Page 101 of The Call of Crimson
“General Jade evacuated Caedel after it began burning. The entire city will be here within the week.”
“How many?”
“A thousand give or take.”
“Dammit,” Elijah sighs, rubbing his jaw. “When the staff wakes, call a meeting. Let them know what’s happened and have them begin preparations. They’ll need to ready all the guest wings and the main hall for the survivors. If that’s not enough, we'll have to use the inns and the brothel.”
“Understood. Thank you, Lord Elijah.” Samson bows and leaves.
The door clicks shut softly, leaving us alone.
Elijah sighs and turns to me. “Fuck you, B. Tell Ayden I’ll punch him in the godsdamned face for taking you from Rimor and leaving me to do this without you.” He isn’t talking to me, but Breyla, somehow. “I love you, though. Good night.”
He shakes his head, refocusing his gaze on me.
“So where were we?” Elijah asks, prowling toward the bed, a hungry gleam in his eyes.
“Uh uh.” I shake my head. “We’re circling back to what I just saw you do.”
“That party trick?” he asks, cocking his head slightly. “With those I have a strong connection, I can allow them to see through my eyes for short periods. It’s one-way, so they can see and hear everything I do, but I can’t hear or see anything from them. It’s how I communicate with Breyla at a distance.”
“Who knows you can do this?” I ask.
“Breyla and Jade. And now you,” he says, climbing into bed and straddling my hips.
He leans down, brushing light kisses along my neck, rolling his hard length against my center.
A soft whimper escapes before I catch it. I lace my fingers through his hair, tugging him gently back.
“Elijah, why am I just now learning about this?” I don’t bother hiding the hurt in my voice.
“I’m sorry, doll.” His eyes shift from heated to regretful in an instant. “I didn’t even think about it. I wasn’t keeping it from you. I just use it so rarely that it didn’t occur to me to tell you.”
“I share everything with you, Eli. I just want to know you as you do me,” I whisper.
“I know you do, and I cherish you for trusting me with that.” He cups my chin, kissing me softly. “Do you want to see how I see you?”
My heart answers before my mouth does. “Yes.”
“Close your eyes and trust me.”
I shut my eyes, exhaling slowly.
“You’ll feel a pressure inside your head—that’s me. Don’t fight it.”
A moment later, a foreign but not unpleasant sensation brushes my mind, like a hand caressing my thoughts. I tense briefly, then relax into it.
“Good,” he praises, his voice low. “It should feel gentle, like a soft nudge. Keep your eyes closed, but let me in.”
The soft caress grows, and an image begins to form behind my closed eyelids.
Black hair that almost glows blue in the moonlight ripples out around me on the bed, flushed pink cheeks, pale skin, and peach lips. It’s like looking into a mirror with my eyes closed.
It’s me, as he sees me.
“Do you see how beautiful you are?” Elijah whispers.
“I don’t know about beautiful,” I murmur. “But I see myself.”
