Page 18 of Legacy of the Heirs
“I will be whatever you wish,” he murmured. “As long as I am something.”
“You are something,” she said, her eyes watering. A realisation hit her then. She could not forget this man, that she would be forced to forgive him. Slowly, he pulled her to him, offering an opportunity for Elisara to pull back. A contented sigh sounded from his lips when she did not. As his arms wrapped around her, Elisara nestled her head against his shoulder.
“I meant what I said. I will spend my entire life proving myself to you, angel.” He brushed her hair behind her ear. “I will do whatever you ask—whatever you wish or need from me.”
“Why do you keep calling me that?” she asked.
“Because that is how you looked when you laid there with this celestial tie binding us together. You looked like an angel: serene, beautiful, powerful.” He smiled, and the memory flashed in her mind.
“Then what does that make you?” She instinctively reached for his arm to trail her fingers along his inkings.
“Perhaps your demon.”
“That sounds like you would taint me,” she said, as images of herself in the alcove flashed through her mind—Kazaar’smemories.
“I could certainly taint you for any other,” he whispered, gliding his hands up her bare back.
The door to the chambers slammed open, and Vlad rushed in with Nyzaia, Helena, Vigor, and Talia in tow.
“She’s awake then,” said Nyzaia, glancing between Elisara and Kazaar with a straight face. The pair quickly parted.
“Eli!” Vlad rushed forward, laughing, and pulled Elisara into an embrace. When the temperature in the room plummeted, Vlad pulled back. “Are you okay?”
Elisara gave a tight nod and glanced in Kazaar’s direction. She had not been the one to lower the temperature.
I might have to pull rank if he touches you again. Elisara ignored the protective edge to his voice and the shiver his words traced up her spine. She turned her back on him.
“I’m fine,” she said to Vlad, though he clearly did not believe her. She cocooned her arms around herself. For a moment, nobody spoke.
“They all wonder what happened.”
“I know.” She glared at Kazaar, and Nyzaia narrowed her eyes, glancing between them. Elisara avoided her gaze.
“Stay out of my head,”she warned him.
“Worried about what I might see?”Elisara blushed as every memory of them together invaded her senses. Could he really see those? The darkening of his eyes answered her question.
Nyzaia cleared her throat. “I assume I was right,” she said.
“Right about what?” Helena stepped around Nyzaia, her white-blonde hair a stark opposite to the Keres queen. Vigor rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and laid a leather case on the table, opening it to reveal rows of vials. That was why Kazaar had summoned them, in case she did not wake. Talia leaned against the wall behind Nyzaia. Unlike Helena, the pair were rather similar in looks. Talia picked her leg up and rested one of her feet on the wall behind her, giving Kazaar a once-over. Elisara refrained from rolling her eyes. She was always sodistrustful.
“It’s a long story.” Elisara embraced Helena, and over her shoulder, she watched Talia approach.
“Your guard dog could have given us more details. We were worried,” Talia said, giving Elisara a briefer hug before Vigor took over.
“What happened?” He guided Elisara back to Kazaar’s bed while her mind wondered about how many other women had laid there.
“None.”
She glanced sideways at Kazaar and then faced the room with a sigh.
“Where should I begin?” she said.
Chapter Eleven
Nyzaia
Kazaar and Elisara were keeping secrets. They retold the events of yesterday evening to Nyzaia and Elisara’s friends: the essence of their powers merging, the marks on their skin, the memories they shared. Nyzaia revealed what she had learned about the celestial tie, too, and though neither confirmed if they could hear each other’s thoughts, she suspected they did. The only missing piece of information was what disagreement had caused the pair to turn on one another.
