“Sera—”
My sword clattered off Nyktos’s. “I know the charm only works on me while I’m in the Shadowlands, and that going into the mortal realm is also a risk, but it is one I’m willing to take. That is my right.”
That muscle in his jaw was ticking even faster.
“And I know you are trying to keep the embers safe—”
“Not just the embers.” He deflected my blow. “You.”
I stumbled, quickly regaining my footing. “I…I appreciate that, but it is my choice, and I have gone along with everything you’ve wanted…”—I saw the incredulous lift of his brows—“mostly. I need to let Ezra know that we are doing what we can to stop the Rot but that she should prepare just in case something goes wrong.”
“Is there more?” Nyktos growled.
More?
“Suppers,” I blurted out.
“What about them?”
I lifted the sword, blocking his blow. “I no longer want to take them alone,” I said, keeping my voice low.
His sword lowered an inch. “Just your supper?”
I swung, driving his sword to the side. “Just my supper.And I…I want to help.”
“In what way?”
A fine sheen of sweat dampened my forehead as we thrust and parried. “In whatever way I’m needed.”
Nyktos’s eyes brightened. “And who determines how you’re needed?”
“I do,” I said, starting to pant while Nyktos showed absolutely no signs of tiring. “As do you.”
Nyktos halted.
I struck. My blade cut through the air, nicking Nyktos’s arm. I spun, kicking out and aiming for his chest.
He caught my ankle and held on. The halves of the skirt parted. My skin, from my mid-thigh to where his hand circled my ankle, was exposed to the heated caress of his gaze. His callused palm was rough against my bare flesh, sending my blood pulsing through me in a dizzying rush.
“You’re staring at my unmentionables again,” I said breathlessly, and it had nothing to do with the fighting.
His stare flicked to mine. “I know.”
“Pervert.”
Nyktos smiled, then dropped my ankle and slammed his sword, tip down, into the ground. I turned, but he caught my arm, spinning me. I moved to twist out of his hold, but he was faster, hauling my back to his chest. His head dipped as he ran his hand down my arm. The heat of his body against my back, and his breath against the slope of my neck sent a sharp bolt of awareness through me. “You do realize I now need to tear my guards’ eyes out?”
“Why?”
“Because they too have glimpsed your unmentionables.”
“Worth it,” someone called out.
Nyktos growled, and I felt the rumble of warning all along my rear and back, where I…I felt the hard length of him. An aching heaviness settled in my breasts and lower as my chest rose and fell rapidly.
“That’s unnecessary,” I said, each too-quick breath full of his fresh scent.
“Is it?” His fingers pressed into the tendons with just enough pressure that my hand opened. There was no fighting it. The short sword slipped from my grip and hit the ground.