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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

FRANKIE

I stood in the middle of the infirmary in the hallway outside the room they had Everest in. My whole body trembled. My skin was clammy yet cold. I wrapped my arms around my waist and shifted my weight from foot to foot. I needed to get in there. I needed to see him.

The second I’d given Everest that potion, he’d passed out and hadn’t woken. Thorne and Sage practically threw us out of the tunnel and into Coven Headquarters. They were nowhere in sight, but I wasn’t surprised, not with the Unseelie being that close to Seelie. They’d saved my soulmate. That was all I could ask of them. Everything happened so fast after he went down that I’d barely registered Tennessee carrying Everest down the stairs. He’d just laid him on the bed when the healing angels, Riah and Pippa, had pushed me out of the way and dove for him. Jackson’s older sister, the All Souls Angel and Keeper of the Light, Chloe, had come racing down the hall. She hadn’t slowed down at all, just grabbed the doorframe and used it to catapult herself into the room.

That was hours ago. It was probably only mere minutes, in truth, but waiting out here in the hall was purgatory.

Just when I thought I would scream, Riah raced out of the room. My pulse quickened, except he didn’t stop to talk to me. He didn’t even look at me or glance in my direction. He leapt across the hall, rushing into Devon’s room. My heart sank. I crept over to the open doorway and peeked inside. Riah’s back was to me as he leaned over Devon’s body and pushed his silver magic into her forehead and chest. Hunter sat on the other side of the bed, holding his soulmate’s hand. Emersyn sat beside her father, resting her head against his shoulder. That bandage was still wrapped around her eyes. Bentley stood protectively behind both of them, though that wound on his shoulder looked like it needed a new bandage. I moved into the doorframe and that was when I discovered Savannah was lying in the bed closest to the door. She was still unconscious, but her skin had its normal pallor now. Cooper sat on the edge of her bed, holding one of her hands in his lap as he gripped her hand tight. His pale-green eyes were locked on what Riah was doing to his mother. I frowned.

Tegan stepped in front of me. I hadn’t even realized she was in the room. Her pale-green eyes were sharp but full of worry and fear. She leaned against the doorframe and took a deep breath, then let it out. “You saved them both, Frankie.”

I frowned. It doesn’t feel like I did.

“They’re both going to recover from this, so yeah, you definitely did,” Tegan said, responding to the statement I hadn’t realized I’d said out loud. “Mom was dying. You know that. If you hadn’t done what you did, she’d be gone . . . and she would’ve taken Savannah down with her.”

My eyes burned. I swallowed through the hot lump in my throat. “What’s he doing?”

She grimaced. “It’s complicated, but basically her soul and her body need to . . . reattach themselves properly. He’s just helping that along. He’ll tend to Savannah next.”

“How long will they be out for?”

She shook her head. “We don’t know.”

“We’re lucky to have you, Riah,” I said loud enough for him to hear.

“Thank you, Lita Toah. ” He glanced over his shoulder and smiled, his golden eyes full of warmth. “Your Everest will also be all right. Go ahead, go check for yourself.”

I nodded. There were too many emotions happening inside of me to trust words. Tegan just winked and gestured toward Everest’s room. I turned and hurried over to his room just as Pippa and Chloe were walking out. I stopped short, my heart in my throat.

Pippa put her hand on my shoulder. “He is perfectly fine. That potion you gave him ensured it.”

“He just needs to rest,” Chloe added softly. “But he’s awake.”

I gasped. “He’s awake? Really? Can I?—”

“Go ahead,” Chloe smiled and pulled Pippa out of the way.

I hurried inside, then crashed into a wall of black. Tennessee cursed and gripped my shoulders to steady me. “Sorry, Franks. Shit, you good?”

I nodded and looked up to give him a small smile. “You move too fast sometimes, my dude.”

He chuckled. Then he looked over his shoulder and nodded. “Good to finally have you here, Everest. Please rest, we’ve got everything under control.”

Tenn said something to me before tapping my shoulder and leaving the room, but my ears stopped listening the moment my soulmate came into view. There was so much to say to him, yet nothing came out. He was sitting up now, his legs draped over the side of the bed. Somehow seeing his bare feet dangling in the air sent a flutter of beats through my pulse. He was still in those black pants, but up close I realized they were torn and ripped all over, and not in the way Tenn’s jeans were. There was no way these pants could be salvaged and worn. I wasn’t sure why I was even noticing them, except maybe because the site of the rest of him was making me nervous. Shirtless, I saw all the blood and grime covering his skin from everything he’d just done. There was red blood, no doubt from the vampires he’d killed, but there was also purple Unseelie blood and black demon blood. All of it made my stomach turn. But he was safe now, and that was all that mattered.

