Oh gods, that was undoubtedly lust.
“Why don’t you follow me inside and tell me exactly how you would like me to take your mind off things.” Emmery barely recognized the purr in her own tone. “I offer a variety of services.” She used his own words as a weapon, a dare, and a balm, like he’d done the day he’d pulled the quills from her hand.
He trembled as her fingers traced his shoulder, the curve of his bicep, down his forearm to the inside of his wrist. She teased the thin skin before sliding her hand into his and linking their fingers. A shiver worked through his body.
As Destonne leaned in, his warm breath caressed the shell of her ear with a quivering exhale. “You're not helping me control the thorns, angel. In fact, you’re making it impossibly worse.”
“Why is that?” She tugged on his arm, but his feet stayed firmly planted. So, she stepped toward him, her body flush with his. “Where could your mind possibly be wandering off to?”
“To a delightful number of things.” His velvety deep tone swelled with dark desire. “Ones you likely wouldn’t hold a flicker of interest toward, let alone be able to handle.” If his eyes weren’t so damn dark, she could have sworn his pupils swallowed his irises.
Warmth spread through her, and her blood hummed. What in the world did he mean by that? “Rest assured, I can handle you,” Emmery said. “But I want all your attention. All your thoughts.”
Emmery nodded at Brennen who took up the rear. Once more she tugged Destonne’s arm, but this time he let her lead him a step toward the doorway.
“You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” he asked.
She only smiled sweetly. When his gaze wandered behind her to the shadowed labyrinth, her fingers found his jaw to draw his attention back. “Mmm, I don’t think so. Eyes on me,” she teased.
His eyes flicked back, focussed wholly on her, as he drew his bottom lip between his teeth and obeyed. Blood slid down his temples and the thorns strained against his flesh, but now it seemed for an entirely different reason. One that filled Emmery with a twisted thrill.
“And if I don’t?” he asked, a challenge in his voice.
“That would be an entirely different game, wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose we’ll see.” But his face fell and his throat bobbed with a swallow, a flicker of worry trickled back into his gaze. “It’s dark, Em.”
Emmery’s body stilled, her heart along with it from how he’d shortened her name, how it fell off his tongue with ease, and the unfamiliar vulnerability in his voice that burrowed inside her. She didn’t know what to do with it. Where to place it, or leave it or—fuck.
She squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll chase the darkness away for you. As long as youbehave.”
“I’ll play, but it’s unlikely I’ll be good,” he said, a spark of mischief returning to his eyes.
“I’m counting on it.” Emmery cupped herkhaosflame in her other hand, and winked at Destonne. A playful curl claimed her mouth as she tugged him across the threshold. “Remember, eyes on me.”
His gaze traced her lips, as if committing her smile to memory as they stepped across the threshold and the door slammed shut, plummeting them into darkness.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
VESPER
In a wooded clearing outside the cavern, Vesper’s neck pricked with sweat as he willed hisShadowheartnot to completely humiliate him. Because when Kaida tore free from his chest, she would undoubtedly leave him a crumpled pathetic mess on the floor. She fluttered against his ribcage, ready to burst free and no doubt give them a bloody spectacular show. Do some spins and flips and shit after shattering his abdomen.
Vesper scrubbed a hand down his face then shoved his hair back. His fingers itched to rip this blasted mask off, but as the bloodlace kicked up in the breeze with the threat of rotted lungs,he cinched the straps tighter. It was better than choking to death like some imbecile. Surely Kyrith would get a kick out of that.
She watched him, leaned against a nearby tree with her arms crossed over her chest. Though her clean silver mask hid the lower half of her face, her eyes creased with a grin that screamed her sarcasm loud and clear.
But it was the five stares, boring holes in his back as they waited for some earth-shattering magic, that sent his heart thrumming.
He wondered if Nef was awake, if she was okay, if she would also watch him with such anticipation. Briar or Emmery would surely share Kyrith’s teasing, though Emmery had always been softer with him, even when he didn’t deserve it, and Kyrith looked like she wanted absolutely no part of him in any capacity.
Vesper heaved a breath and cast his eyes skyward. All he had to do was reach inside that mark and release it. Kaida awaited his call, but even after what felt like an eternity of reaching and clawing and scrambling—
Bloody fucking Hollow.
He couldn’t do it.
Couldn’t release the trigger of the bowstring. Couldn’t seem to unhinge the door that kept her contained. So, he tried again and reached into that dark place buried inside him, the forbidden place he always felt ashamed to touch.