swear, I’m going to kill him.”

Taly groaned and threw an arm over her face. “Not if I get to him first.”

“Go back to sleep, Kato!”

“Oh, sorry, didn’t realize you werebusy.” Kato’s voice dripped with melodrama.

Taly kept her voice low. Privacy was hard to come by in a building with no insulation and even fewer doors. “You know, I was willing to look past the wholehim accusing me of betraying everything and everyone I’ve ever loved. And I didn’t take issue with howhorriblyhe’s always treated you. Seriously, Em,” she said, going off on a familiar tangent, “he doesonegood deed, and we’re all just supposed to forget that he’s spent his entire life coming up with ways to hurt you? How do we know this isn’t just one more elaborate, mean-spirited prank?”

Skye had wrestled with the same thought—the same worry. Could he really trust his brother? “We talked about this already.”

She growled a sigh. “I know, I know. For now, we still need him to get back. But I swear if he asks me to document hisfinal wordsone more time—”

“Someone!” Kato wailed. “This is it! The end is near if you don’t hurry!”

Taly glowered at Skye.He’s your brother,her eyes said.How did I get saddled with this?

Skye mouthed,I’m sorry.But it was her turn.