Page 18 of Fleshbound
Quill rushed into his arms and immediately knew it was his Corven. After hugging the breath from the man, he lifted his gaze. “How?”
“After ye left, I blacked out. The next time I woke, I was in the middle o the Calanais Stones, naked as the day I was borne.”
“How long ago? You’ve been gone nearly three months,” Quill said.
“I donnae rightly ken,” Corven said. “The Calanais coven found me in their stones an called me a demon. They’ve had me locked in a cage for the gods ken how long, badgerin me for answers I couldn’t give em. So I became a right pain in their arse in hopes they’d let me go.” He grinned. “It worked.”
He lowered his head and captured Quill’s lips.
When Quill pulled away, he stared up into Corven’s eyes. The same fiery red.
“Where’s the book?”Quill whispered.
“Gone, it seems,” Corven said before another smile stretched across his lips. “I haven’t seen it since I reappeared. I think the curse might be…”
“Broken?” Quill whispered.
Corven winced. “I’m almost scared tae think it. Twice as scared tae say it. What if it’s no.”
“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Quill said.
“Does that mean… we’re… gonna cross it together?”
Quill held his breath. “If… that’s… what you want. You’ve been imprisoned for two millennia. If you wish to be free of everything…”Including me…
“Iamfree,” Corven said. “Because o ye. Even if it’s only for a little while… I want tae spend ma days withyou,Quillie.” He stiffened. “If ye’ll have me.”
“Of course I’ll have you,” Quill said before pressing his lips to Corven’s.
He melted into Corven’s embrace, almost scared it was a dream and he’d awaken to the nightmare of reality alone.
Cassius cleared his throat.
Quill slipped from Corven’s embrace, mortified. He’d forgotten there was anyone else there. When he saw the broad smiles on Cassius’s and Perry’s faces, he was even more embarrassed.
“Pierre and I will clean up this mess,” Cassius said. “If you’d like to be alone with Corven.”
Quill shook his head. “Where are my manners? Cassius, this is Corven of Evonium. Perry… Corven.”
“Good tae meet ye.” Corven stepped closer and shook both their hands. “And not tae be rude, but if ye might point me in the direction of where alone is, I’d be mighty appreciative.”
Quill’s face turned hot, and he snagged Corven’s hand. “This way.”
“Don’t worry about coming in anytime soon!” Perry called as they rushed through the back room toward the door. “We have it covered for the two weeks you were supposed to be gone!”
“Two weeks o just ye an me?” Corven asked, his voice hushed. “Sounds good tae me.”
Quill closedhis apartment door and pressed his back to it, watched as Corven sauntered in ahead. Why he was suddenly feeling shy, he didn’t know. All of the long hours searching for a thread, a hint, a clue… and his mate was standing right in front of him.
My mate?
The rightness of that thought hit him square in the chest.
Corven spun and smiled at him. “Ye’re so lovely tae these old eyes.”
Quill fought a smile.
He crossed the room and cupped Quill’s cheek. “I love the way ye blush when I say nice things tae ye, too.”
