Page 185 of Obsidian and Frost

“If that’s the case, then it also doesn’t matter when you seek him out.” He went to push me away, but I shoved him into the wall adjacent to the door, pinning him there with my strength, my hands to his pectorals. “Except it cannot be this very instant.”

“What are you—”

“You are needed here.”

“I can’t just—”

“I understand.” I threw up a temporary cloaking spell to encompass us so that Velra and Lazriel who were in my bedroom, Velra comforting Lazriel while he changed andcleaned his blood from his skin, did not overhear. “You feel you are operating on a ticking clock. You want everything dealt with immediately. But taking this approach is highly detrimental. This is a response rooted in fear first and anger second. Both those being your driving forces now will result in mistakes being made. You leave here now while harboring all of that and you will surely fail. You could even worsen the situation, not just for yourself, but for Lazriel and Velra.” I shook my head. “Normally, this is something you would not require counseling on. However, you have been pushed too far with all that has befallen you, so you are not at your best and your mental capacity is taxed.”

“Cassius—”

“Do you not also think that Lazriel deserves to be the one who is first in line to gain access toRemnant? His own father?”

He cursed. “What aboutPuritas?Lazriel coming into contact with his father could reveal the entire bigger picture, that the truth of the threat is those fuckers, when right now it’s some obscure enemy linked to his stepfather in his mind, or some old enemy of his mother’s.”

“Then that will have to be how this becomes known to him and Velra. If you try to control it at this point, you would need to keep a son from his father. I wantPuritas’rise kept from them both as well, but we need to weigh the price of doing so.”

“Okay,” he said, sinking against the wall, no longer fighting me.

I released him and stepped back.

With a sweep of my hand, I disintegrated the cloaking shield.

Just in time, because a moment later and I wouldn’t have been able to focus enough to manage it, as a rush of pleasure rolled through me.

No… not mine.

Hers.

This was the first time that this had occurred while she was within physical reach, a time when I no longer had to keep my distance either—in any way.

And I could not make myself resist the pull of it this time.

Before I knew it, I was striding across the apartment, then tearing open my bedroom door.

“Lazriel!” Sylas called out in admonishment, knowing thewild oneall too well.

I burst into the room and then staggered to a stop.

There Lazriel was utterly naked, holding Velra against the wall who was fully-clothed.

And she was giggling and squirming as he tickled her sides and then also licked at her throat.

“See how you like the tickling, love,” he was telling her.

Ah, I see.It had been emotional pleasure that I’d felt from her. Exaltation at him having fun and finding joy with her despite the heavy burden upon him from the startling revelation about his father—and his mother’s betrayal.

“Oh my God, put some clothes on!” she shrieked with laughter as he continued his tickling.

“Why? It’s so much freer this way.” He ground against her. “And while I’m stark naked, might as well take full advantage of it, hmm?” He turned his head and looked right at me, indicating he’d known I’d been here staring. “You up for that, Cas?” His gaze darted to my jeans where I knew I was erect. From the moment I’d felt that rush of pleasure. “Well, you most definitely are physically. That monstrous cock of yours says it all.”

Sylas entered the room and joined me at my side.

“Hmm… not up yet, Sylas? That’s not like you. Seems like you could use one hell of a release?”

Velra snatched his pendant and tugged. “Stop. You’re being incredibly antagonistic.”

“Come on, it’s one of the things you all enjoy about me.”