I crossed my arms. “Okay. I mean, that’s not a big deal. Right?”
“Normally, the increase in the strength of Primal embers isn’t a big deal,” he agreed…or didn’t, because the concern was clear in his deep silver eyes.
“Whatisthe big deal then?”
Nyktos didn’t answer for a long moment. “It could mean that you’re closer to Ascension than we realized.”
Chapter 26
Being closer to my Ascension was a big deal.
Because being closer to it with these embers still inside me also meant being closer to my death. Not even Nyktos’s blood could save me, because it required more than just his blood.
It required his love.
Something Nyktos had prevented himself from feeling with the removal of thekardia.
So, we needed to get the embers out of me, and today was the first major step in that direction.
The sky was only beginning to lighten as Nyktos and I left the palace the following morning, headed for the stables as my new iron-hued cloak trimmed in silver fluttered around my boots. The material was soft and warm, and I really hoped things didn’t get messy where I’d end up ruining my new clothing.
Nibbling on my lower lip, I glanced up at Nyktos. At some point yesterday, I’d decided that he didn’t need to know how I felt. That I…Icaredfor him. It didn’t seem fair to put that on him, even though I knew he cared for me, too—and even though I thought what I felt might be more.
He had his hair swept back in a neat bun at the nape of his neck, all but that shorter piece I’d cut that rested against theheight of his cheekbone. He’d continued to honor the deal—bothdeals—that he’d struck with me, joining me for supper and then, later, proving that he was an exceptionally fast learner when it came to using his tongue. My face warmed as memories rose of his head between my thighs and his mouth on me, doing all sorts of wicked, wonderful things for what felt like a small eternity.
Nyktos looked down at me as we neared the stables. “What are you thinking about?”
My eyes widened slightly and then narrowed on him. “Stop reading my emotions.”
“I’m not.”
“Sure doesn’t sound—” I gasped as Nyktos shadowstepped without warning, grasping my arms. Within the blink of an eye, he had me against the wall of the stables, the entire front of his body pressed to mine. My breath snagged as I looked up at him. Iridescent wisps of eather bled into his irises.
Then his mouth was on mine.
Nyktos kissed me, and he—gods—he kissed like his very life depended on it, and this was one of those moments. There was no checked or banked passion. He went for it. Lips. Tongue. Fangs scraping, teasing. When his mouth left mine, my knees actually felt weak.
“You were projecting,” he whispered against my throbbing lips. “Desire.” His tongue flicked over my lower lip, drawing a gasp from me. “Smoky and thick. If you keep thinking about whatever you have in your mind, we’ll never make it to the Vale.”
Clasping the front of his cloak, I fought the urge to pull his mouth back to mine. “That wouldn’t be…responsible of us.”
“Absolutely not,” he agreed, dragging his hands down my cloaked arms. “So, behave.”
“You’re the one manhandling and kissing me,” I pointed out.
“I’d say you’re the one driving me to do so.” His lips grazed mine. “But I’ve been looking for a reason to kiss you since you licked that drop of juice from your lip at breakfast.”
“You don’t need a reason,” I told him. “All you need is want.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” His forehead touched mine. Neither of us moved for the span of several heartbeats, and Ialmost wished we could stay this way. But that was a silly thought. Finally, he stepped back.
I peeled myself off the wall, noticing that a handful of guards were grouped together not too far away. Nyktos must have been aware of them long before I was, but that hadn’t stopped him. Which confounded me a little as we returned to being responsible and got moving. His act—his kiss—had been rather public. And, well, I wasn’t exactly used to anyone even acknowledging my existence in public.
The scent of straw and hay reached me as we entered the stables. I quickly saw that they were empty except for the horses. “Where’s Nektas?”
Nyktos led me toward the back row of stalls, his hand on my back a steady, grounding presence. “He’ll join us on the road.”
“In his draken form?”