FORTY-SEVEN
Where are we going, demon?” Calliope asked him, having to raise her voice over the pounding waves.
Sian and his mate walked along the jade beach, the tumultuous night reflecting his mood. “It’s a surprise.” He was taking her to see a Pandemonian phenomenon that happened only during the full moon.
He could have traced them, but she didn’t seem to mind the blustery weather, and he needed the time to clear his head.
A week had passed since Rune and Josephine had first come to Graven, yet something was keeping Sian’s mate from surrendering to a life here with him.
She still talked with him into the morning hours, still loved exploring the realm, still responded to him just as passionately. But . . . he sensed her distance.
Earlier today, he’d found her on the terrace, gazing out over the sea with that analytical look in her eyes. She was working out some puzzle.
What? What? What? Their days were simple and undemanding. She woke. They ate. They pleasured each other. They explored. Not necessarily in that order. What possible conundrum could she have?
He couldn’t read her thoughts, couldn’t predict her moves. Her mind had always been a mystery, and she continued to hold him separate from her musings. He handled that as well as he had when he’d been sixteen.
In other words, she was making him crazed.
“Did you have visitors this morning?” she asked.
“I did.” Rune and Josephine had stopped by to bring word on Saetth. . . .
“My half brother was indeed in league with the Valkyrie,” Rune said. “The soothsayer must’ve predicted you’d make that vow if they sacrificed Calliope. They set her up, sending bounty hunters after her.”
So she’d been a virgin offering to appease the king of hell and keep the beast out of their lands.
Rune added, “Tomorrow night, Saetth’s hosting a gala—in Sylvan—to select a queen from a different fey realm, strengthening his alliances. Considering how emboldened he’s become, he must know you’ve vowed not to attack.”
Sian gritted his teeth. Something needed to be done, but he had effectively tied the Møriør’s hands. His allies were to meet the following week to discuss what their next move would be. “And what have you learned about Calliope?”
Rune shrugged. “We came up empty. Couldn’t find anything on her.”
Odd. “Should I send my generals?”
“I wouldn’t if I were you. Getting to know your mate is the fun part. Let it happen, brother.”
Sian was surprised a spy like Rune would advise against digging for more background. Matehood must be changing him. . . .
“It was nothing pressing,” Sian told Calliope.
“I see.” She frowned up at him. “Demon, have you slept in the past month?”
Not once. “I’ve been half asleep for far too long already.” He watched over her all night, wanting to be there when she had bad dreams. Plus he suffered his own waking nightmares that he would lose his mate again.
He’d survived before; he would not now. Why is she holding back from me?
Would this distance disappear once he claimed her?
In each of their encounters, he took her with his fingers, teaching her to relax and accept them, preparing her delicate fey body for his hulking demon one. She’d grown to crave penetration, especially when he tongued her at the same time.
Last night, he’d attempted three fingers inside her, but she’d climaxed too quickly. . . .
Why wouldn’t she ask him to claim her? That humming sensation down his spine continued, reminding him that time was running out.
Enamored females could overlook a lot of things. If he earned her love, could he keep it no matter his appearance?
“Are we almost there?” Lila asked Abyssian.
“Soon,” he answered absently, continuing on as if they were enjoying a tranquil evening stroll. The wind whipped his black hair over one lean cheek, his eyes flickering from that vivid green to onyx.
“Why is the weather like this, demon?” Tonight was the full moon, but the clouds were too dense to see it.
He didn’t answer, lost in thought. Today was their one-month anniversary, yet he’d barely spoken to her over dinner.
“You’ve been acting strange all week.” Since the day she’d spied on Rune and Josephine’s visit.
Though Lila had planned for Abyssian to claim her that night, he’d been agitated when he’d finally returned to her. He hadn’t improved much since.
She’d decided to wait for a sign, telling herself she’d know when the time was right. . . .
“Hey, big guy”—she bumped her hip against him—“I thought full moons were supposed to make werewolves get testy.”
No response. Okay, this was more than mere Abyssian moodiness.
She’d grown convinced that he was keeping something big from her as well, and his behavior tonight only reinforced her belief.
She’d gone a little nutty trying to suss out what, until she’d managed to let it go. For now.
Dragging her gaze from his stark face, she surveyed the storm-tossed sea. Off the shoreline, water spouts swirled atop the towering swells. Yellow lightning forked out, illuminating serpent scales. Thunder roared.
Mind-boggling.
Hell would never be orderly. Or meticulous. This realm was harder, wilder, crazier, and more brutal than Sylvan.
Yet for the first time in her life, Lila felt as if she’d found her true home here.
Not that she could ever ignore the problems in Sylvan. Why had her cousin never considered ending the slavery? Or her parents?
Though Lila needed to right these wrongs, she didn’t know how to start. How could she expect to figure out a solution for an entire fey kingdom when she couldn’t even untangle her own life?
She planned to ask Abyssian for his advice—once she’d disclosed all. One obstacle at a time.
He tightened his wing around her, buffering her from the gale. Turmoil rolled off him like those waves. She could relate.
I’m really falling for him.
Whenever he was in a good mood—and she could ignore her secrets for a time—they laughed and played. Each night when she drifted off to sleep within his wings, he would rasp Demonish endearments. Last night he’d told her, “I didn’t know my heart could beat this madly or grow this full.”
With her loneliness finally at bay, she’d never been happier. In fact, she couldn’t imagine a life without him.
She didn’t want to lie to him anymore. She wanted to protect him, to ease the worry on his brow. Yet she still hadn’t fitfo’d their relationship.
Other worries plagued her as well. The castle still gave her those dreams about Bambi, the same scene at the desolate cliff. But for the last three times, the fawn had expected her to follow it off the edge.
