Page 18 of Oath-Maker

Lucius’s brow creased. “What prophecy?”

“Jessa found it in Basara’s temple just now.” I probably should’ve opened with this, but it was too late now. A flash of confused irritation crossed Lucius’s eyes, but I continued before he could speak. “We went there in search of clues to a cure for light sickness, which I think we can at this point safely say does not exist outside of the Order. They’ve done a good job of hiding it.”

“How is this related to a prophecy?” Lucius asked. Thank the gods he wasn’t making a huge deal out of me and Jessa going back to that temple.

I unwrapped my arms from Lucius’s neck and retrieved the scroll from my waistband. As I handed it to Lucius, I explained, “Basara had this in her temple on an altar. It’s old and presented in a way that I believe it.”

“It’s written in old celestial,” Lucius observed as he opened the scroll and began to look it over.

“A paladin of light and dark is going to usher in peace and end demon rule,” I summarized. “Sound familiar?”

A darkness returned to Lucius’s eyes. His knuckles whitened as he held the parchment. “You think it’s you.”

“I think it could be me or Merek,” I answered. “We’d both fit. But I also think it could be Jessa by that definition, or literally any member of the Fallen. ‘Dark’ doesn’t specify demon, but itisseparate from ‘light.’”

“But you’re bringing this to me,” Lucius said as he met my gaze. “You wouldn’t do that if you didn’t think it’s you prophesied here.”

“I…” I crossed my arms and glanced over his shoulder to the balcony and open sky beyond. “I believe Basara would have tried to fulfil the prophecy herself by creating me. I believe that until I met and fell in love with you, that by nature of being leader of the Paladins Order, Iwouldhave done whatever necessary to end your rule. But a time of peace? Ending the rule of all demons?” I shook my head. “I don’t know what to think, Lucius. But it worries me.”

He rolled the scroll up again and set it on a nearby black, wooden table. “You’re my mate and my queen. I know you won’t do as the prophecy dictates. My worry is that others might.”

“Merek—the Guardian and the Fallen—they’re coming anyway.” Soon, too. By morning via messenger. By noon with an army if we refused. Our time was running out. “Maybe instead of digging for history and cures, I should have been working with Commander Garnet on an army.”

Lucius took my hands in his. He brought them to his lips and pressed gentle kisses on each in a soothing, intensely intimate gesture. “Commander Garnet is more than capable of handling that himself, and he’s been doing so. Ian has been helping, so I hear.”

I smirked. “I told you he’s a good guy when he’s on your side.”

Lucius nodded. “You were trying to save me by going to the temple. I only wish you’d gotten some rest, too.”

“There’s still time for that.” A few hours, at least. Then the sun would threaten to rise and our decision would have to be made. “If I go with them to the Celestial Court, I may be able to buy you even more time.”

Lucius growled deep in his throat. It was so sudden that I actually jumped a little. “No. I don’t trust them.”

“Merek won’t hurt me,” I argued, maybe a little too defensively.

“TheGuardianmight,” Lucius replied coolly. “I won’t have you far from me. We will fight, and we will do so together, just as we did before. If we act fast, the flower’s effects might still be present. Our power is strong, Ayla. We can end this war before it begins.”

And Ian had calledmecrazy. “We’re a long way from ending a war, Lucius. Even with our magic’s bond.”

“Potentiality is powerful,” he said as he pulled me in close to him. “As before, the amount of potential between us is immeasurable. All we could and might do, individually and as one. What we might do for Alastia. Can’t you feel it?”

Of course I could. Our mate bond, our shared power, and Lucius’s raw power surrounded me like a constant buzz all the time. It was nearly impossible to ignore.

But as he said those words, our bond slipped over me like water. I felt it on every inch of my skin, holding and caressing me, drawing me closer to Lucius and lighting a fire in my belly—one Lucius stoked as his hand slipped over my shoulder and neck to hold my face.

“We have to try,” Lucius said as he leaned in, his lips hovering an inch from mine.

My pulse pounded in my ears. My mouth had long ago gone dry. I licked my lips to moisten them, but that brought my tongue dangerously close to Lucius’s own mouth.Hedidn’t falter, but the moment sent my breathing into shallow inhales. I wanted to kiss him, but the fact that he was purposely holding back gave me pause.

“We can try,” I said finally. I went to reach for the back of his neck, to bring his lips to mine, but Lucius caught my hand with his free one.

“Wewill succeed,” Lucius nearly growled. “You are not going to end my rule. You’ve brought peace to it, tome. And you.” He leaned in closer, his lips now a ghost on mine. “Are.” His thumb drew circles on my cheek. “Mine. And you are not going tomorrow.”

Finally—gods, finally—his lips crashed into mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he lifted me into the air as our tongues danced frantically. Our magic swirled around us in unseen waves pulsing against our skin, connecting us more than our physical bodies ever could. I tangled my hands in Lucius’s hair and he groaned, deepening the kiss as he directed us toward the closest wall.

My back slammed against the stone, but the bite of pain was worth the rush of feeling Lucius’s hard member straining against his pants at my core with the leverage Lucius now had. He ground into me as we kissed and I bucked my hips against him, needing the friction to soothe a throbbing ache growing between my thighs. Lucius’s lips left mine and trailed down my jawline to my neck. I moaned in his ear, sounding desperate beyond measure. I was. The situation we were in. His health earlier today. I wasn’t a fool—Iknewthere was a solid chance this may be our last time together. Our last night together. And gods—

Lucius whispered under his breath, a spell, and then, in a breath, our clothes were magically gone. Just like on the night we’d first slept together. I grinned and drew Lucius’s lips back to mine. Our hips met as he slid his length along my already-slick core. I couldn’t help the breathy moan that escaped every time he brushed my most sensitive spot. But it wasn’t enough. I needed more. I neededhim.

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