Page 47 of Claim the Twilight
“Loviator?” Ezekiel said, his tone solemn. “You were able to intervene to help us because she was involved, and she was your responsibility.”
“Yes, but Kaster Black was not.”
“But you helped him, anyway?”
“Yes. I did. I entered his body to heal him, but his injuries were too severe, and the only way to save him was to stay in his body for a while. I didn’t realize that staying was a risk, that if Kaster died while I was in his skin, then I might be trapped.” He lifted his chin. “Kaster did die. And I became the keeper of his immortal form. Kaster was born a mute, and now that I was trapped in his body, I too lost my voice. I’ve been walking the earth ever since, barred from the celestial plane until now. Loviator’s release gave me back my wingsandmy voice. I can leave this form if I wish now, but I have grown fond of it.” He looked across at me for a beat. “I’ll keep it for a little while, long enough to redeem myself. To stop Loviator and then…then I can go home.”
The way he said home was with such deep longing, the same longing with which he’d looked at me once.
“And if we fail?” Ezekiel asked.
“Then I remain here, forever fighting.” His gaze slid to me. “Alongside you all.”
He wanted to leave. To be free. And if he was forced to stay and anything did happen between us, then it would be by default. A consolation prize.
“We won’t fail,” Hemlock said. “I’ll see to that.”
“Thank you for your honesty,” Ordell said to Kaster.
“The activator is ready,” Holly said. “Now all I need is Padma’s blood.”
Padma rolled up her sleeve, exposing the dark network of veins crawling up her arm. “Take what you need and let’s do this.”
Ezekiel gently gripped my elbow and steered me away from the group. “You should feed before we head out.”
I didn’t feel hungry. In fact, I felt a little too full. “I’m not hungry, honestly.”
He studied me for a beat. “You may not feel hungry here.” He lightly touched my stomach. “But what about in your gums? Do you feel a throbbing?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“In that case, I guess we can wait till we get back.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “You truly are a wonder.”
The tulpas were settledin the south wing, the batlings ordered to protect the castle in our absence and to watch Jacqueline, and Kaster excused himself to return to his battalion, promising to join us at Brimswood.
There was no way for us to summon him, but it was a comfort to know that if we were attacked by Loviator or her minions, then the battalion would sense it, and Kaster would find us.
The rest of us gathered outside in the courtyard where three carriages waited. Ezekiel led me to the nearest one and opened the door before helping me inside. I climbed in, a sense of déjà vu washing over me as I tucked my sword beneath the seat. I settled against the leather, gaze flicking back to Ezekiel, who stood in the doorway.
“Are you getting in or what?”
He smiled, his eyes like warm honey. “I’ll ride with Hemlock and Ordell. You can ride with Lorenzo, and Godor will drive.”
He stepped back, and a moment later, Lorenzo took his place in the doorway.
I caught Ezekiel’s eye over Lorenzo’s shoulder and mouthed,Thank you. This was hard for him, sharing me. Giving me to another male, even for a short time, but he loved me enough to understand my heart and what it needed.
Lorenzo took the seat opposite me, and the carriage jerked into motion as soon as he’d closed the door.
The jolt made me slip forward in my seat, and Lorenzo caught me, pulling me into his lap.
A musky scent spiked in the air as I pressed myself to him, a similar scent to when Ezekiel and I had been together in the dining room. Arousal and desire. His desire for me and mine for him. He anchored me to his body with one arm and slid his free hand along my jaw till his long fingers gripped my nape.
Our gazes tangled, heat spreading through me at the intensity in his eyes. He drew me close, the tip of his nose nudging mine, sliding against it, lips barely brushing until my breath came shallow and fast, and need twisted low in my belly.
A soft whimper fell from my lips. He let out a groan, fingers flexing on my nape before crushing the distance between us with his lips. Soft and hard at the same time, sweet with a hint of coffee, I devoured him, adjusting to straddle him. I slid my hands into his thick silken locks and held him to me as I deepened the kiss. His chest vibrated, hands moving over me in an eager quest to touch. To feel. To own. His cock swelled, thick and hard, straining against the fabric of his trousers to press against my pussy. I took advantage, rolling my hips against his, hungry for the pressure on my clit. I bit back a gasp as shocks of pleasure rocketed through me.
“I want you.” I nipped his full bottom lip. “Now.”
