I got up, then walked over to the door. The closer I got to it, the cooler it felt.
Stifling a smirk, I opened the door and found Nevis standing outside in the hallway, his back to me. He turned around, surprised to see me.
“How did you know I’d—?” he asked, but stopped when he noticed my raised eyebrow and my gaze fixed on the frozen floor beneath his bare feet. “Oh. Sorry. I forget I’m not on Athelathan anymore.”
He took a deep breath, and I watched the ice go away. The inn’s regular warmth came back, and I stepped back into my room, motioning for him to come in. He offered a polite nod, then stepped inside and closed the door behind him, while I resumed my seat by the fire.
“Is it hard to keep your Dhaxanian nature under control?” I asked, welcoming the heat radiating from the fire.
“No, not at all. It’s merely a question of habit,” he replied, standing with his hands behind his back. “You’re cold by nature as well, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “Mhm. But I miss the warmth. It’s the one thing we surrender when we become vampires. I don’t get to feel the sun on my face anymore, and my body temperature is low. But I do enjoy the fire once in a while. It reminds me of childhood, I guess.”
“I understand,” Nevis muttered, staring at the crackling flames.
“What brings you here?” I asked.
“Are you really still with the Mara?” Nevis replied, pursing his lips.
I chuckled softly. “Yes, Your Grace. That hasn’t changed. I don’t think it ever will. I love him, and he loves me. He’s an oddball, and he’s like a little kid sometimes, but there’s a side of him I’ve seen and fallen for. We’re like two pieces of a puzzle. As unexpected as it was for the both of us, we just fit perfectly together.”
Nevis let out a sigh, then nodded slowly. “Then I’m here to simply tell you that I’m going to bow out with dignity and grace. I will no longer pursue my ambition to be with you, Avril.”
I blinked several times, processing his reply. A royal to the very end.
“Thank you, I guess?” I said, then nodded at the spare chair.
He pulled it closer to the fire and took a seat. He kept his back straight, though, as if he were sitting on nails. “I may be cold and perhaps a little too spoiled, but I do understand the concept of love. I accept its implications. You and I are merely a missed opportunity, and I accept that as well. If you love each other, I cannot and will not drive a wedge between you and the loudmouth,” he said.
I giggled. “You’re incorrigible, Your Grace.”
“Please, call me Nevis,” he replied, smiling.
“Nevis, you and the loudmouth have a lot in common, you know. More than you think, in fact.”
He looked somewhat offended.
“I highly doubt that,” he muttered, then settled his gaze on the fire. “I see what you mean when you say it’s nice to feel the warmth once in a while.”
“I’m serious. You and Heron are a lot alike. He’s royalty where he comes from. He’s the brother of a Mara Lord. Should Jax forfeit his position without an heir, Heron will take his place. Granted, Heron has been through plenty of trials and tribulations, but he’s an incredible creature. He’s got killer comeback lines, just like you. He’s intelligent and charming, just like you,” I added. Nevis looked at me, smiling. Flattery certainly worked on him. “And he can be a big kid sometimes. Just. Like. You.”
Nevis scoffed, making me laugh.
“I’ll go ahead and remember the compliments only,” he shot back.
“But it makes you who you are!” I replied. “The good, the bad, the hilarious. It makes you—you. And, to be honest, had Heron not come into my life the way he did… Had I met you first, I’m sure I would’ve fallen for you, Nevis. I’m not blind, you know. You’re gorgeous. You’re royalty. You’re powerful and determined. You have principles, and, deep down, you’re a good creature.”
It was his turn to raise an eyebrow at me.
“As I was saying, a missed opportunity,” he muttered. “Thank you for the kind words. I must admit, I’m not here to just bow out gracefully, as my code of honor demands. I’m here to offer my friendship,” he added, then gave me a soft smile. “No matter what happens, Avril, I’m here for you. I find you fascinating in every way possible. You’re the first creature to stand up to me and defy me. It denotes a strong character, and it’s a rare thing to come across in my position. You’re fearless. Most people tremble before me.”
