Page 17

I kneel beside the bed so that I don’t get any of the grime on her nice sheets. All the blankets are kicked down and her creamy smooth skin ripples in little bumps without my arms around her. I grit my teeth as the impulse to rip off my clothes and dive back in rocks through me. The best I can do is carefully free the blankets from her long legs and drag them up to her chest.

Jinx is sleeping on Tor’s pillow, her fluffy body like a crown upon her head. I scratch behind Jinx’s ears and she barely twitches. I frown as I stroke down the fluff. She’s flat again, no bones found at all. She was like that last night, too. I found her lying before the basement door. “Resting” was what she told me she was doing.

A blue cat eye peeks at me, and the chest expands under my hand until ribs and a spine form. Jinx tilts her chin when I scratch her favorite spot under it.

Then I drag my hand away to stroke Tor’s soft face, following the curve of the heart shape. I’m so damn pathetic for this wild creature. I could kneel here waiting for her to wake for hours. But I won’t have time to stop by my apartment if I wait too long.

“Tor,” I whisper, my thumb catching her lip. “I’m heading out.”

Her dark lashes flutter, the softness of her expression leaving when she scrunches adorably in a frown. Her green eyes meeting mine has a smile spreading across my face, and I wait while she stretches. What I wouldn’t give to slip my arm under her arching back and bury my face in her perfect chest.

Her voice rasps with sleep. “Where are you going?”

“To gather intel about the Guild, but first, I’m stopping by my place. I haven’t been back there in weeks. I need to make sure the rent is paid up and grab some fresh clothes while I’m at it.”

“You have clothes here.”

Her fingers wrap around my hand, and my heart aches. “They’re all dirty, unless this is you trying to convince me to do your laundry?”

“Even I’m not that cruel.”

I turn her hand in mine to inspect her palms. No blister in sight. “You’ve healed up nicely.” I run my thumb over the smooth skin.

“Huh. That was fast.” She inspects them, and my smile softens as I wait for her to finish chatting with Jinx. There was a time when I swore I’d never get used to it, but now it’s as easy as breathing. Tor nods and shifts her feet. “I’m an Heir now. My magic is different. Faster healing is part of it.”

Jinx stretches, too, and her deadly claws unfurl from her toes to glint menacingly in the light. She rolls on her back and Tor lifts her arms to wrap around her familiar. The sheets ride low to expose her nipples that are begging to be licked.

I suck in my lower lip and bite. I have time.

I lean forward and press a kiss along the soft side, my hand sliding up to cup the other.

A spitting hiss has me recoiling. Jinx glares at me with a low grumbling growl. I snatch back my hand before I shit myself.

Tor snorts and scratches Jinx. “Go downstairs if you don’t want to watch.”

Jinx doesn’t break her menacing glare from her comfortable spot, and I hold up my hands in defeat. I fold my arms and lean on my elbows. “I’ll be back to help you clean up downstairs.”

I’m fine with cleaning up solo. Especially if it means Tor stays in bed all day and rests. Maybe I can join her once I’m done and we can pick up where we left off.

“Do you want me to bring you back a treat from Café Francesca?”

Tor muffles a yawn. “I thought you meet with Nora on Thursdays?”

“It is Thursday.” I smirk when she blinks rapidly.

“Shit, I guess you’re right. Then yes. You better bring me back a treat, or I’m changing the locks.”

I ease back on my heels, but Tor’s picking at the sheets draws me back into my kneel, my elbows on the bed again. “What is it?”

She swallows, her gaze dropping. “I need to make a little trip to Monument Park.”

I pause, unable to believe she’s come around so quickly. “Visiting Valen?”

She startles. “What?”

“The transportation circle is the perfect way for you to slip over the border undetected. The public platform there connects to the Preservation Domain.”

Her jaw drops, and I smirk. She’s so cute when she thinks she can outsmart me. Her jaw snaps closed and she glares. “Do you want to fight?”