Page 19 of Unmasked Prophecy

It isn’t gentle.

It isn’t soft.

It’s a goddamn storm.

Talon kisses me in a way I could only dream of—fierce, demanding, like he's been holding himself back for far too long. His grip tightens at the back of my neck, anchoring me to him as his other hand curls into the fabric at my hip, dragging me closer until there’s no space between us. Heat erupts where our bodies meet, and I gasp as the air is ripped from my lungs.

His mouth moves over mine with purpose, a wild, chaotic promise in every sweep of his tongue. My knees go weak, and if it weren’t for his hold, I’d have collapsed right there on the ground. My hands, acting on instinct, clutch at his shirt, pulling him closer, needing more. Needing all of it.

It’s a kiss that silences every doubt I’ve ever had.

He bites my bottom lip, just enough to make me gasp, and when my mouth parts, he groans—low, deep, and sinful. The sound vibrates against my lips, and I whimper, overwhelmed, undone. I feel everything all at once—rage, longing, the ache of every touch I never got to have, and every kiss that never meant a damn thing until now.

My fingers slide up into his hair, gripping, pulling, desperate to hold on to this moment. But just like that, it is over before itbegan. He pulls back slightly, just enough to let our foreheads touch, both of us breathing hard. He smells incredible, like man and leather and a cologne I want to drench myself in.

“Is that what you wanted?” he rasps.

I blink up at him, chest heaving, lips swollen. “Yes.”

He steps back.

My heart breaks a little.

Just one step—but it feels like the distance between us is bigger than ever. His chest rises and falls, his jaw clenched so tight it looks painful. The storm behind his eyes shifts. The heat cools. Replaced by something sharp. He’s still angry, and I brace myself for what is going to come next.

He swipes a hand through his hair, the other still balled into a fist at his side. “You ever pull that kinda stunt again—runnin’ off, puttin’ yourself in danger, baitin’ me with some jealous shit—you’re out.”

I freeze and my heart stammers. His words burn, a blade through my chest.

“I mean it. This ain’t a fuckin’ game. You want to act reckless, go ahead—but not under my protection. Not under this roof. You don’t get to use your trauma like a fuckin’ weapon against people trying to help you.”

My heart cracks clean in two.

He sees it—hell, Iknowhe sees it. But he doesn’t back down. Doesn’t soften. He’s already pulling away, mentally boarding up whatever door he just kicked open with that kiss. He’s crushing me and I can’t do anything to stop it. Before I can answer, he turns and walks away.

He leaves me standing there.

Breathless.

Bruised.

And more alone than ever.

THAT NIGHT, SLEEP ISelusive. I toss and turn, my mind refuses to quiet down. It is racing, not with thoughts of Cyrus—but of Talon. The way his lips crashed against mine and he kissed me like it actually meant something. And then...the cold. The sharp snap of his voice when he pulled away, as if he was only doing it to shut me up. The warning laced in every brutal word. I can still hear him:You ever pull that kinda stunt again—you’re out.

Mera gave me something to help me sleep, and I cave, taking it because I’m desperate. I just want to lay my head down and feel what everyone else feels, a deep comfort of knowing I’m in bed and I’m safe. The feeling of my body slowly sinking into the warm bed, drifting off to sleep without a care in the world.

It doesn’t happen like that, but I do fall asleep.

Eventually.

Until I’m awoken to the sound of voices shouting.

For a moment, I jerk upright, forgetting where I am. The familiar memories of the chaos I grew up in make me think I’m right back there. As I slowly come to, I remember where I am, and I slowly figure out that the voices sound panicked. Rubbing my eyes, I push out of bed and that’s when I smell it...

Smoke.

My head whips in the direction of my window, and although my room is dimly lit by the moonlight, the glow is not that of the moon, but instead an orange flicker. I stumble forward, adrenaline flooding my limbs as I rush to the window, staring out.

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