He was staring down at his hands that were just as dirty as the rest of him. The energy rolling off of him was heavy like a weighted blanket. My chest tightened and burned. I closed the distance between us and stepped into the space between his legs, then reached up and pushed my hand through his now long white hair, forcing his head back. Those blue and white eyes looked up at me and the emotion in them robbed me of breath and word. His blue pupils were large, almost swallowing his white irises.

I cupped his face with both my hands, brushing my thumbs over his cheeks while my heart pounded like a jackhammer in my chest. “ Everest, ” I whispered.

“ Francelina. ” My name left his mouth on an exhale.

“You did it. You’re free,” I said softly, still stroking his face.

He let out a strangled moan, then nodded and squeezed his eyes shut. All of my control snapped. I dragged his mouth to mine, needing to feel him for just a moment. The taste of syrup and honey had to be the Unseelie and demon blood, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I registered that their blood tasting like this was unsettling and concerning, but in this moment all it meant was that this was real. His hands wrapped around my wrists, then his tongue slid against mine, deepening our kiss.

“Here you go, Everest— oh. Sorry. ” Constance cursed from behind me. “I should have knocked. Sorry.”

“The door is open, Connie,” Tenn said with a chuckle.

I pulled back from Everest’s kiss but didn’t let go of him as I glanced over my shoulder. “It’s okay. What do you have for him?”

“Clothes.” Constance grimaced and gestured to Everest’s tattered black pants and lack of anything else. “You can probably make yourself clothes with magic or something, but I figured you’re drained so some fresh, clean clothes might feel nice.”

I frowned down at the pile of black denim and cotton in her hands. “Where did you get those?”

At that, she blushed. “Um, well, these are Tenn’s clothes from before he grew another three inches suddenly.”

Everest straightened. “Are you giving me hand-me-downs?”

Tenn narrowed his eyes on his clothes. “I didn’t realize those were mine.”

Constance cringed. “Sorry. I’m sorry. That might be?—”

“I’ve never received hand-me-downs before.” Everest’s voice was light and soft, just a little raspy. And then he giggled. He giggled. When I looked back to him, I found a slight blush in his cheeks and a new sparkle in his eyes. He looked lighter. “I haven’t experienced something genuinely new in centuries.”

“Well, they’re definitely not new.” Tenn laughed. He grabbed the clothes from Constance and carried them over to drop them on the foot of the bed. “They’re properly worn in and definitely come with pre-cut holes in the knees and thighs.”

Everest grinned. “I expect nothing less from you, Emperor.”

Constance cleared her throat. “I figured you’d like to not wear white?—”

“Ever again. That is correct.” Everest smiled. “Thank you, Constance. I appreciate it. I admit I had not yet considered my wardrobe from here on out.”

She blushed and nodded, then hurried back out the door.

Tenn glanced down at Everest, then at the clothes. He flicked his wrist to the right and then pointed in that direction. “There’s a shower in there. Just turned the water on for you. Give it a second to get warm.”

“Do I smell that bad?” Everest asked with a small smirk.

“It says a lot when I suggest a shower.” Tenn winked and headed for the door only to pause. “Oh, Franks?”

“Yeah?”

“What does Unseelie blood taste like?”

My face ignited like a bonfire. I wiped my mouth and found purple blood on my fingers. With a laugh, I shrugged. “Honey.”

Tenn scowled. “Unsettling. Rest up, old man.”

Then he was gone.

Everest let out a slow, deep sigh and his body swayed. I must’ve made a face because he shook his head. “I am fine, Francelina. I just need to rest.”

“What has weakened you so much?”

“I’ve never used that much magic at once.”

I ran my hands through his hair again. “Bet it felt good.”

He chuckled and nodded, then crashed into my chest, letting me wrap my arms around his shoulders. For a moment, we stayed like that with me holding him. But there was now steam slipping beneath the crack to the bathroom door which meant the shower was warmed up and ready. A quick glance down at Everest’s hair and body and I knew Tenn was right. He was filthy.