“Well, your icy nature might have something to do with that,” I replied with a grin.
He almost laughed. “True. But I recognize fear when I see it. It’s nice to be around someone like you. There’s no fear in you, Avril. Not where I’m concerned. I must also admit that I do feel lonely—stuck on Athelathan for so long, unable to leave without starting a war. This crush I have on you will pass, but my affection for you is different. You opened my eyes, and you pushed me to do something I didn’t think I could anymore. I stood up for my people. For freedom.” He paused, then pointed at the snowflake pendant. “Don’t lose that pendant, Avril.”
I smiled, touching the snowflake with my fingertips.
“I won’t, I promise,” I murmured.
He frowned, then put his hand out. “Can I have it for a second?”
I nodded, then handed it over. He brought it up to his lips and whispered something into it. It lit up white for a few seconds, then resumed its pale blue sheen. Nevis then gave it back to me.
“Was that your Dhaxanian… What is it, exactly? Magic?” I asked.
“I suppose, yes. It’s not swamp witch magic. It’s nothing like that,” he replied. “I’m the only one who can use it, anyway. I’m the last of my bloodline, and without an heir, I’ll be the only one who can still perform the ancients’ rituals.”
“Ancients?”
“The first Dhaxanians. My ancestors of royal blood,” he explained. “They were long gone before the daemons even took over.”
“What about the Dhaxanians you rule over? Can’t you find a wife among them so you can continue the royal bloodline?” I asked.
“It doesn’t have to be a Dhaxanian, per se,” Nevis replied. “My ancestors once married Imen girls, for example. My bloodline doesn’t get lost in the mix. On the contrary. I just… I haven’t found the right person yet, that’s all. I thought it was you, but, you know.” He grinned. “Loudmouth and whatnot.”
I laughed lightly, then pointed at the pendant. “What did you do with it just now?”
“I added an extra function to it. From now on, I’ll not only know where you are at all times, I’ll also know if you’re experiencing any pain or fear,” Nevis said, then stood up. “I’ll take my leave now, before the loudmouth comes back and makes a scene.”
I shot to my feet and hugged him tight. “Thank you,” I whispered in his ear. He faltered, then responded to my embrace and wrapped his arms around me. “The next creature you fall in love with will be the luckiest in this vast universe and beyond, trust me.”
“Yes, I’m well aware.”
He made me laugh again. We separated, and Nevis walked over to the door and opened it, just as Heron made his way in. They both froze, glowering at one another. Heron looked at me, then at Nevis, then back at me.
“Relax, bloodsucker,” Nevis said, his tone flat. “I’m here with a peace offering. An official one, anyway.”
“Oh?” Heron replied, crossing his arms.
“I’ve conceded. I will no longer pursue your girlfriend. But I may still enjoy taunting you once in a while. I find it delectable to rile you up,” Nevis declared with a smirk, then turned stone-cold serious. “But if you break her heart, if you make her suffer in any way, I will find you and I will make you suffer through a most slow and painful death.”
Heron nodded once, then smiled at me. “You were right. He’s not that big of a jerk after all.”
Nevis scoffed, then put his hand out. “Truce?”
“Truce,” Heron replied, and shook his hand.
He stilled, then groaned with frustration as Dhaxanian frost encased his entire arm. “Seriously?”
“You are just a pleasure to pick on,” Nevis chuckled, then exhaled sharply. The ice cracked and shattered, and Heron got his arm back. Nevis then looked at me and offered a polite nod. “I shall see you both tomorrow. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
“That we do,” I replied, watching him leave.
Heron shook his head in amusement as he closed the door behind him. His gaze softened once it settled on my face. “Good grief, you’re beautiful.”
I shrugged. “Still the same vampire from a few hours ago.”
“Still so beautiful. And smart. And funny. Sorry, I’m being a sentimental blob right now, I know,” Heron said, then let out a long and heavy sigh.
