I groan under my breath. I bloody hate my power. Hate the way it hijacks my thinking to get what it wants. Steals my concentration almost the same as Thane can jump in and out of Pax’s life. Only I don’t have another being to blame, I just have myself.
The front door slams open, and a heavy desire to find and secure Shade fills the periphery of my magic. The ward on the house, the one that should have let me and only me enter or leave, has worn off far earlier than it should have, but before I can get to my feet, my power brushes against the distinct tang of Darkness.
“Killian?” I call.
But I know it’s him, and he’s already taking the stairs two at a time. Storming toward me.
I slip from under the covers, my fingers trailing over her warm skin. Her breath shudders, and she lets out a low moan that doesn’t quite leave her throat, but still somehow manages to pool tension into my chest.
My hands go up in defense – or maybe surrender. I am wearing nothing but my braies, and Shade’s lingering pain is obvious.
Aeons, this is going to hurt.
Killian slams into the room and smashes straight into me, connecting his fist with the corner of my jaw. I hit the ground, and his desire to break something slams down on top of me. The man’s dark hair has grown since we left the castle, long enough for the rain to have made it sit heavy and stick to his forehead and neck. And Killian is a big guy, mountain-crushing big, so he has pretty much dragged half the storm in here with him.
He grabs me by my hair and yanks me to my feet while his other hand draws his dagger, the sharp sound punctuating his anger.
“Wait,” I gasp, using all my strength to buy me some time. “Let me explain.”
He freezes, locked in place, growling, “Your Allure won’t hold me for long.”
“Just long enough to save my hair. Take a moment, brother. You can feel she’s alive. If I had done something…” I swallow hard, forcing the last words out. “… Then she wouldn’t be.”
Done something, like let my Allure relax enough to paint both our desires in bold colors around the room. I know how the steps to that dance go – my power wants, I enjoy, and enjoy, and enjoy, all the while absorbing the energy being created between us. Only a powerful Saber can take as much as they give, and if I’m the most powerful Saber in the room, then I steal the dragon's share. But I never see it happening, so wound up in the moment that I just know passion and lust. The touch, the kiss, the rush of body-against-body.
Until it’s over.
And there’s no turning back.
I know what Killian’s thinking, how easily the thin line between me and Kitten could have been blown aside like a single strand of cotton and a small huff of breath. Nudged just that little bit, right into the lick of a candle too close to something so delicate to begin with.
And how impossible it is that a candle burning hot like my power does inside me could somehow manage to lie naked and wrapped around pure silk and not leave a single singed strand.
Too impossible to be true. Sure – her heart is still beating, but what damage have I caused?
First thing, deal with the man holding me hostage, then find a way to fix the mess I’ve made.
Seth reaches the top of the stairs, his hair and clothes as wet as Killian’s. He looks around for a moment in dumb shock.
“What did I miss?” he asks, his usual light and playful tone heavy with worry.
“Everything, little brother, everything,” I say, but I don’t try to face him. I can’t, because I’m hanging awkwardly in Killian’s grip.
“Why?” Killian asks.
“Eydis is dead. We dealt with the Sabers sent to kill her –” I begin.
“Skip to explaining your clothes,” he growls.
“It was raining.”
“But why are you naked? You’ve got other clothes,” Seth says, moving tentatively toward the bed like he’s worried what he might find.
“I’m not naked – I’m in my braies – and I couldn’t get into the bed soaking wet. I’d have never warmed her up like that.”
“Is she naked?” Killian growls.
“Mostly, yes… Ah, completely – actually.”
Killian breaks through my Allure, lets go of my hair, then thumps me in the face. His knuckles crush into my nose, splattering my blood over his fist. I hit the wall on the other side of the room and slide to the ground pinching my nose while my healing kicks in.
He advances on me, but Kitten’s groan stops him short.
“Leave him alone,” she says weak and pained.
Twelve Paces
I stir when Roarke moves but don’t really wake up until I hear Seth’s voice. My Chaos. The guy who can’t resist climbing trees or playing a practical joke. “But why are you naked? You’ve got other clothes.”
“I’m not naked – I’m in my braies – and I couldn’t get into the bed soaking wet. I’d have never warmed her up like that.” Roarke’s voice. My sweet Roarke. I don’t remember much since the mage and the rain – but I do remember being in his arms.
“Is she naked?”
That’s Killian’s voice – big and gravelly. My whole body relaxes – safe in his presence. I’m always safe, and yet strangely in danger, when I’m with Killian.
My thoughts don’t get far – consciousness already fading away again.
A solid, bed-shuddering thump startles me awake again – followed by Roarke groaning.
I roll over, struggling against the daylight and the disorientation. Seth’s standing beside me, his arms crossed over his
