Page 29 of Twisted Desire

“Igot you something,” Nikolai says once we’re back in our hotel room.

I suppose it went without saying that Allison and I were swapping roommates because Oliver followed her into the other room without a word.

I shrug off my jacket and drape it over the armchair beside the window overlooking the parking lot. “What? Why?”

He shrugs, setting down the groceries we grabbed on the way back from the meeting. “I thought it would cheer you up.”

“Oh,” is all I say. I told the group on the drive back that Jackson removed himself from the fight, leaving out the part about him telling me to call him if things didn’t ‘work out’ between Nikolai and me. Nikolai must’ve told Jackson something, but I’ll be damned if I bring it up to him.

Nikolai reaches into one of the bags and pulls out the same bottle of rosé I tasted at Jackson’s. Hold on. The bottle has been opened.He stole the bottle from Jackson’s bar. Smooth bastard.

A grin pulls at my lips as I walk over and take the bottle from him. “You—”

“Are amazing? Yeah, I know,” he says, leaning in slowly. “Skylar?”

“What?” I mutter.

“Kiss me,” he whispers back.

I set the bottle down on the side table next to the mini fridge. “Do I have to?” I feign disinterest even as my pulse ticks faster with excitement.

His grin is still fully in place, his eyes filled with amusement. “No, but you want to,” he lowers his voice, “almost as much as I do.”

“Mmm,” I hum, closing the rest of the space between us in a single breath before our lips crash together, making me feel as if I could happily live in this moment forever. Maybe that’s why I can admit to enjoying what it feels like when we kiss. When our lips are locked, he can’t talk.

In what has become a rarity these days, I have a few minutes alone. Sure, I had to sneak away and hide in another suite a few floors up, but still. I needed some quiet time to myself, so booking a separate room was worth the extra expense.

Hopping onto the California king bed, I grab my phone and scroll through my contacts until I find the one I’m searching for: Selena Marshall. During a momentary lapse of judgment, before we took away Aurora and Tristan’s memories of the fae, I allowed Aurora to make me promise to keep her parents safe. That means regular check-ins with them. Even during the war that sent their daughter away.

Her parents are kind—they have been since the first time I stayed in their home over Christmas to make sure no one tried to kill Aurora.

Shit was so simple back then.

Now, I’m a fae leader while Tristan and Aurora are basking in human life, having her parents think they’re traveling the world. I compelled both of them to be okay with not being in contact with Aurora, but every time I talk to them, I can tell they miss her.

I press the video call button and take a deep breath as it rings, preparing myself for the level of excitement I’m about to experience from Selena. The woman is always insanely happy to see me. She probably misses having a daughter. That and I’m pretty much the coolest person ever. Sheshouldbe ecstatic to see me.

Oh dear god. I’m starting to sound like...Nikolai. Crystal-clear proof I’ve spentwaytoo much time around him.

Selena answers on the second ring, holding the phone too close to her face, as usual. “Sweetheart! How are you?”

I laugh softly. “I’m fine,” I tell her. “Things around there are okay?” I ask.

She smiles. “Yes. We’re keeping busy. I’m teaching a few extra classes this semester and enjoying every minute of it.”

“That’s good.”

“How are you really doing? You look... I’m not quite sure of the word, but you don’t seem completely yourself.”Of course I don’t.Every time I talk to Selena, I think about Aurora. And every time I think about Aurora, I think about Tristan. And Max. Everything I’ve lost. And everything I stand to lose.

I laugh, but the gentle yet doubtful look on Selena’s face tells me she knows it’s fake. “I miss Tristan.” I don’t mention Max because she didn’t know him.

She presses her lips together as if she’s trying to hide a smile. “Oh, Skylar. You poor thing.” She shakes her head. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

I burst out laughing and this time it’s real. “That’s hilarious. I’m definitely going to have to remember to tell him about this when they get back.”

“Right,” Selena says. “If it’s not Tristan, then who?”

“What makes you think there’s a ‘who’?” I already know I don’t want her to answer.Why the fuck did I ask that ridiculous question?

---