“I really hope this isn’t about Nevis again,” I replied gently. “You really have nothing to worry about, where he’s concerned.”
“I know,” he said, smiling. “I heard everything. Mara hearing, remember?”
I frowned. “You heard everything? Heron Dorchadas, were you eavesdropping?”
“Can’t help it. I was coming up the stairs,” he replied with a shrug, then closed the distance between us and took me in his arms, covering my face with sweet, soft kisses. “You see a guy walk into your girl’s room, you have to hear what he has to say.”
“I was right, then.” I smiled, caressing his face. “You are incorrigible.”
“Of course,” he breathed, tightening his hold on me. “It’s why you love me.”
I sighed. “I do. I do. Can’t help it.”
We both laughed, then kissed and took advantage of the rest of the night. We had one hell of a mission ahead of us. There was no better use of our time, given the circumstances. I let myself go in his arms as we chased the stars, wrapped up in each other.
“I love you,” he whispered in my ear.
Fiona
I stayed behind in the dining room, by myself, poring over the maps and making sure we knew everything there was to know about the access points into Azure Heights. I drew several escape scenarios, too, in case our tunnel was compromised. I remembered enough about the city and its surroundings to work out potential exits from multiple levels.
My stomach churned, constricted with concerns about the mission. This was it. Our greatest challenge. The moment of truth, so to speak. Our chance to save ourselves and thousands of innocent creatures.
I put together about three pages’ worth of notes, specifically where terrain characteristics were concerned. With a fae on our detail, we could even look to the eastern side of the mountain, facing the ocean, for a potential exit route. It allowed us to go both up north and down south.
I took several deep breaths, trying to stay focused. My mind kept wandering back to Zane, and I struggled to worry about Azure Heights instead. I couldn’t help but scoff at myself. I’d rather stress over the mission than openly face the fact that I’m in love. I was nervous, actually, aware that the inevitable would happen—I’d be alone with Zane again, and we’d be unable to stay away from each other. It wasn’t this… dynamic between us that worried me, but rather the fear of losing it altogether. I feared that I’d end up falling even deeper for Zane, only to have us torn apart by the daemons and the Exiled Maras.
I didn’t even have the courage to say such words out loud.
And I was so absorbed in the maps before me that I didn’t even notice Zane standing in the doorway, watching me, until I looked up and nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Crap! You startled me,” I gasped.
Gah, he looks hot.
This was it. The moment I’d been sort of dreading. Standing in front of Zane, daemon prince, and working up the courage to tell him how I felt. Admitting my crush not only to him, but to myself, too. Embracing this weird yet sizzling conundrum we’d gotten ourselves into.
Zane gave me a faded half-smile, unable to take his red eyes off me.
“I didn’t mean to,” he muttered. “You seemed so focused on those maps, I didn’t want to interrupt you.”
I felt like prey, being stalked by the tall, gorgeous daemon with crimson-colored eyes, long black hair, and tanned skin stretching over ropes of muscle. We were clearly attracted to each other. I was concerned about the fact that what I was feeling for Zane had much more depth than I’d initially thought.
“It’s fine,” I replied, almost out of breath, and tried to resume my study of the maps.
I couldn’t. His eyes drilled holes through me, and it made it very difficult to concentrate. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to let him see he had that effect on me. But Zane was annoyingly observant. He stifled a smirk and casually moved around the table, pretending to read the maps as he got closer to me.
“What are you looking at, specifically?” he asked, his voice low and rough, making my skin tingle.
I’m in so much trouble.
“Alternative escape routes, in case something goes wrong,” I murmured, barely hearing myself.
My heart thundered in my chest and echoed in my ears. Zane was only a couple of feet away to my right, and I could feel the space between us compress, overloaded with our physical presence.
“Got any good ones?” he replied, giving me a playful wink.
He knew exactly what he was doing. It was written all over his face. He was enjoying this, and he was closing the distance between us on purpose. What are the odds that he can hear your rampant heartbeat right about now?
