Page 60 of A Dance of Water

Graves leveled the mage with a sharp stare. "No."

"Just offering," Tharen replied teasingly.

Graves stood, pulling his glove back on and righting his cowl and hood. Cloaked in shadows and secrecy, he held out a hand and pulled her to stand.

How could he be so calm? She was undone by the words ringing inher ears.

Touch yourself.

Tharen’s eyes dipped to her chest. Was the water still there?

The raven shifter reclaimed his silent persona with ease, leaving her adrift and sensitized to the feel of his leather glove as it scratched against her palm. The material groaned as he gripped her hand.

And she was pulled from the alcove and all the debauched secrets it held. The frozen glass was left on the table, with only she and the raven shifter knowing the truth of its frosted existence.

18

CRY FOR ME

AZ

Az sat by Luella’s side, waiting for her to awaken.

He peered out the windows into the snowy evening. Almost time for the second night of Winter Solstice to begin. This time, he would be by her side.

Every moment without her was torture.

He ran a finger over the lines on his wrist, hidden by his sleeves. But he knew they were there.

He deserved it for hurting her, lying to her. He tried to keep away, but it only made the cuts hurt worse.

Next time, Az would give her the blade.

Slowly, she woke up from her slumber. The bridge of her cute nose wrinkled, and her borrowed blanket slipped off a shoulder, revealing the skin of her chest, the grisly sight of the Binding mark.

Luella blinked her eyes open, staring up at him from where she was still lying down. Couldn’t be a comfortable position, curled on an armchair like she was. The King was too prideful to give up his bed for her for a second night, so she was damned to sleep in the sitting room.

Az’s hand hovered before her, afraid to touch lest he stain her with his ungodsly self.

"Az?" she murmured sleepily.

"I’m here, Lu." His reply was just as soft. Anythingto quell the fear he could see rise in those big, blue eyes of hers. "I’m right here," he repeated. "Not going anywhere."

Lying there, she looked small. Desperate for him. For his touch. And who was he to deny her anything?

Az finally touched her.

They both let out a soft sigh, and she melted back into the chair, head tipping to the side as her lids fluttered. Those long lashes of hers fanned out against her pale cheeks. No longer did she have freckles, no longer did she have an underlying healthy flush to her skin—but she was still just as beautiful. Still just ashis.

"What time is it?" Luella mumbled.

"Evening. Almost time to get ready for the Solstice."

She tried to sit up, her face screwing up with a grimace. Az braced his hand against her shoulder, the other cupping her waist as he gently lifted her to sit up. Her eyes were wide like she didn’t want to believe she had slept a whole day away and that it was already the next evening, but as she reached up and fingered the edges of the mark on her chest, resignation clouded her somnolent face.

"Okay," she whispered. "I can get through this."

So strong, his angel.

---