Page 78 of Obsidian Dream
It had been hours since he had last heard Ninhursag in his mind, but he wasn’t naïve enough to believe that she was done with him.Far from it.If Kade had picked up something was different with him, it would only be a matter of time before Khalida did.Every time he tried to say Ninhursag’s name or tell Khalida what had happened, his throat constricted, making it impossible to breathe.And then he remembered the god’s words.
He would not be responsible for Khalida’s death.
Raking his hand through his hair, he grunted at the tangled mess as his fingers got caught in the strands.Giving up on his hair, he lifted his muddy shirt and grimaced and pulled away at the putrid scent.He needed a fucking shower.He was offending even his own sense of smell and cleanliness.It might give him time to come up with some sort of plan.Ninhursag came and went when she wanted, but he didn’t think she could read his mind.Was she not at her full strength?Maybe this was how it started for Idris before he had been seduced by Ninhursag’s promises.
It didn’t take long to reach his room.He hadn’t come across another person, even though a part of him was hoping he would catch sight of Khalida.Like some lovesick fool.
Walking into the room always gave him a sense of peace.It was the first place he had lived when he’d first worked for Dante, but now—it was anything but comforting.He quietly shut the door behind him, waiting a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness.Small dim lights twinkled along the corners of the room.Enough light that he could navigate without injuring himself.
His stomach growled in protest.The two plain protein bars he had consumed would hold him over until he had a shower, at the very least.
They hadn’t eaten since they entered the catacombs, which according to Kade and the clock was more than two days ago.It was close to one a.m., too late for dinner, but surely Khalida would be hungry.Half tempted to knock on Khalida’s door, he discarded the idea—he didn’t think he could handle any more questions about their past.He would just send her food, and she could choose to eat the offering or not.It was the coward’s way out.He picked up the tablet and texted an order to the villa staff for both him and Khalida.If he was lucky, the food would arrive before he got out of the shower.
Talik walked into his bathroom, heading straight to his marble shower as he stripped his clothes off and threw them into a haphazard pile.He was going to relish burning them afterward.
He turned the water to scalding.If he couldn’t scrub the memory of Ninhursag from his skin, he was opting to scorch it away with hot water.Adjusting the showerhead, he stood under the onslaught, trying to forget about what had occurred in the catacombs—forget how Khalida had looked at him with a hint of hope and something else.The subtle tingle of the consort mark was almost second nature to him now.He stared at it, trying to remember what it was like when Khalida was not around.How empty it had felt in comparison.It had only been a short time since they had been thrown back together, but everything had changed.
He turned off the water and stepped out as he grabbed a fluffy gray towel.Moving toward the basin, he dried himself before wrapping it around his waist.He didn’t want to think of all the bone dust and dirt he would have ingested by accident as he rinsed his mouth.And a second time.It was a taste he never wanted to experience again.
After drying his hair, Talik grabbed a wide-tooth wooden comb and detangled the long strands before it succumbed to becoming a bird’s nest.Done after a few minutes, he leaned forward and wiped the steam off the large ornate silver mirror; he touched his stubble, the rough hairs prickly.He angled himself to show his back.The mark from the knife was gone, and there was no other physical evidence of his ordeal.Except for the feeling that somehow Ninhursag had marked him and burrowed beneath his skin.And no matter how much he scrubbed, he couldn’t remove it.
The need to tell Kade and Khalida was all-consuming as he raked his mind, trying to work out how to communicate without Ninhursag knowing.He grabbed his cell and tried to type out the god’s name.But all he got was a bunch of random letters together and a throat that felt like he had tried to swallow fire.Fuck.
Your scent has changed.
Kade’s words burned into him.The hunter had done nothing else, had not treated him any differently, except for letting him know he had changed.And that Kade was watching him.The hunter was smart.Talik just needed a way to let Kade know somehow that Ninhursag had a stronghold on him, without endangering Khalida’s life.Or Kade’s.
His stomach growled again, louder this time.
He heard the bedroom door open slowly, but he didn’t bother to rush out.At least he’d had the foresight to order himself some food.He splashed some cold water on his face before he pulled his hair up into a damp, loose bun before returning to the bedroom.
Yellow eyes blazed in the darkness.
“Couldn’t keep away from my charm?”Talik asked as he flicked on the lamp next to his bed, giving him a better view of his intruder, who was quietly closing his fridge.His food must have been delivered.“Or practicing your stalking abilities?”
Khalida smirked as she leaned against the opposite wall.Dressed entirely in black, her silver-blonde hair hung in two braids over her shoulders.She had traded her uniform for black tight jeans, boots, and a dark long-sleeve midriff sweater that showcased her toned brown stomach.There was no sign of her swords or knives.
“My eyes are up here.”
Talik shrugged and purposely took his time as he lifted his head.He was a fucking glutton for punishment for wanting what he couldn’t have.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
She raised an eyebrow at his words.
“You appear unarmed, so I assume it’s not to stab me.”
She took a couple of steps, breaching the gap between them, but stopped just out of his reach.“Not tonight, at least.”
There was a hint of desire emanating from Khalida.It was mixed in with her normal scent of peonies and amber.The heady smell was intoxicating.
Talik swallowed, not moving from his position, careful to remain casual, despite the beginnings of a raging hard-on.Glutton for fucking punishment, he reminded himself.“Careful, Kiki, you may give me the wrong idea.”
She scowled with no real heat.“You know I hate that name.”
His cock hardened.
She chewed her lower lip.He almost came from the sight, but by some miracle, managed to control his body.
