Page 26 of Embers of Fate
My gaze roves over her, drinking in every sensual curve, every delicate feature, until it settles on her eyes, twin pools of molten garnet, glittering with magic and promise. “I do,” I whisper, my voice low and rough.
She starts, her expression slackening for an instant. “Oh?” she breathes, her eyebrows lifting in surprise.
“Being with you,” I confess, my heart laid bare. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday weekend.”
A blush stains her cheeks, and I lean in, capturing her lips in a heartfelt kiss that steals my breath and sets my blood on fire. She kisses me back with equal fervor, and my heart soars, a dizzying sense of rightness settling over me.
When we part, I search her face, my curiosity getting the better of me. “How did you do it?” I ask, my brow furrowed.
“Do what?” she says, confusion clouding her features.
“How did you manage to come here without getting into trouble with the Ursa clan?” I clarify, genuinely intrigued. The last time I set foot in Sam’s house, the place was swarming with guards, a common sight for men in Gavriil’s position, or my brother’s.
“Oh, that.” She shoots up her eyebrows, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “Well,” she sighs, “remember my friend Mila?”
I crack a smile, the memory of our interrupted tryst still fresh in my mind. “How could I forget?”
Her cheeks flush again, and the sight steals my breath, my heart skipping a beat. “Her sister lives here,” she explains. “I told Gavriil I’d come with Mila and spend a few days in town.”
“Ah...” I utter, throwing her a knowing look. “So, you lied.” The thought of her deceiving her brother, the mighty Ursa King, sends a thrill through me, a rush of excitement at her daring.
“I did not,” she retorts instantly, a delicious pout on her lips. “I specifically told my brother I’d come here with Mila, not that I’dstaywith her.”
I tilt my head, watching her with undisguised delight, my heart swelling with affection at the adorable way her nose wrinkles, the mischief dancing in her eyes. “Do you want to go for a walk on the beach?” I ask, hope blossoming in my chest.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she says, her smile brighter than the sun.
My fingers lace with hers, a perfect fit, as we rise from the sofa, ready to face whatever the future may hold, as long as we’re together. The weight of the past, the ghosts that haunt this house, fade away in the warmth of her presence, replaced by a sense of peace and rightness that I’ve never known before.
With Sam by my side, I feel like I can take on the world, like anything is possible. And as we step out into the crisp November air, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore a soothing melody, I know that this birthday, this weekend, will be one I’ll never forget.
16
NIK
The winter sun bleeds its dying rays behind us as we stroll along the beach, the sand cool and soft beneath our feet. It’s a peaceful start to the evening, the shoreline deserted save for the two of us. We walk in silence, enjoying each other’s company, the quiet intimacy of the moment. It’s just the way I dreamed it would be, time seeming to fly by when I’m with Sam.
We stop by the rocks, settling down to contemplate the dusky horizon. The chilly breeze picks up, tangling Sam’s dark locks and brushing them against her smooth cheeks. I watch, transfixed, my heart swelling with a rush of emotion that I can’t quite name.
“It’s a lovely home you have here,” she says, her voice soft and contemplative.
I glide an inch closer to her, careful to leave enough distance between us, not wanting to overwhelm her with the intensity of my feelings. But gods, do I long to close that gap, to pull her into my arms and never let go.
“It belonged to my grandparents,” I explain, forcing myself to focus on the conversation at hand. “It later passed on to my mother, and now to us—to my brother Bram, I should say.”
She pulls back her hair, tying it into a high, messy bun that only serves to highlight the delicate lines of her face. When she turns to me, her eyes are luminous in the fading light. “Do you ever stop to think of it?” she asks, a delicious frown creasing her brow.
I can’t help but smile, intrigued by the question. “Think of what?” I murmur, my gaze fixed on her face.
“How our brothers have shaped our entire existence,” she elaborates, turning back to the sea. Her profile gleams, kissed by the last rays of daylight, and I find myself breathless at the sight. “We live in the shadows of powerful leaders.”
“Mm...” I utter, resting my arms on my knees as I ponder her words. It’s a heavy topic, one that I wasn’t expecting, but I find myself drawn to the depths of her mind, the way she sees the world.
“I don’t mind it,” she continues, hugging her knees to her chest. “Living in shadows.”
I inch closer, my arm brushing against hers, and the sudden thrill of contact makes my breath hitch. I force myself to speak past the lump in my throat. “Me neither. I’d even go so far as to say it plays to my advantage,” I whisper, my gaze drifting to the darkening ocean. I take a deep breath, the salty air filling my lungs, grounding me in the moment.
“Really?” she asks, turning to face me once more. “In what way?”
