Page 59 of Whispers of Ruin
It seemed a little cold, but Ryker was in a hurry to close the portal again. No one liked the idea of leaving one open with so many monstrous things in this land, and the amsirah were used to returning their dead in such a way.
Too many have died in this land.
Unwillingly, her gaze traveled to where Brokk had assembled his small shelter near the river. He was a little further away from the others but well within the barrier of the protection spell they’d cast earlier.
Still, she didn’t like him being by himself, even if he wasn’t far from the other immortals. Her fingers dug into her palms as the crackling fire created shadows within the trees swallowed by the night.
On one side, they had the river, and on the other three sides, the jungle pressed against them. She felt the weight of it bearing down on her chest, and though it was unusually hushed, she felt the hunger of those beyond the protective veil while they watched and waited.
Kaylia tugged at the collar of her shirt. She had no idea what was out there, but there was something, she was sure of it. They had their bubble to keep them safe, but instead, she felt suffocated and trapped.
Behind her, Ryker’s men spoke in hushed whispers while roasting one of the beasts that attacked them over the fire. The smell of cooking meat turned her stomach.
Normally, even if she didn’t eat meat, she didn’t mind its scent, buteverythingfelt wrong tonight. Probably because the events of this day, the casting of spells, and her work on the barrier had left her drained.
The witches didn’t have to stand guard at night; they spent that time resting and rejuvenating after expelling so much energy, creating the veil at night, and casting spells. She was glad for this as she required time to recuperate, but she was used to being worn down after expending too much energy.
That wasn’t why something felt off. She didn’t feel right in her own skin anymore because she craved something she shouldn’t have.
Despite the awful events, all she wanted was to get up and disappear into Brokk’s tent so she could forget all about this day and thishideousplace. However, that couldn’t be, and not because everyone would see her, but because she had no ideawhatthis was orwhyshe wanted him so badly.
There could never be anything serious between them. She could never give her heart away again, and Brokk was part dark fae, so serious wasn’t something he did, but she thought about him too much for this to feel like a casual, already-ended fling.
She’d had plenty of casual in her life before Fabian. As a young witch, free from the bonds of a relationship, she’d thoroughly enjoyed exploring her sexuality and had bedded a dark fae or two.
There wasnoway she wasn’t going to explore the most sexual beings in all the realms. But while she’d enjoyed her time with them and many other men, none of them had caused her body to react the way Brokk’s did.
Witches didn’t have fated mates; if they did, hers would have been Fabian, but she couldn’t deny the explosive chemistry between her and Brokk, even as she denied herself the pleasure of it.
He was the sun, and she was Icarus flying too close as the wonder of him called to her. And like Icarus, she could end up burnt and ruined, and she would be the one to do it to herself.
As if he knew she was thinking of him, he emerged from beneath the canvas he’d draped over the low-hanging limb of a tree. Her stomach did a little flip as the fire danced across the handsome planes of his face, turned his hair a paler shade of blond, and emphasized the striking beauty of his aqua eyes.
CHAPTERFIFTY-SIX
A tingle ranthrough her as the earth pulsed with more energy beneath her knees. It could be the water and the power of this valley calling to her so strongly, or at least that’s what she tried to tell herself, but she knew it washim.
For some reason, Brokk affected her in this strange, beautiful, yet overwhelming way. She relished it as much as she hated it.
When guilt rose to replace her desire, she lowered her gaze to her hands. Hecate, shehatedthis new constant companion, but she didn’t know how to come to terms with her feelings for Brokk and her love of Fabian.
Rising, she glanced at the trees as she contemplated walking into the jungle so she could be alone for a bit, but in this place, not having allies equated to certain death. No matter how badly she craved solitude, she preferred having a life to not having one.
Kaylia bent to retrieve her tunic from the ground. She’d found a secluded spot under a tree to wash herself, but while she hadn’t gotten completely naked, she had removed her tunic. She pulled it over her head and tugged it into place as she walked back toward the camp.
When she emerged from the trees, Brokk’s eyes latched onto her, and red flashed through them as they ran ravenously over her. Kaylia sucked in a breath as his gaze caused her skin to prickle everywhere it touched.
If she could move her feet, she’d run to him, throw her arms around his neck, and quite possibly fuck him in front of everyone, but the heat of his gaze kept her legs locked in place as excitement thrummed through her.
Their eyes briefly met again before he shifted his attention away. With the connection broken, Kaylia’s shoulders sagged as she gasped in a few panting breaths. No one had ever made her body come alive with just one look before, and she didn’t know how to react to theyearninghis gaze created within her.
* * *
Kaylia tossedand turned back and forth on top of the small blanket she’d used to cover the earth. Despite every intention to keep them buried, memories from her night with Brokk refused to remain deep in the hole she’d dug for them.
They intruded on her thoughts, caused her heart to hammer, and made it impossible to sleep. Flopping onto her back, she stared at the tree limb overhead as her heart thudded against her ribs.
Magic vibrated through every part of her. It seeped up from the ground and coiled its way inside her as she tried to ignore the lust pulsing through her.
