Page 78 of Take No Prisoners
She nodded her approval and left them in peace.
Efren sat down on the dock. He found the tank in question. What had once been difficult was now as easy as breathing. He removed the salt from the tank and filled it with fresh water.
Niall sat beside him. They were close to the edge where the wood met the concrete moorings, with only a few inches of air between them and the sandy beach below.
"I'm sorry if I overstepped to break the trap," Niall said. "I didn't know what I was doing, and then I used your spell to break through all my other elements to free the water. Grandmother told me to hold it back, and it was trapped until I pulled my weave back to me. I didn't mean to take yours, too. That's when we exchanged power and knowledge."
"You gave me a piece of your core." Efren took both of Niall's hands in his. "It's the greatest gift I've ever received. I wouldn't dream of berating you for it."
"Thank you." Niall's cheeks darkened, and he glanced down at their clasped hands. "What happens now?"
"I suppose we'd better fix whatever your grandmother thinks needs fixing, and as soon as possible."
Niall snorted. "That's not what I meant. What about us?"
"Nothing has changed in my mind," Efren said.
Niall exhaled and his shoulders dropped a little.
"Were you worried?"
"I thought you could sense my core the same way I can sense yours, and you'd think it was too much."
"If you can sense my core, you know that's not true." He tipped Niall's chin up to meet his gaze. "I'm in awe of you, Niall. I don't know where we'll end up, but we're in this together. I couldn't turn you away before. I certainly won't now."
Niall collapsed against his chest, his breath a rush of air that tickled Efren's throat as it shifted his collar. The confidence Niall always exuded disappeared and raw, naked need filled his gaze. "I thought I was stronger than this. I thought I could handle another loss, another heartbreak, but the thought of you leaving me now ..."
"I'm not going anywhere." Efren cupped Niall's cheek, loving the rough feel of stubble against his thumb. Niall followed willingly as Efren pulled him closer. The touch of their lips was as gentle as mist and as vibrant as a rainbow over dark water. The connection between them sizzled like lightning.
Niall pulled back. "What was that?"
Efren followed him. "I don't know, but I like it."
Niall laughed against his lips and leaned back until he lay on the boardwalk. Finally, Efren could take in his fill of the unique sensation. It wasn't elemental magic, and it wasn't an emotion, at least, not one Efren had ever experienced before. He'd loved Vadim, but that love had never developed beyond the basic emotion. This had teeth as sharp as Arrowtip's, and Efren wanted it to eat him whole.
Niall groaned into his mouth and opened for him. Efren straddled Niall's legs, not caring when he snagged the knee of his pants on the rough wood. He could patch it later. Now, he had to experience everything Niall had to offer.
Niall pushed him away with a gentle shove, breaking their kiss. He looked thoroughly debouched with his lips glossed with their shared spit and his hair tousled from Efren's fingers. "We should wait until we're alone."
Efren rested his forehead on Niall's and took a deep breath. "You're right." His chest ached as he lifted himself off Niall and sat a respectable distance away.
"I didn't mean you should stop." Niall's pout was just as adorable.
"I'll make time tonight." Efren didn't know the full extent of tasks Beatrice would force upon them before darkness overtook them, but there were only so many they could complete in the dark without light enchantments or a fire weaver.
"Fuck." He rolled his eyes and slid an arm over Niall's shoulder as they resumed sitting side by side on the dock. "You've got fire magic now. That means she'll have us up all night."
Niall laughed. "I have all the elements, so we won't need anyone else to come with us."
While true, "She might split us up."
"We won't let her," Niall said.
Efren agreed. He couldn't bear the thought of being separated from Niall again.
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Niall
