Page 173

She licked lips that taunted me with their fullness.

They always taunted me, asking without words for more than I could give.

For my kiss. My bite. My whispered words against them. Words I’d never say. Words I couldn’t say.

No.

My world and her world would never align. But I could honor Fate’s decision by watching over her while my brothers provided for her needs.

I banished the dark thoughts stirred by my decision, angering my shadows and making it difficult to keep them from touching her again. I bent and brushed my lips across her ear once more.

“Ezra,” she whispered.

“Find Ash and stay with him. He’ll protect you from me.”

““What? No—”

“Go. Now.”

She tensed and pushed off the wall, leaving me standing in the dimly lit shadows, my own darkness writhing around me, dissatisfied and hungry.

I would always protect her, even from myself.

45

POLITICS

RAE

The sound of chittering and something akin to a hyena’s cackle stirred me from the edge of a nap. I’d decided to sit outside by the pool because hanging around the house waiting for Cornaith to summon me for whatever twisted tests he wanted to perform was driving me stir-crazy.

Two small creatures that looked like oversized chinchillas darted from the trees into the yard, their enormous ears twitching above mouselike hands and feet. Flecks of glowing yellow shot through their dark-brown eyes, which blinked out of sync. They chittered and cackled as they bounded across the yard like some weird cross between a bunny and a skipping monkey, their long, gray-and-black-speckled fur stirring in the breeze.

Before I could settle back on the lounger, the phone next to me started vibrating against the glass patio table.

“Hello?”

Kavina’s upbeat voice came over the line. “Hi! Now a good time?”

I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the lounger. “No, you’re fine. What’s up?”

“I wanted to see if you wanted to go into the city with me. Jax’s birthday is coming up, and I want to get him something, but I want a second opinion. And before you say to bring his brother, hard pass.”

I frowned. “Ah… about that…”

“What’s wrong?”

Sighing, I told her how Cornaith had insisted I remain on the palace grounds or around the house after what happened with our kidnapping. I wouldn’t tell her they questioned whether I was really a Shyrlivi or if I were a danger to others. I didn’t want her to worry.

“I’m sure it’d be fine if you’re with me.”

“How you figure?”

“I’m part of the guard. It’ll be like having your own personal bodyguard. Well, one that isn’t led around by the directional stick between his legs.”

“Directional stick,” I deadpanned, grabbing the bottle of water off the table.

“Yeah. From the way I hear it, male Nyriths are strongly influenced by what their dick wants.”