Page 68 of Tell No Tales
"They can't kill you," Klaus said. "You won't give consent."
Vadim shrugged. "I'm better off now that I can heal faster, but it's not impossible."
Klaus kneeled before Vadim, once more taking in all the scars on his well-toned body. "What happened here, before Martiz healed it?" He brushed the smooth skin at Vadim's neck.
"Arrow."
Klaus kissed the spot where the damage had been. "And here?" he pointed to what he assumed was another arrow scar at his hip.
"Same night, different archer."
Klaus leaned forward keeping his gaze focused on Vadim as he brushed his lips over the raised mottled skin.
"Here?" He drew three fingers down Vadim's thigh, following an old scar devoid of color.
"Cat." Vadim reached over and patted Mewskers on the head. "I used to hate cats."
"And now?" Klaus grinned.
"Now I'm grateful for this little one."
Klaus nibbled his way along Vadim's leg, kissing every inch of all three scars. Vadim closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall, but he relaxed his legs from his crouched position. His cock was still drooling, and it was starting to perk up again from Klaus's attention. Gods, he would never get enough of the man.
Unfortunately, he sensed a familiar tug at the back of his mind. "Wildfirehas returned," he said. "If I didn't know better, I'd think they only show up when we're getting it on."
"Maybe this time I can give you the tour," Vadim said. "I'm going to grab a shower quick, before they're upon us."
This time, when Vadim stood, he offered his arm to Klaus. "If you don't care, I don't care who sees us."
"Why would I care?" Klaus slid closer, wrapping his arm around Vadim's bare waist. "You're the sexiest man on this ship."
"Not even close." Instead of returning to his old argument that his old friend Stan was better looking by far, Vadim turned and gathered Klaus in his arms. He kissed his eyebrows, his eyelids, and the tip of his nose before delving deep within his mouth. Klaus could get used to kisses like that.
"You are the sexiest man on this ship." That was the closest to an admission of love Klaus would probably ever get from the death weaver, but it was enough.
Chapter 17
Vadim
By the time they showered on deck and dressed in the hold,Wildfirehad approached them from the south. Her deck was still covered with ice and snow.
"They've got more weavers with them," Klaus said. "Two wind, one water."
"How strong?" Vadim asked. If Nola had kept them alive, that meant some, or all, wanted to flee Coryn's navy.
"The wind weavers are middling. The water weaver is weak, or young. Maybe both." Klaus's grand seeker ability allowed him to tell someone's current strength and their future potential, which was how he could pick Hugo from the crowd. To Klaus, his aura looked different. Vadim couldn't see through Klaus's eyes, even when they were linked, but he believed without a doubt that Klaus could find Hugo anywhere in Hearthstone once they arrived.
Now, he wasn't surprised to see a child of around ten between two older boys, maybe fifteen or sixteen, warming their hands on the brazier betweenWildfire'scaptain's cabin and main mast. They all had dark blond hair, dark skin, and brown eyes.
"Twins and their little sister," Nola confirmed. "All three were captive on that naval ship. They're looking for earth weavers. Said these two could be taught to use the opposite side of their power. They wanted to board us for Devon and Yvette and leave the rest of us to rot on an island. Then, they were to sail for Landale to pick up five more earth weavers they found in the mountains to the south. That's where we're headed after this, to keep as many of them out of Coryn's hands as possible."
"I agree, that's an excellent plan," Efren said.
Vadim disagreed. "How will we get to the palace without you?"
"What?" Nola asked.
"If we put the lifeboat in the water, we won't get far. They'll have us locked in the dungeon before we can find Hugo and speak to him."
