Page 84 of Wicked Magik

Veylor's words tumbled out in a stream of incoherent babble, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched. Each beat echoing in my ears. That was when I saw myself reach out and gently cupped his face. In a swift motion, I had leaned forward and pressed my lips against his. Time seemed to slow as Veylor's tense posture relaxed, his shoulders dropping and his eyes fluttering shut, surrendering to the unexpected kiss.

I watched as both of our lips parted, our tongues intertwined and our arms wrapped around each other. My heart exploded, magik filled my chest. A magik so strong it felt the same as I felt for Vesper the first I touched her, felt her.

I watched as Veylor and I broke the kiss. “You’re too wound up, my Lord Veylor. Come, let me show you around the Light Court, get your mind away from work. See the pleasures of the light lands beyond the shadow lands.”

Veylor looked back at his parchment and then back to me.

The fae moved closer and whispered. "If you share my desire to dismantle the unjust hierarchy, I think we could both gain from working together." As I spoke, I traced my finger along Veylor's chest, down towards his crotch.

Veylor licked his lips. “Yes, that does seem tempting.”

I returned to the present moment as Veylor moved back. He had already rounded the bed, his fingers shaking with excitement.

I sat there in shock. Did I just watch… our first kiss?

Veylor cut into my thoughts. "She's definitely clever, beautiful even, no doubt about it. I never considered doing it that way. It's not something you'll find in any textbooks. It's no surprise Benedict can stretch his limbs like that without them coming loose. She uses this intricate double, even triple stitch that's absolutely remarkable. She's smarter than her looks suggest, and that's a rare quality."

I tilted my head in surprise that he would call her beautiful. I thought he hated… no despised her. “Do you find her beautiful?”

Veylor paused and licked his lips. Lips I have tasted in a previous life. I had lips before, I had touched them with skin.

"She is a beautiful specimen of her type," he remarked, clearing his throat. "For a human-like hybrid, I am certain she isn't entirely human, though."

Veylor continued mumbling to himself about stitching and tools, I did not care if he thought she was human or not, it was the fact he found her alluring.

“Do you find her attractive then?” I blurted as he reached down to touch her skin.

I was curious if he felt the same attraction to her that I felt towards both of them. Was this feeling mutual? Did we both see her as someone irresistible, someone we were compelled to pursue? If that's the case, what was it about her—or about us—that made us both desire her?

Veylor's gaze trailed over Vesper's face, down her neck, and rested on her chest. I issued a warning growl, and he gulped nervously.

The reminder that he would be honest with me rang in my ear.

"I admit, I'm drawn to her, and I loathe myself for feeling this way. Maybe that's why I've shared my Shadow's fire with her. I want to hate her for touching you in ways I thought I would only touch you." He stepped back. "But there is a burning within me I cannot ignore. To be a part of what you both have, all together.”

Chapter 28

Veylor

Iwanted to decipher Oryx’s expression, but his gaze remained fixed on me through those eye sockets. He tilted his head just as Benedict entered, pushing a cart. I hadn’t even heard the tea cart clattering down the hallway.

“Any luck?” Benedict asked as he wheeled in the three leveled cart. One layer was filled with towels and cleaning supplies to clean up Vesper, another layer filled with food for me, and another was filled with a canister of blood for Oryx.

Benedict grabbed the canister, which held just enough for a single meal, and approached him. "You're fortunate your companion was generous enough to donate her blood the otherday. She asked me to keep it in the fridge for you after you passed out after engorging yourself. She provided enough for a meal. Now you won't need to leave her side to hunt." He raised an eyebrow and handed it to him.

Oryx’s ears perked up and I paused before I pierced Vesper’s skin. “What do you mean? You’ve been drinking from her?”

Have I not paid attention?

Her body was riddled with marks now, I haven’t seen any bite marks before this or any scars.

Of course I had been too lost in myself trying to take Oryx back to care.

“Yes, she lets me drink from her. Mostly when we…” Oryx scratched his throat then pressed his large hands on his thighs.

I laughed softly. It was unusual to see him so uneasy. He used to be so confident. Was he embarrassed about having been with her, or was he just uncomfortable admitting it to me now that he knew how I felt?

"Oryx, it's alright," I said, placing my hand on his shoulder. "You fed on her during coitus, but you didn't harm or kill her. I never noticed any marks on her from you drinking her blood..."