Page 28 of The Night Is Defying (Nytefall Trilogy #2)

28

A straea

Drystan knew how to hatch the egg. It was the only conclusion I had and what Nyte had shown me of the past was what his brother was waiting for me to see.

I figured he’d found out from the diary, somehow translated it. So much was unveiled to me in that one memory that my mind was spinning faster than it ever had.

The map—it all made sense now. I dipped into my pocket for the enchanted item I kept close. It was invaluable and yet Drystan had given ownership of it to me.

I couldn’t figure out his motive yet but suddenly I was cursing myself for coming to Alisus. As much as I wanted—needed—to see the guardians, my heart was urging me toward this new path. I felt so close to discovering more about the celestial dragons and that became an exhilarating rush.

I walked the halls of the keep like the fresh air would help me sort through my tangling emotions.

The temple.

The dragon egg.

Both had to wait for one other thing I needed to confront while I was in the keep. Though as I headed to find Reihan, I wasn’t entirely sure how to approach the subject of the celestial wings in his office without exposing our infiltration that would break his trust.

“Sleep well?”

Those two words stroked like a lick of smoke at the tip of my spine. Nyte’s illusion was very convincing, strolling by my side with his hands casually in his pockets.

“I hid the egg in the maze,” I said, still in disbelief.

“You did.”

“The map… we were there when Drystan found it.”

I kept replaying the memory that held so many clues to the present. It hurt to see how close I’d been with Drystan, even feeling it through Nyte’s observation of us, yet the younger brother I knew in this life often regarded me like I was nothing at all to him anymore.

“Yes.”

“I need to meet with him again.”

“Is that a good idea after the last time?”

I winced recalling the outburst that had come over me. Though it had felt damned good to unleash at the time and I couldn’t promise it wouldn’t happen again.

“I’m sure you’d enjoy the reaction it could pull out of me.”

“Absolutely. I’m restless to taste your rage and feel your power again.”

“Are you not angry with me?”

“What for?”

“The humiliation in front of everyone—the bargain I placed on you.”

Nyte merely shrugged. “Trust I feel not an ounce of embarrassment at what you did. I’m still glowing with the pride of it and it was genius to my advantage that the vampires think you escaped and I had no choice. But you and I both know it’s only a matter of time before I come for you.”

I shivered at that.

“The bond I made could kill you if you do.”

Nyte reached for my hand and I let him pull me into the shadows. It was too convincing; he was too damn tempting. I was taken back to all the times he’d come to me like this, unable to truly reach me.

“I’ve told you before, I’m well acquainted with death. To reach you, it’s the last thing that would stop me.”

My hands met his chest when his circled my waist. He’s not real. It was all I could chant to myself to pretend this didn’t count as anything.

“How do I know you’re showing me the truth?” I whispered.

Auster and Rosalind’s doubt had nagged at me several times.

“Come back to me; we can bind a truth bargain.”

Nyte chuckled at my groan.

“I’ve had enough of bargains for a lifetime,” I said.

“For two lifetimes.”

“None in the third, then.”

“Deal,” Nyte said low, before tipping my chin up to him and leaning his mouth to mine.

I was lost to him that second. Shamelessly, my hands curled into his jacket, pressing into him tighter, and before I knew it I was frustrated with him for not being real.

I broke away with that unwanted disappointment. I’d made the spectacle to show the vampires I wasn’t weak, and I’d left Nyte’s side to prove it to myself.

“You don’t look too well,” he observed, scanning my face like it would reveal deeper details about my troubles.

I cupped my forehead. “I’m fine, just a little tired.”

“You need to eat and rest. I’ll come for you now just to make sure you do.”

I tried to pull on a mask of absolute health with a charming smile. He knew what I was doing, but he said nothing, perhaps anticipating I’d bite back at the coddling.

“Do I get a tour?” Nyte asked, tipping my silver hair over my shoulder.

“You’ve never been here before?”

“I’ve never had reason to. Alisus has actually had the least vampire problems.”

I thought to ask Nyte about what had been disturbing my mind since last night.

“Have you ever known of celestials having their wings… taken?” My stomach rolled at the mere thought. Picturing Nyte’s stunning midnight wings on that wall ached in my chest.

“Yes. It was punishable by death to be caught selling or even in possession of celestial wings. Some poached them just for triumph and decoration. Like all crimes and evil, the law doesn’t stop it from happening. Sometimes it even tempts the hunger of the wicked more.”

“Does it kill the celestial?”

“Not usually. But it’s an unimaginable pain to have them sawn or torn off, and they don’t often recover mentally from the ordeal.” My horror filled gaze met his. Even Nyte displayed his abhorrence for it. “Why do you ask?”

I paused to contemplate what he might do or say if I told him what I’d found.

“If there was a pair of wings and I touched them… would I know if the person was still alive?”

Nyte’s arm pulled me against him again. His eyes searched mine, filling with concern.

I was distracted for a moment by the real force of his touch. Then by the fact that my hair stayed over my shoulder when I thought the illusion that he’d touched it would be broken. Those were the tells I’d learned when I reflected on his illusion appearances.

“You can manipulate things from afar now?” I concluded.

Nyte’s hard frown of interrogation smoothed for a second of twinkling satisfaction.

