Page 115 of Courting War
He ran forher.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
THEODRA
Despondant Ex-God
LOVE CAVES, CITY OF THE GODS
Everything was ruined.
Theo hung her head and splashed her feet in a huff. She sat in the cave of wonders, her feet dangling into the warm pool. The rope swings drifted in a manufactured wind, mocking her with the memories of his lips. She touched her fingers to her own, and sorrow dug a hole in her stomach.
He should’ve left her dead.
Theo needed to hate Kellyn—to save him. She needed to get as far away from him as possible because her walls had crumbled, and she couldn’t deny the truth any longer. He had all of her, and she wanted all of him.
She loved—no, she couldn’t even think of it.
Because love equaled death. Love was the one thing that would destroy her forever.
Theo hated herself. That foolish deal. It was a deal she’d never pay out. She’d find a way to defy Havyn even if it meant dying again.
A luminescent butterfly landed on her palm, and a tear kissedher cheek. It was beautiful. A symbol of hope and love. She smiled weakly and begged the fates for hope, for a life where she could be happy and with him. But the butterfly jolted off her hand as heavy footfalls entered the cave.
He’d found her.
Theo stood just as he crashed into her, his mouth meeting hers in a frantic frenzy. The pure passion and hunger of the kiss caused her to lose her balance on the pool’s edge, and they crashed off the rocks into the water.
They hit with a splash and a laugh. Kellyn surfaced first, a false growl on his lips. He grabbed onto her waist and pulled her back into a kiss.
“Don’t do that again,” he breathed into her lips. “Don’t die for me again, please.” It was a plea and command.
But he didn’t know what he was asking. Her death was the only way out of their situation. The only way for him to live.
Theo curled her fingers around his cravat and yanked his mouth onto hers again. A distraction. She couldn’t answer him.
But Kellyn pulled away to torture her with touch. His eyes locked on hers as he stroked his fingers through her hair, sending shivers down her spine, her body hypersensitive to him. Theo bit the inside of her cheek and breathed deeply through her nose, not wanting him to see how his touch rocked her composure.
But, oh, how it did. With each new caress, her body grew tighter and tighter with need. She was a bowstring, taut and ready for release.
But it couldn’t be.
Silence fell between them, and she averted her gaze, staring at the cave walls. She sucked in a deep breath. Spending any time alone with him was dangerous.
Dangerous for him and her heart.
The ice goddess was melting, and she loathed it.
“Why did you do it?” Her voice was all sensual desire and broken hearts.
“What?” he said, playing with one of her raven curls.
“Save me.” She shivered. “It will be the death of you.”
“So be it.” His voice was husky and dripping with the same lust bursting inside her. “I’d die for you.” He bounced a curl between his fingers.
“No,” her voice cracked. “I can’t lose you.”
