Page 65

Zayne

My heart raced as we steadied on the small sandy beach with bluffs rising to either side. Ayla’s hand, trapped in mine, tempted me. How I longed to hide her away forever—only she’d never forgive me if I did that.

“What’s your plan?” she asked.

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside and looking about. This place wasalmostperfect. I shadow-stepped us one more time.

Now we stood next to a lagoon, a fine sandy beach at our feet. The crystal clear pool was surrounded by vibrant plants and tall lush trees. Tucked between bluffs, we were secluded, completely out of sight.

It’d be the perfect place to hide Ayla away, if she’d allow it.

Taking her hand, I turned her around so that her back was flush to my front. In the space before us, I brought forward a dense shadow, darker than pitch.

“By working together, we could temper your magic,” I explained. “Your starlight and my shadows.”

She leaned into me, causing my heart to pound against the pressure of her body. The echo of our disagreement lingered between us, and by Teyr, I was thankful she allowed me to hold her now. I just breathed her in, cherry and spice and entirelyAyla.

She lifted her chin, nuzzling her cheek against my chest where she could reach. “So let me get this straight, your big plan is that, when I have too much starlight, I’ll just throw it into your shadows, and they’ll annihilate each other?”

“Pretty much.”

She chuckled, the sound like music until it died in her throat a moment later. “The last time I tried to mix my magic with someone else’s, Ninti…”

“This is different,” I insisted. “Ninti’s powerenteredyour magic, right? My shadows are made to consume, and I’m offering you a place to discharge power. Starlight and shadows, it makes sense.”

“Sure,” she answered, still unconvinced. “But I still don’t know how to create starlight on purpose.”

I nodded toward the dark shadow before us. “You’re always emitting starlight around me. Give it a try. And if this goes badly, we don’t have to do it ever again, I promise.”

Still, she hesitated. “Even if this works, it’s just a cover-up. This won’t give me control.”

My chest tightened; she was right. She asked for control, but I didn’t know how to give it to her. “Control is what the lesson is for,” I finally admitted.

“And you’re okay with that?”

“Begrudgingly accepting,” I corrected.

“I’ll take it.”

“But first” —I pointed to the shadow— “Princess, please make me some starlight.”

The scent of her arousal bloomed at my words. If I’d learned anything about her magic, it was that her starlight responded tome.And this lagoon was beautiful. When we were done here, the things we could do…

Through the tether, I promised her sweet kisses if she’d do this one thing for me.

She pointed her palm toward my shadow. Hesitant, she inhaled, and then a thin light appeared just beyond her reach. It wavered and shimmered and finally grew. Gradually, the speck of starlight expanded into an orb.

She wiggled excitably in my arms. “I couldn’t do that before.” She hesitated and blushed. “So uh, the us-thing, I suppose it helps. In a pinch.”

Relief radiated through the tether as her tension gave way to release, and with the easy flick of her fingers, she sent the starlight toward the shadow.

My shadow consumed it whole, and her magic flashed within me, vanishing completely. It had been one thing to guard her starlight with my shadows last night aboard theUmbral Star,but this… directly absorbing her starlight was entirely different.

A greedy rush of pleasure shocked through me. Startled, I gasped.

“Oh!” Ayla cried out too.

My lips parted as I fought the urge to groan. “That felt very good.” Making my point clear, I rubbed my hardened cock against her back. “You?”