Page 95 of Stars in Aura

Ki’Remi kept his gaze on her with an uncharacteristic glint in his eye. ‘You know, if your so-called gods were as potent as they believe, they wouldn’t need to blackmail their people with soul-sucking rocks and implosion curses.’

She choked on her drink, half laughing and sputtering.

‘Thefokk, Sable?’

His mouth twitched again. ‘I’m just saying, if I were some all-powerful celestial entity, I’d probably figure out a better way to find a cure for my diminishing immortality, put all those ancient eggheads together to find a remedy. Maybe lead my people instead of throwing a tantrum and tossing them into the lower realms when they refuse to sacrifice their souls.’

Issa laughed, a belly-deep chuckle she hadn’t let loose in years.

‘You’re chaotic,’ she accused, shaking her head.

His visage turned smug. ‘I try.’

She sipped her rum, still grinning. ‘If the Saatifa guard caught wind of your statement, you’d be struck down with divine lightning for blasphemy.’

His brow lifted, his countenance unbothered. ‘Then at least I’ll die knowing I was right.’

‘Do you always have to be right, sofokkin’ unerring and pushy about it?’

‘Only when it gets me what I want.’

Static shifted.

The humor between them smoldered, shifting into a charged, scorching blaze.

The desire and constant taut tension beneath their fights, banter, and battles flamed and pulsed, an inferno waiting to be quenched.

Ki’Remi angled his head, eyes on her, his voice dropping into a more resounding, rougher cadence.

‘And I want you, Issa Elaris.’

There it was.

Stated in Ki’Remi’s confident, abrasive, uncompromising, yet so freakin’ sensual style.

Issa stilled.

Her pulse slammed against her ribs.

He wasn’t beating around the bush; neither was he the kind of man to play games.

She tilted her head, gazing at him with motive, gauging his offer.

What did ‘want’ mean?

Did it imply a night of recklessness?

Or crossing a line that she had no intention of returning from?

Regardless, the raw need in Ki’Remi’s gaze made it very clear, for he wasn’t a man of half-measures.

If she said yes, if she trusted him for even one night, he would take her apart piece by piece.

Would she survive him? Or the blaze of their passion?

He leaned in and stretched his hand for hers. ‘Don’t overthink it, Elaris. Let go, let flow.’

Her fingers slid over the smooth rim of her glass.

---