Each time, she’d balked. What would happen if she refused Graven a fourth?
The winds gusted even harder. Surf crashed, pelting Abyssian’s wings. Foam floated in the air. He seemed not to notice it.
“Abyssian, why are we walking instead of tracing?”
“Increases suspense.” And for my next trick . . .
What if he’d already discovered her real identity? Her gaze widened. One of his visitors this morning might have brought word about her!
She’d continued picking up on the demon’s stray thoughts, but what if she tried to listen? Closing her eyes, she concentrated. . . .
—CLAIM POSSESS MARK.—
Her eyes flashed open, and she yanked herself away. Whoa. His mind was a battle zone, his demonic instincts uprising. No wonder he was troubled.
She’d hoped he would be calm and controlled for the deed. But the longer she waited . . .
Maybe we should take this step before he gets worse?
He guided her off the beach toward the base of a mountain that meandered down almost to the sea. He escorted her into a darkened cave, releasing her inside.
She scanned the area. Faint light shone from an opening above. The wind and waves rocked the mountain. Spray hissed inside. “What is this place?” It looked like a regular cave to her.
He gazed up at the opening and waved a hand. Clouds dissipated, like stage curtains drawn back.
The full moon appeared. Light flared down into the cave, illuminating thousands of . . . diamonds. “Oh, my gods.” They studded the cavern ceiling like a starlit sky and twinkled from the walls. “This is the diamond volcano!” Abyssian had told her about it. Dormant now, this vent had once been a perfect storm for creating stones.
She raised her hand to one of the infinite streams of light. “Demon, this is amazing.” Abyssian was such a fierce warrior, yet he’d taken her to see this wonder.
She’d been looking for clarity and illumination about their relationship; diamondlight beams surrounded her.
Is this my sign?
He didn’t share her giddiness, still just as restless. He opened his mouth to speak. Closed it. Tried again: “Why are you holding back from me?”
Because there’s no solution! “What do you mean?” Specifically.
“You won’t surrender to me, to our life.” He swiped a palm over his weary face. “Why haven’t you asked me to claim you?”
“I’ve been nervous.” Not a lie.
He narrowed his eyes. “You spoke of an annulment. Perhaps you still think to walk away from this marriage?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re pulling away from me, and it’s making me insane! Tell me why.”
“Why?” She exhaled, feeling just as frustrated as he was. “Because I can’t figure out how to make our relationship work.”
“That is what you’ve been musing?” His lips parted, as if she’d struck him. “We are the conundrum? And your incisive mind can’t determine a solution for us to be together?”
“We have so many obstacles. The Møriør and Rune and our species.” He didn’t seem to be hearing her. “Abyssian, I need your help, your advice. I want to figure this out, but I can’t do it alone.”
He laid his palm over her nape. “You were thinking about leaving me, weren’t you?”
Her temper was peaking. “I don’t want to leave! But I can’t keep paying for my previous life. How are we going to work on the issues we have now if you can’t get over the past? You’ll never give me a fair chance.” His mind would immediately connect Kari’s betrayal to Lila’s desperate actions.
His hand tightened. “You’ve got my fucking heart in your clutches, and you planned to desert me?” He appeared more demonic than she’d ever seen him.
They were getting nowhere. What would happen if she asked him to claim her?
Sex was a variable, an unpredictable one. But if she expected heartache from every other avenue . . .
What in this hell did they have to lose? Maybe the claiming was a magical relationship cure-all.
Horns straightening, he demanded, “How did you think you could get away from me, little wife? All I’d ever needed to do was get you back to my realm. You’re trapped in hell with me forever—”
“Shut up, demon.”
Growl.
“And claim me.”
Groan . . .
Calliope gazed up at him, her ethereal face bathed in the moon’s glow and caressed by the diamondlight. She clamped his shoulders to pull him closer, standing on her toes to get to his mouth.
She kissed him hard, and Sian returned it. Their teeth clicked, their tongues twining.
Calliope wanted him! So why did this hollowness within him remain?
Because he’d been falling more and more for her, and she’d been looking for an out? He reached around her, gripping her ass, grinding against her. He needed closer to her, inside her.
What if she can’t figure out the conundrum?
Then he would be cursed with emptiness, his heart returning to cold, black stone forever.
He broke away from their kiss, chest twisting at her lovely face. Teal blue eyes, kiss-swollen lips. “You’re a godsdamned part of me, yet you would willingly leave me?” Just like in her past life.
While Sian had been dreaming of taking Kari back to hell—you will be mine, Kari . . . for all time—she’d been dreaming of another.
He’d thought of Calliope as his, but she hadn’t been. After tonight, she would be.
“I want you,” she murmured. “Now. Here.”
This was her invitation. But it wasn’t enough to soothe the desolation churning within him. He kissed her again, harder, savoring her breathy cries as their tongues tangled.
Make her understand. Between kisses, he said, “You don’t know what it’s like to yearn for ages without end. To see what you want so clearly—and be denied it. Violently denied it. Never again.” His claws sliced through her blouse. He stripped them of clothes. Fabric ripping.
As they traded hungry kisses, he conjured a fur to spread over the sandy floor of the cave and a small fire to warm her. Before she could change her mind, he broke from the kiss to lower her down.
This will happen. At the realization, he seethed; the dimension seethed. Winds picked up, battering the mountain all around them. Waves crashed, sending spray inside the cave.
His gaze roamed over her trembling body. Droplets of water misted her naked flesh, making it shimmer. Her breasts were swollen, her stiffened nipples begging for a suck. Can she feel the fire’s heat through those tips? Her hips subtly rocked.
He must be dreaming. If so, he would never wake.
Were ten millennia of his fantasies about to come true at last?