Page 73 of Crossing Between
Elias shifted beside me, his posture suddenly uncertain. It was rare to see him look so vulnerable.
"All of us?" he asked quietly. "Or just through sharing Zoey?"
The question hung in the air. I froze mid-chew, suddenly realizing what he was asking.
Kenji set down his spatula, crossed the kitchen in three long strides, and stopped directly in front of Elias. Without warning, he tangled his fingers in Elias's blonde hair, yanked his head back, and crushed their lips together in a fierce, passionate kiss.
My jaw dropped, bacon forgotten in my hand. Beside me, Varon made a choking sound that might have been surprise.
The kiss was not gentle or questioning. It was demanding, powerful, and unmistakably sexual. I could see Kenji's tongue slide against Elias's, could hear the soft, involuntary groan that escaped Elias's throat. Far from pushing Kenji away, Elias's hands had come up to grip Kenji's arms, holding on as if for dear life.
When Kenji finally pulled back, he looked utterly smug as he stared into Elias's dazed face.
"It's ALL of us," Kenji's voice was rough with emotion. He turned his gaze to Varon, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "Every.Single. One."
Varon stood frozen for a long moment, his expression unreadable. I held my breath, not sure what to expect. Finally, he sighed, set down his coffee mug, and gave a small, almost resigned nod.
"It was inevitable with how annoying you are, Kenji," he seemed grumpy but the words lacked any real heat. There was something almost fond in the way he looked at the oni instead.
A giddy happiness bubbled up inside me.
Kenji was already opening his mouth to reply, his expression triumphant, when the air in the middle of the kitchen suddenly shimmered and warped. We all jumped back as a swirling portal materialized, pulsing with teal and gold energy.
Quilith stepped through, their flowing black silk garments billowing around their slender form. The portal snapped shut behind them with a soft pop.
My initial happiness at seeing them faded quickly when I took in their appearance. Quilith looked exhausted, their normally perfect hair tangled and disheveled. Dark circles shadowed their eyes, and there was a tightness to their mouth that spoke of worry and strain.
"I have more information," they announced, obviously worn down, their gaze settling on me. "And Zoey, you probably won't like it."
I watched as Quilith staggered slightly, their normally graceful movements now stiff with exhaustion. The tray of half-burnt bacon and fluffy pancakes sat forgotten as the tension in the room thickened.
"Let's move somewhere more comfortable," Varon suggested, his body coiled tightly with concern.
We migrated to one of Varon's sitting rooms. I settled between Varon and Kenji on one of the larger couches, drawing comfort from their warmth on either side of me.
Elias moved to Quilith, guiding them to an armchair. "You look terrible," he was blunt, but his touch was gentle. "Let me get you some tea."
"That would be appreciated," Quilith's melodic voice strained.
While Elias disappeared to the kitchen, I studied Quilith more closely. They seemed duller than usual, lacking their typical iridescent gleam. Even the silken fabric of their flowing garments appeared wrinkled and travel-worn.
Elias returned quickly with a steaming mug of tea, which Quilith accepted with trembling hands. The dragon took a careful sip, closing their eyes as if savoring the simple comfort.
The five of us sat in tense silence. I fidgeted with the hem of Elias's borrowed t-shirt, my mind racing with possibilities, each worse than the last. Whatever news Quilith brought had clearly taken a toll on them, and that terrified me.
Five minutes passed with only the sound of the crackling fire and Quilith's occasional sips breaking the silence. The waiting was excruciating.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Quilith," I reached across to place my hand on their knee. "Please, what did you find out? Whatever it is, we need to know."
Quilith's eyes, ancient and knowing, met mine. They took one final sip of tea before setting the empty mug on the side table with care.
"I spoke with several dragons who are on the council that governs magic between us all," they began, their voice stronger now but heavy.
I felt Kenji tense beside me, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently.
"And?" Varon prompted when Quilith paused.
"When I told them of a human soulbinder, all the dragons were outraged," Quilith continued. "They said it was not possible. That such power could not exist outsidedragonkind."
