Page 133 of Burning Ice
Fire recognizing fire. Aviel’s gaze held his, steady and knowing, before he turned away.
Theo stood near the table, pale and still, a glass untouched in his hand.
As Aviel passed, his fingers brushed the boy’s wrist, nothing more than a touch, but it drew a small, startled breath from both of them.
Mirel returned with two glasses of kalla, the rose-pink liquid glowing faintly in the light.
He offered one to Kylix with a wry look.
“You like this. I don’t.”
Kylix’s smile was soft, private. “Then it’s perfect.”
Their fingers met around the glass.
Frost and warmth blurred together where they touched, the shimmer catching on the rim like a spark.
The crowd’s laughter rolled on, the night alive again, but in that moment there was only the quiet pulse between them, the bond that bound fire to ice, and held Helion steady beneath the snow.
34
They left the party in silence, slipping away before the final toast. Mirel leaned against him in the car, already half-asleep. By the time they reached the estate, Kylix was carrying him. The sounds of laughter and music still echoed behind them as the car pulled away.
Inside the estate, everything was quiet. Kylix walked the long corridor with Mirel in his arms, the dim lights catching in his hair as he breathed against Kylix’s shoulder.
Night fell deep over Helion, inking the sky with moving planets and the shimmer of distant satellites. Through the curved glass of the Waltr, stars hung close enough to touch. Their soft light glimmered across the bed and the dark stone floor, faint reflections rippling in the glass walls.
Kylix laid Mirel down gently on the bed, brushing the golden hair from his forehead. He stripped off his trousers with care, not waking him, and set them aside. Once Mirel was settled, covered to the waist and breathing deeply, Kylix sat up. He touched the multi-slate, dimming the lights to a low amber, and clapped once. A soft thread of music filled the room. The ritual steadied him.
“You look like something I should worship,” Kylix whispered. “But all I want is to ruin you slow.”
Mirel lay half-covered, gold hair scattered across the pillow, pale skin glowing faintly in the starlight. His chest lifted and fell. For a long moment, Kylix only watched him, the world narrowed to this small shape of breath and bone. He wanted to keep him near, to reach for him each time the night turned, to know that when the stars wheeled again, Mirel would still be here, his gravity, his constant.
Outside, a slow arc of light crossed the neighboring planet’s horizon, blue fire drifting behind it like smoke. The hum of the estate was faint, distant. Inside, their quiet night waited.
Kylix’s hand rested over Mirel’s ribs, fingers tracing the faint dip between them. He felt the slow shift from sleep to waking beneath his palm. Mirel stirred, a quiet sound leaving his throat. He stretched his arms before blinking against the dim light. A faint smile tugged at his lips as his eyes opened.
“Good evening,” Kylix said.
Mirel opened his eyes fully. “It’s still night.”
“I know.” Kylix smiled. “You fell asleep before we even left the party. You missed half of Moargan’s speech.”
“That was on purpose.” His voice was rough with sleep but calm.
Kylix laughed under his breath. “Good choice.” He brushed his thumb along Mirel’s jaw. “You were extraordinary tonight.”
“Thank you.” Mirel’s lips curved faintly. He looked down to where Kylix had stripped him to his underwear and cape.
“Mesmerizing.” Kylix let his gaze drag over Mirel’s mouth, then leaned in and pressed a kiss to it, soft at first, then deeper, nipping until it parted.
“Sexy.” His tongue slid inside, coaxing a moan from Mirel’s throat.
“Dangerous.” He kissed lower, along the corner of his jaw, down his neck, dragging his tongue across the skin before licking up again, tasting the faint salt of sleep and skin. His mouth hovered at the base of Mirel’s throat, where he bit gently, then licked again, just to hear him gasp.
His lips trailed down to the edge of the cape, fingers brushing the line of Mirel’s hips. “I could watch you my entire life and still want more.”
Mirel shifted closer, mouth parting slightly, breath catching as Kylix’s fingers tugged at the edge of the cape. Kylix kissed the spot just beneath his navel, then lower, licking the line of his waistband, mouthing over the soft fabric until Mirel trembled.
