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“How are you feeling?”

“Scared.” She ate the rest of the chocolate. “Would you like to help me finish my dance offering to the All Mother for Hel and Valeen’s safety? I am so worried they will not come back. I wish I could do something. I wish I could go but—there is no sun there and I fear I would be even weaker than I already am. And it’s not like I can fight well anyway.”

Thane looked out the window. He took a few deep breaths as if trying to calm himself. “You truly believe the All Mother will help them? Because I think she left us a long time ago.”

“Our creator’s hands will be made known, even if in the smallest of ways, you simply have to look.”

He held out his hand to her, palm up. “Either way, I would love to dance with you, Katana.”

“Do you know how?” She felt herself smiling and placed her hand in his. Atlanta hated dancing with her. He thought it was a useless talent.

“Of course I do.” He grinned and pulled them to the center of the soft rug and spun her in a circle.

“Show off.” Her stomach fluttered as they stepped. She followed his lead to a dance she knew quite well. They started with the traditional steps, then he dipped her, gliding his hand up her spine to the back while the other slid down her thigh lifting it. Holding around his neck, she raised her pointed toe to the ceiling. When he pulled her back upright, he moved his hands to her waist and lifted her, turning in a circle.

The air felt charged now. The placement of his hands left her burning. The music changed to something more intimate, theslow plucking of strings and the soft melody of violins seemed to buzz in her veins.

Thane brought her down slowly, eyes holding hers, as if enchanted. Their lips were but a breath away. When her toes touched the ground, she spun away, and he caught her wrist, pulling her back in, caging her in his arms.

Her heart felt like it would pound out of her chest as those striking green eyes slowly rolled down to her lips. He waited inches away. She clutched the front of his tunic in her palms, trying to stop her body from trembling.

He wasn’t ready for more. Hisheartwasn’t ready. He’d said so himself, and yet it felt right to be in his arms. But she didn’t want to be used to satisfy his loneliness until he was healed.

They saidoncefor a reason, so there was no real hurt when it ended. And it would end. She hadn’t loved Atlanta for a long time, and she was primed for something more than what he offered. She wanted love and romance. Heartfelt confessions and passionate nights, and a promise of more than a day.

“Thane…”

“Yes?” he breathed.

“Maybe dancing was not a good idea.”

“Only if you don’t desire me the way I desire you. I know we said once but…I can’t stop thinking about you. Once was not enough. You’ve ignited a fire inside me.” His voice was low and husky.

She pressed her forehead to his and closed her eyes. Truth was, she wanted him, craved him and the way he took her to a place of pleasure she hadn’t known before. “Thane,” she whispered, and cupped his face between her palms. “I want you, I do but…”

“But?”

As if she couldn’t stop herself, she leaned in and kissed him. Warmth pulsed through her, and she gripped the back ofhis neck, his hands pulling her flush against him as his tongue caressed hers. He lifted her with ease, putting them eye to eye, and kissed her harder, faster until she had to pull back for air. They weren’t immortals anymore, and any day could be their last. She started with the top button on his tunic, then went quickly to the next, exposing his soft ivory skin.

His throat bobbed as he stared down at her. “Katana,” the way he said her name sent a chill down her spine. It was a plea. “Are you sure? I can’t promise you more than today. Not yet.”

“I know,” she whispered, and finished with the last button. “And today, I want you.”

He leaned down and kissed her, his hand glided up her thigh, pulling her dress with it. His lips moved to her throat, her collarbone, and he spent a lot of time simply kissing her skin, putting his hands all over her body, until every part of her was aflame. They ended up bare skin against bare skin, tangled on the soft rug, all hot kisses and bated breath.

The harp and violin still played a slow melody. The sun warmed her skin through the window, but then she realized the light wasn’t only coming from outside. Her hair was alight in a messy halo on the floor around her.

Thane took a handful of the silky tresses and let it slide between his fingers. “Is this your magic?”

It wasn’t something that had happened before. “It must be.”

“You’re beautiful, Katana. All of you.” His lips and hands didn’t leave her body after that. She didn’t think of tomorrow or that next day, only of his soft sighs and whispers of her name.

Chapter 40

VALEEN

Hel angled himself in front of Valeen as the wicked brothers who ruled this realm came into view. With the presence of their masters, the remaining demon hounds and other nameless creatures pulled back.