Page 80 of Winds of Darkness
“Right,” Talwyn muttered. “Do you need assistance working out those details?”
“That is not necessary.”
“Great. Anything else, or are we done here?” Talwyn demanded.
When no one spoke, she stood, Azrael and Ashtine standing with her. The three of them left the meeting room, and Briar pushed out a long breath. That could have been worse.
“Can I get a portal, Drayce? I need to go punch Sorin in the godsdamn dick for making me deal with this today,” Cyrus said.
“Tell him I will visit tomorrow,” Briar answered, conjuring a water portal.
Cyrus waved him off as he and Rayner stepped to their Court.
Turning to his brother, Briar started to speak, but Sawyer cut him off. “I will keep watch and give you as much time as I can.”
They left the room together, taking the familiar paths through the White Halls. But when they reached the main foyer, Briar slipped down a corridor used by the staff. She was already waiting for him, a small swirl of wind at her fingertips.
“How do you fare, Briar?” Ashtine asked, head tilting back as Briar never slowed, walking right into her space.
He didn’t answer. He only took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. His tongue dipped between her lips, desperate and wanting. He’d been waiting for this moment all day. She hadn’t been in his bed for over three weeks.
“Not nearly as well as I will be after tonight,” he answered when he finally broke the kiss. “Our plans remain?”
“They are unchanged,” she agreed, hands slipping from his shoulder and falling to his chest.
“Thank the gods,” he replied, before capturing her mouth withhis once more. His hands slid around her hips, gripping her thighs and hoisting her up. Pressing her against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist. Each stroke of his tongue and caress of his hands made promises of what was to come tonight, and the small sounds coming from her told him she was as desperate as he was.
The warning dusting of flurries from Sawyer came far too soon, and he lowered Ashtine back to the ground, brushing the snowflakes from her hair. “Tonight?”
“Tonight,” she agreed, brushing one more kiss to his lips.
She took a step back, but he caught her hand, sky-blue eyes finding his in the dim lighting.
“The winds? You are well?” he asked, studying her.
She smiled, a small, soft thing that only made him want to tug her back to him all over again. “They speak of a genesis.”
“What does that mean?”
“I suppose time will tell,” she answered. “Worrying about it now steals the joy from the moment.”
His lips tilted up. “That is does, my dear.”
“Be well, my heart,” she said, and then she was gone among the winds.
And he was left counting down the hours until she flitted back into his rooms and wondering how long he would be content with stolen kisses and touches. But it was enough for now.
UNRELENTING WINDS
BONUS EPILOGUE
Sometime in the Future
He was pacing in his rooms. Not even the gentle sound of the sea through his open balcony doors could soothe him right now.
Ashtine was supposed to be here nearly three hours ago. Granted, this wasn’t entirely unusual. They both got caught up in one thing or another, making them late for their far too infrequent meetings these days. He would have sent a note by now. Ashtine, on the other hand, probably hadn’t even realized just how late she was. The worry was likely for nothing, but here he was, worrying nonetheless.
He was debating sending his own note after another thirty minutes slipped by when the cry of a hawk reached him. His stomach sank in relief, but it was short-lived when Nasima appeared alone.