Page 29 of Shadows and Flames
“I know that you are strong. That you are capable. But you let fear push me away last time. I have…” he paused, thoughts going far away, but I knew where. To the day that I regretted more than any of my misdeeds. Any sin I’d committed—fucked up but true. Nothing compared to how much I hated myself for telling him to leave.
Elián refocused on me, gently petting the nape of my neck. Where the length of my curls now ended. “I have had many days to think about this. Years. As I know you have.”
It wasn’t a question, and the uncertainty wafting off of him shouldn’t have been his to bear. I’d put it there. Swallowing, I nodded.
Years, days, minutes. Seconds.
“So. We will go back out there, finish what we came here for. I have an apartment in the city center. You and I will go there and begin to rebuild.”
My fingers fiddled with the hem of his jacket. When had they crept up there? “You’ve gotten bossier,” I grumbled without heat.
“Nâ. I have become certain of what I want.”
I exhaled, the breath trembling. Could I lean into this? Truly trust it? While I ran over the last few moments, Elián watching and letting me, I recited his commands in my mind.
My eyes narrowed. “We’re not bowing out of the contract for you.”
And then my knees nearly gave out.
He huffed, like a laugh, and the smirk that shifted his lips caused the magical dip in his cheek. With his jewelry, the bright color of his jacket and the soft sheen of his hair, Elián looked more himself than I’d ever seen. Like he was no longer using the Shadow black as a shield.
Elián nuzzled into my temple, breathing me in while I blinked back tears. “There are many things I want from you, my queen. But you and your cousin handing over the contract to us is not among them.”
I cleared the thickness in my throat. “Um. Good.”
With a hard press of his lips to my cheek, Elián released me, but his promises—and mine—were still wrapped around us.
“I think this will be fun, my queen.”
And he spun on a heel and left.
When I caught up with Tana, drink in hand and laughing lightly at something spoken in the small circle gathered around the hostof the event, her blonde brow was a silent inquiry to where I’d been.
Then, her nose twitched, chin tilting subtly in the air. Her eyes widened for a moment before her mask slipped back into place. A serene, airy smile spread her artificially blushed cheeks.
She hooked an arm around mine, demurely excusing us from the conversation and pulling me away. A few objections rose, urging Tana to hurry back, and if I could feel my feet beneath me, I might’ve marveled her quick work, charming these people.
My cousin stopped us in a corner of the ballroom, furthest from where most were milling about, socializing and peacocking.
“Tell me.”
I opened my mouth, but before I could report what happened, my attention snapped to the left. Catching on his form cutting through the crowd. Gathering information, just like we should have been.
“Leenie,” Tana hissed, and I whirled around.
“He…I don’t know where to begin.”
She rolled her eyes and stomped her foot in frustration. Then, leaning in, she spoke low, “How about the fact that I can smell…himall over you. See the fang marks healing.”
My lips rolled between my teeth, replaying the feeling of Elián inside of me. Kissing me. My power sparked and tingled on my fingertips, knowing we were going to follow his directives. Every last one. “He told me to meet him once we are done here. To spend the night with him.”
Tana paused, gaze roving my face, brows drawn in concern. She threw back the rest of her flute of sparkling wine. “Are you okay?”
A crackling laugh escaped my lips. No, I hadn’t been okay in three years. But now, maybe there was hope. “I don’t know.”
My cousin pulled me into her arms for a fast but grounding hug. It was just a breath, but I took it with her, inhaling against her chest, air whooshing out of our noses at the same time.
The tragedies of my actions, of my life, were at least good for two things. One of which brought me closer to Tana. Would anyone else save me the way she had? Watch me collapse, bleed,die, and still be here?