“C’mon, the water should be warm by now.”

He groaned. “I lack the strength and willpower?—”

“Take a shower, Everest. You’ll feel better.” I took his chin between my fingers and forced his eyes up to mine. “Wash away all of that darkness so you can join the light forever.”

He cringed.

“C’mon.” I slid my hands down his arms to take his hands in mine. “How about you stand there, and I will wash you.”

His nostrils flared. Despite his exhaustion there was a hint of hunger there.

I pulled him to his feet then slowly walked backwards toward the bathroom, dragging him along with me. His gaze was locked on my mouth. I made a mental note of that as we stepped into the bathroom and steam billowed around us. I dropped his hands and turned to slide the glass door aside - and spotted the built-in bench against the back wall. Desire rushed through my veins but I needed to push that aside. This wasn’t about that. This was about him.

When I turned, I found his gaze locked on that bench with the same hunger in his eyes that I felt in myself. I kicked my Vans off then pulled my black sweater up and over my head then tossed it to the floor by the door. His eyes scanned my bare skin like it was the sustenance he lived on. With quick movements, I slid out of my black jeans and kicked them to the same pile as my sweater and shoes. His chest rose and fell rapidly.

I smiled up at him then batted my eyelashes. I stood there in only my underwear. “See, a shower won’t be so bad, will it?”

He licked his lips but didn’t move. Didn’t speak. His fangs were poking into his bottom lip.

I grinned as I tugged on the drawstring that held his ruined black pants up. The second the knot was undone I gave them a gentle tug and the material dropped to the floor.

He hissed through clenched teeth. “ Francelina- ”

“Let me take care of my soulmate.” I pushed up on my tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “In case you forgot . . . that means you. ”

His eyes blazed with a fire of a thousand suns. I gave him a little smile and kept my eyes locked on his. This wasn’t about my own pleasure, I just needed to take care of him. He’d been hurting inside for too long. This was the first step in healing the broken pieces inside of him. So as I took his hands I ignored all that naked skin beneath his waist and I kept my undergarments on and pulled him into the shower with me. The water was soothingly warm, just enough to comfort my muscles but cool enough to stand under the spray endlessly. He watched in riveted silence as I let the water soak my hair and wet my skin. He slowly waved his hand and the glass shower door slid shut, closing us in. Then I pulled him to switch positions so that he stood under the stream of water.

He closed his eyes and sighed, letting his head fall back so the water slid through his long white hair. I held his hands merely to stop myself from tracing every river of water that slid over his body. While the water chased all the blood and dirt away, I reached for the body wash dispenser on the wall and squirted some into my palm then rubbed my hands together. His eyes were still closed but the second I pressed my soapy hands to his bare chest they flew open and locked on me instantly. He opened his mouth like he was going to protest so I just shook my head while I gently caressed his shoulders and neck with my soapy hands before dragging my hands down his stomach. My fingers burned with the desire to trace each of his abs and chiseled cut of his muscles but somehow I resisted. I put more soap in my hands and moved to stand behind him, then I let myself enjoy rubbing his back.

I wasn’t a virgin and I’d been more than a little intimate with him but I’d never bathed someone before. I’d never rubbed soapy hands along every inch of someone else’s bare skin. I bit my bottom lip and ignored the heat in my cheeks as I ran my hands over his bare ass. He let out a ragged breath but when I slid my hands over his hips and down the length of him he groaned as his body responded immediately. I grinned and pressed a kiss to his spine right between his shoulder blades. He hissed my name as I ran my hands over him.

But I had a job to do before we got distracted. With my soapy hands I lathered up his legs from hip down to his toes. When we were done I wanted every inch of him clean and not just because he was dirty, but because I wanted him to feel clean on the inside, too.

I stood and walked around the front of him then pressed my hands to his chest. “Feel better yet?”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath then lowly opened his eyes again, his gaze hooded and locked on mine. “ Getting there ,” he whispered then pressed his forehead to mine.

“Guess I have more work to do.” I pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose.

And then I did something I had never, ever done before.

I dropped to my knees and licked the long length of him nice and slow. He hissed through clenched teeth. I grinned then traced my tongue along the tip. He cursed, his whole body trembling with every twirl of my tongue. I had no idea what I was doing, I’d never done this for previous boyfriends. It was too personal, too intimate. But Everest was my soulmate. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him and that was going to start right now, even if he didn’t yet know how big a deal this was for me.

