Page 37 of Shadows and Flames
I groaned and rolled my eyes. Huffed in his face for good measure. “Oh goddess, El. You can’t keep being nice. It’s scaring me.”
He sighed ruefully. “I want to be nice to you. And when you give me a reason to put you in your place, I will do that, too. Regardless, we will be together.”
“And…” I croaked. “What would you like from me?”
Elián’s brow didn’t shift. The hard set of his jaw didn’t soften. But the bob of his throat hinted at an uncertainty the rest of him didn’t. “I want your presence. Your menacing words. Your body against mine. Your love.”
Fuck.
I slammed my lips onto his, begged for his Fire to keep worming its way into me.
If someone had asked me at any point before yesterday, I would have told them the likelihood of my current state was nonexistent.
And yet, here I was, holding hands with Elián as we walked down the streets of Morova. It was a port city, and with the pleasant heat of mid-morning, our slow meandering along the docks was nearing on picturesque.
I’d thrown on one of his spare tunics, the smallest pair of leather trousers he had in the safehouse, and tightened a spare belt of his to secure everything in place. My heeled boots and gloves completed the ensemble, but as much as I groused, I would never truly complain about wearing his clothes.
There was no way I was returning to the inn where Tana and I were staying. I wasn’t ready to face her questions. Well, the particular one I was still avoiding.
Seagulls squawked overhead, circling ship sails and lining the rope ledge between pier and water. A pair of them fought for whatever food had been dropped on the wooden boards where we walked, but no one paid them any mind. They were too busy barking orders, calling for patrons to come and sample their wares, or loudly enjoying the day.
“Just how many homes do youhave?” Something about the way he’d casually mentioned another city where he had an apartment left me wondering.
Elián squinted toward the blue sky, as if he was bloodycounting. Our joined grip swung slightly between us, but myattention caught on the glimpse of bare chest he displayed. So far from the Shadow leathers.
The white tunic matched the one he’d given me to wear, but his was opened to show the edge of two defined pectorals, as well as the top of his hard stomach. Draped over his shoulders and wrapped around his waist, a fabric the color of the sky above. The gold hoops laddered up his ears shone brightly in contrast with his black hair and tattoos.
“I don’t consider any one ahome. More of a place to stay should I need.”
I tore my gaze away from his body, only to realize I’d already been caught ogling him. “That wasn’t an answer, El.”
He snorted, almostlaughing, Mother take me. “If I count all of them, I believe eleven or twelve. But only a quarter of those would I actually call any sort of home.”
I sighed harshly. “So. You’ve got three homes and nine spares. How much coin does a typical Shadowearn?”
He shrugged. “When you work as much as I do, for as long as I have, there isn’t a shortage of coin. And one of those is my room at the Shadow Well.”
We rounded a corner, then paused to let pass a group of adolescents as they went by us. “And…do you enjoy it there? The Well.”
Our path was now clear, but he stood still. Through the tether of his hand, I sensed his muscles stiffening. Underneath my glove, Rhaea’s curse twitched, growing antsy as Zoko’s Fire flared beneath his skin.
El started moving again, mouth set in a grim line, and while he led us through the crowd, I mourned the pleasant day we’d been having. With each step along the pier, this dream of beingtogetherdrew closer and closer to reality. How could it not? With my hand fitting so perfectly within his? With the easysmirks I drew out of him and the chuckles he surprised out of me?
A café overlooking the waves had a free table, and I followed Elián’s lead, gawking at him as he pulled out my chair.
Any cheeky remark about him treating me like a precious maiden was long forgotten at the twist of his lips.
This was it. This was when he’d tell me that being a Shadow was still too important. That he wouldn’t leave his family. Having the worst, darkest time of my life happen without him beside me had provided a plethora of perspective, though.
We’ll make it work, I resolved. Even if it meant I’d only see him between contracts. Selfishly, I knew that I’d never give up my own work. The thing that exhilarated me.
And, if being a Shadow was his calling, made him happy, I wouldn’t demand he leave.
When a server sidled up to our table to take our order, we both gave clipped requests for tea, coffee.
He started once we were alone again, “I…when I returned to the Well. After I left you,” he swallowed, “I killed Jones.”
Thatwas not what I’d been expecting. My brows shot to my hairline. “You did?”
