“Sweet dreams, darling star,” he whispered against my ear.
“Sweet dreams,” I mumbled back to him, falling back into my delirious state.
An oceanic kiss met my senses, drowning me in a sea of bliss.
One that reminded me of my childhood and a memory just out of my reach.
Then, finally, I slept.
Chapter Twenty
Shade
I hid in the shadows, watching Aflora’s lips curl as she slept. Kols and Zeph were passed out on either side of her, oblivious to her dreams.
But I knew.
I sensed his presence inside her, the dark power thriving through her veins. It’d been growing all week, culminating in tonight’s events, and would continue to seduce her until fate forced her to make a choice.
It was only a matter of time before he came for her. I’d just hoped to have a better hold on her heart before it happened. However, her song had called for him in the village, the haunting melody carrying a spell with it that she hadn’t understood.
Tray and Kols had been just as oblivious.
Similar to how Kols and Zeph were now.
I wanted to tell them, to shake them awake and point at the magical essence hovering over Aflora. But they wouldn’t even be able to see it, let alone believe me.
Hell, they’d probably lose themselves to a fit of rage at realizing I was in the Royal Prince’s bedroom without permission. But this entire situation went beyond the formalities of our society.
If we weren’t careful, Zakkai would win.
My fists curled, failure a nagging sensation that churned in my abdomen.
This wasn’t over.
Not yet.
She could still choose us.
I just hoped that when she did, it wouldn’t be too late.
The darkness eventually lifted, the powerful fae releasing his hold on Aflora’s dreams and dissolving into nothingness. I watched her for a beat, debating on entertaining a date in her mind, but her sigh of contentment had me stepping away from her, not forward.
She needed rest.
We’d play another day.
And I had business to tend to.
I cloaked myself in smoke, using it to pull me through time and space to the LethaForest where Kyros stood waiting for me in his trademark leather jacket and jeans.
“Huh. I timed you to arrive thirty seconds from now,” he drawled in welcome. “I guess you were a bit less preoccupied with your pretty flower than I anticipated.”
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“So eager,” he taunted, pushing away from the tree, the sword against his hip flaring with violet flames. “All right, my shadowy friend. We’ll start in New Orleans, as I have a few idiots to question there first. Then we’ll move on to Dallas.”
I narrowed my gaze. “How long is this going to take?”