Luckily, my friends back in Tallahassee had watched videos on how to do this for their boyfriends so I was relying on those. I ducked and licked from the base all the way to the tip and was gifted with a string of obscenities falling from Everest’s lips.

I licked my lips and looked up at him. “How about now?”

“ Francelina- ”

I took him in my mouth slowly, letting my tongue hit every vein until I couldn’t take any more of him. I kept my eyes on his, I wanted to watch him feel this. After a deep breath through my nose, I hummed deep in my throat to loosen up enough to take the rest of him. With my lips spread wide around him I held his gaze and arched one eyebrow.

His upper lip snarled, one long fang dropping down. “ Wicked woman- ”

I pulled back, dragging my teeth along his skin the whole way. His abs tightened and ragged breaths slipped through clenched teeth. I licked my lips then chuckled as I sucked him deep into my mouth again, feeling him in the back of my throat. I moaned just to tease him. He hissed and threw one hand out to the shower wall to brace himself. I braced my hands on his thighs and moaned as I moved my mouth up and down his body. He threw his head back so the water hit him in the face. But then I nibbled on the tip and he growled, the vibrations buzzing through his body into my teeth. He reached down and gripped the hair on the back of my head and yanked me to my feet. His fingers twisted in my hair as he tipped my head back and fucked my mouth with his tongue.

“ Naughty boy, ” I whispered against his lips. I stepped back and bit my bottom lip. “This is about you. ”

He tried to pull me back but I stepped away. He growled. I giggled then took his hands and gently led him to the bench. Once I spun him around I pushed his shoulders, forcing him to sit down. Now that I stood above him I realized his hair still had dirt and blood in it, so I reached for the shampoo from the wall dispenser and filled my hands. He watched my every move but when began working the shampoo through his hair and massaging his scalp his eyes closed.

There was a button on the wall to my left with a symbol that looked like a shower-head so I pushed it - water rained down on the bench from the ceiling. He tipped his head back and sighed, a small smile on his lips as the shower rinsed the shampoo from his hair. He sat quietly as I massaged conditioner into the elbow-length white strands that already felt like silk.

And then his hands gripped my thighs just above my knees. He squeezed, digging his fingers into my skin. When I let out a little moan at his touch, he smirked and yanked me into his lap. My legs straddled his hips, my chest in his face. I felt every inch of his length pressing into my stomach, every part of me wanted take him right here under the fall of the water but this wasn’t about me. This was supposed to be about him, comforting him.

I cupped his face in my hands and stared down into his eyes. “ Everest…”

“Francelina, ” he purred back.

Without taking his gaze off mine he slid his hands up the sides of my thighs until his fingers slipped beneath my wet cotton underwear. The material tightened around my body for a split-second before he ripped them clean off my body. I gasped and dug my fingers into his hair. The feel of his wet skin against mine had my pulse racing. His hands slid a burning hot path up my waist then around to my back. Fingers coiled around the strap of my bra. To my surprise he didn’t rip it off, instead he carefully unhooked it then slowly peeled it off my body. I arched my eyebrow.

His eyes flashed with a wicked sparkle. “ I like that one,” he whispered.

I opened my mouth to tease him but he leaned forward and sucked my nipple into his mouth. A moan slipped out of my mouth. He gripped my hips tight enough to bruise me. Good, I hoped he did. My back arched as pleasure speared through me. My body pulsed. Heat pooled in my stomach. He moved over to the other nipple but this time the sharp tip of his fang dragged over it. I gripped his shoulders and moaned. His hot breath swept over my chest.

“ Everest… ”

His hands left my hips then gripped my knees and yanked me down, sliding all the way inside me. I threw my head back and moaned his name. I rolled my hips and we both shuddered. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. The new angle had me trembling and hissing his name. His hands were pressed flat against my back, holding me in place as I rode him. I pressed my forehead against his, my fingernails digging into the neck and jaw as I held him in place. Our hot breaths tangled in the tight space between our faces.

Hot water rained onto my shoulders and slid down my back but it just amped up this passion between us. The sensations were overwhelming. His hands on my back. His breath on my face. His body buried deep inside of me. It was everything . He was everything. As I drove us both into ecstasy I knew we were about to rack up quite a water bill tonight because there was no way I was letting him out of this shower anytime soon.