“I was wondering when you’d notice,” he said with a low gravel to his tone. Nyte’s hand headed lower, toward the cut of my skirt. Heat gathered inappropriately between my legs. “I’d still much rather be with you in person, but I could demonstrate how real of an impression I can make now.”

“How?” I said, letting him continue his sinful roaming when it dulled my headache for a moment.

“I drank your blood, you drank mine. It’s a far stronger connection for me. Magick is… pliable.”

Nyte twisted with me, pushing me against the wall in a small alcove with a low growl, and my face pinched when he hooked under my knee to press himself into me tighter.

“I think I’ve stayed away long enough,” he purred.

“I could still banish you with a thought.”

“Do it. I dare you.”

I was on the verge of it when these dares and silent battles awoke a dormant language between us. But I wasn’t going to entertain him so easily.

“Have you seen Drystan again?”

“I don’t want to hear his name, or anyone’s, when I have my cock pressed against you.”

“Technically, you don’t.”

I whimpered at the firm drag of him against my core.

“Stop,” I rasped, becoming hyperaware of how this would look if anyone wandered down here.

Nyte smiled wickedly. He kissed the edge of my jaw.

“Is that really what you want?”

No. I wanted him to finish what he’d started when the temptation of him was right here.

“Please,” I whispered. I had pitiful resistance.

His hand reached between us, slipping under my skirt, and his other hand clamped over my mouth anticipating the moan I couldn’t bite back when he circled between my legs.

“You are so wet,” he growled. “While I’m bending your mind to come for me on my hand here, I have my fist around my cock, imagining it inside you instead of my fingers.”

I choked on a sharp inhale when he curved two fingers inside me, stretching me full. My hips rocked against his hand, chasing the pleasure faster with the rush of adrenaline that came with knowing anyone could come by.

“Best be quick, love. How scandalous you would look here.”

His thumb pressed against my sensitive bud as he fucked me harder, faster with the curve of his fingers. What was driving my lust wild was the thought of him touching himself to the same rhythm—thinking of me and how I felt wrapped around his fingers.

“Are you hard for me?” I whispered. Nyte planted his other hand by my head as I pulled his head down and he watched his hand working under my skirt. “Wishing your cock was fucking me instead.”

“Yes,” he rasped, like he was as close to a release as I was.

I tightened around his fingers, teetering right on the edge. This was so different and daring but it felt so good and real I didn’t care.

“Fuck.”

“Come for me, Nyte,” I said across his ear.

Reaching my hand down I dragged the heel of my palm down his hard cock and that pushed him over first. He tensed against me, and picturing him sitting in his room or office, hand pumping his cock and releasing to every thought of me, sent my orgasm crashing over me in waves.

My head tipped back against the stone wall with a silent cry and I shuddered violently. Nyte kept fucking me as if he was spending himself inside me.

We both came down in a panting mess, his his forehead buried in my neck.

“That was unexpected,” he said, breathless. “But absolutely thrilling.”

I shivered with his fingers pulling out of me. Pressing my palms against the wall, I tried to scramble the pieces of me back together as my leg unhooked from around Nyte.

“Miss, are you all right?”

My pulse leaped up my throat—literally. I coughed and swallowed to force it back down to be able to respond to the guard who had come out of nowhere. Nyte chuckled darkly, not even moving for the company that stood right in front of me because only I could see the scandal of Nyte pressed against me, mouth hovering at my ear.

“Better respond,” he taunted, kissing my neck.

That bastard.

“Just fine, thank you,” I barely squeaked the words, needing him to leave when I couldn’t move.

“Should I get someone for you?” The guard asked in concern for the flustered mess of me.

“No, I’m just taking a moment.”

Leave me the fuck alone.

Nyte wouldn’t stop trailing his lips along my collar. I could banish him, and there was something twistedly wrong with me that I didn’t.

“If you’re sure, ma’am.”

I nodded, a little too eagerly, but with a wary look over, he continued on his way.

My hands flattened on Nyte’s chest and pushed the moment he was gone and I scowled deeply to his smirk of amusement. It didn’t put much distance between us.

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I miss you.”

“Then you need more things to occupy yourself.”

“Trust I could be in the midst of a war outnumbered five to one and still be missing you. Do you forget the centuries I’ve waited?”

He knew how to make me forget everything that should be driving us apart.

Nyte backtracked our conversation. “Why did you ask about the wings?”

“Reihan has a pair of silver wings in his office,” I said, scanning the hall. “But before you jump to any conclusions I’m going to find out why. I don’t believe he knows of such laws when two human lifespans generations have passed since people saw celestials wander freely. They’ve been thought extinct or even an old fable.”

Nyte’s silence was frightening. His jaw worked like he was trying to hold back his impulse to disregard all I tried to defend. He might be their greatest enemy, but Nyte was disturbed by the idea of the celestials being poached for their wings.

“If there’s even one hint he knows more than he lets on, trust your instinct. It’s never led you astray, but sometimes your good heart tries to ignore it because of something you don’t want to believe.”

I nodded. Then, with a drop of disappointment, I said, “I need to go.”

“I’ll always answer your thoughts if you call. But if you long for me—”

“You’ll become an irritating, tangible force.”

His smile lifted my spirit. “Always,” he said. Then kissed me firmly.

Nyte was gone when I opened my eyes and became lonely in his absence.