“A couple, yes. Both involve the eastern mountainside and the ocean,” I said, then moved a couple of inches back, hoping to regain some of my senses. It worked for about two seconds, before he nonchalantly came closer, pretending to check the maps again. “Plus, the north side is all rocks and wilderness. The south and the west are the worst options, given how they encompass all the levels of the city.”
“Mhm, I see,” he muttered, then removed another inch of the space between us.
Every cell in my body started to hum in his vicinity. My whole being vibrated, my blood rushed, and my core tightened with the anticipation of another kiss. I wasn’t nervous about kissing him again—I was worried about the extent of my need to feel his lips on mine. I wanted him, badly. And my heart cried out for him. That was the scary part.
And he seemed amused, which further fanned my flames and threatened to anger me. Was he a sadist, aware of his effect on me? Or was he just being playful, oblivious to his effect on me? Either way, I was suddenly annoyed that both scenarios were equally possible.
Hey, you fell for a daemon, Fi. This really shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“What’s wrong, little vampire?” he asked, a seductive grin slitting his face from ear to ear.
All of a sudden, I found myself wondering what his retractable fangs looked like. I’d never seen them before. I reached out to touch his lips, and he stilled. His reaction was surprising, to say the least. I was starting to think he was as nervous as I was about this. Curious to test that theory, I didn’t falter, and pressed my fingers against his upper lip. His red eyes twinkled as he realized what I wanted to see.
He kept his mouth open and revealed his fangs. I’d seen other daemons’ canines, of course, but Zane’s were… different. They measured about two inches in length, and they were elegantly curved. I pressed the pad of my index finger against the tip of his upper left fang and sucked in a breath. It was so sharp, it drew a droplet of blood.
Zane’s hand instantly shot up before I could withdraw mine and firmly gripped my wrist. He kissed the tip of my finger and licked the blood off. My entire body turned to liquid fire, and my breath got caught in my throat. I pulled my hand away and took a couple more steps back, but Zane didn’t back away. No, he came closer, unwilling to let any room come between us.
I tried to move again, just so I could maybe get half a minute to think about where this was going. It was unbelievably intense, and it both exhilarated and worried me. I’d never felt like this before.
&n
bsp; “Do I make you nervous?” he asked, his voice gruff and loaded with the kind of dark energy that could pull my threads and completely disintegrate me.
I’m in so much freakin’ trouble!
“I’m fine,” I replied, my faux stoicism drawing a chuckle out of him as he withdrew his fangs.
“There’s definitely something off here,” he said. “Something’s changed, because, last time I checked, you and I had already agreed that this…” He gestured between the both of us. “This is real, and it’s happening.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, so, about that. What exactly is this?” I replied, mimicking his gesture and pointing at the both of us.
He blinked several times, as if confused. “What do you mean?”
“I asked a simple question. What is this? It’s real, and it’s happening—yeah, I can feel it, duh. But what is it? Because I have no idea what you want from me.”
Zane took another step forward, and I had to tilt my head back to look him in the eyes. This was something I had to get used to, given the dramatic height difference. I shuddered, already yearning to feel his arms around me, his massive body close to mine…
“What do you want, Fiona?” he muttered, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“I’m not sure it matters much. I’m not from around here,” I replied, crossing my arms in one last attempt to maintain some sense of control over the direction in which the conversation was tumbling. “I would like to know what you want. You’re the one who kidnapped me in the first place. You’re the one who came back for me.”
“You came back for me, too,” he shot back, raising an eyebrow.
He was getting a little defensive. I may have struck a nerve there, but I didn’t give up.
“We don’t leave our allies behind, I told you,” I said, keeping my chin up.
He scoffed. “So we’re back at square one, now?”
“No. I want to know what you want from me. If tomorrow we succeed, and we get Lumi out and we bring GASP over here, what will happen to you and me? Is there an ‘us’? Or is this just a fling?” I replied, feeling my heart sink, ever so slowly, into my stomach. I mentally prepared myself for some kind of disappointment.