Page 86 of Elex

“What did you want me to ask you that I didn’t?” he asked.

I closed my eyes.Fuck. He’d know if I was lying. In for a penny.

“I wanted you to ask me if you could kiss me,” I whispered finally. He didn’t move at my words, and I suddenly felt like the biggest idiot. How could this beautiful, courageous, kitten-saving man ever want someone like me? Especially after just sharing everything my own blood had done to me.

Feeling suddenly filthy, I was on my feet and pulling away from him without thinking. “Yeah, dumb thing to think, I know. Probably been drinking too much of that vodka.”

“That sentence was a lie,” he whispered. Then without warning he was in front of me. He slowly reached out and cupped the back of my head and drew me close. He was standing so near to me that I could feel his breath on my cheek. “But that first one…”

He swept his thumb over my lips.

“Truth,” he whispered, a small, sad smile forming. He moved even closer, his breath hot on my skin.

“Kataramenos,” he said, drawing my name out. My heart pounded in my chest at his nearness, and my body flushed both hot and cold at the same time.

“Kat. May I kiss you?” he asked, finally.

I swallowed hard, my nerves on fire. I couldn’t believe someone like him might want someone like me. I couldn’t look away from his eyes, which were brighter than the moonlight. I could see my reflection in his gaze. It was almost unrecognizable. It was a person who was strong. Confident.Whole. Someone who deserved something good in his world. Someone I wanted desperately to be.

I nodded, unable to form the words.

He moved forward slowly, just brushing his lips across my own. The zap of our magics built to a vibrating hum as he licked gently across my lips with his tongue. I opened my mouth slowly, savoring the taste of the vodka as he slid into my mouth, the gentle heat of his body pressing against mine.

He held me like I was something…precious. Not fragile, exactly, but somethingvalued. I had fooled around with other Mageia in the past and been used by Elusians against my will. This was completely different from any of that. None of those encounters, even the willing ones, had ever made me feel cherished. Safe. Made me feel like he did.

He finally drew back, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

“Thank you,” he breathed. All I could do was continue to stare into his eyes for long moments.

“We—should probably get some sleep,” I said shakily, stepping backward and breaking the connection between us. He nodded.

“I’ll take first watch,” he said.

I just nodded and made my way to the cot, wrapping myself in a blanket and turning away from the light.

Just as I was falling asleep, I swear I heard him say a gentle “Sleep tight, Kitten.”

???

I woke to the sound of someone knocking on the bedroom door.

I could hear V in the shower and was kind of surprised. I always woke up before V did. A little groggy, I opened the door to see Hel standing outside the door.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” he teased, and I scowled at him.

“What do you want?” I was probably being more grumpy than necessary.

“I’ve got something for you guys.” He held something shiny. “Meet me in the kitchen? But, um…” he glanced down at my legs. “Maybe put some pants on?Icertainly appreciate the view, but you’ll scandalize Betts.”

Fuck. Most Legionnaires slept naked. I hadn’t even thought about it, just fallen into bed wearing just the shirt he’d loaned me. He didn’t give me a chance to respond before turning on his heel and heading down the hall, whistling a jaunty tune.

V came out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam rolling out as he opened the door. His arm still had the bite marks from the snake’s fangs. They were blackened marks, with deep bruising. The bite didn’t seem to be causing him any problems though as he toweled his hair dry.

“Hel wants us to meet him in the kitchen,” I told him.

My brother nodded and moved to get dressed.

I showered quickly and dressed in more of the same clothes Hel had provided the day before. This time, though, I was able to figure out how to tie the sweatpants and keep them from falling.