Page 21 of Heir of Broken Souls

His lips brush along the shell of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “That, my angel, is a wonderful question, one of which I have a thousand answers to, but you could start by kissing me.”

I begin counting to ten for another reason entirely. My mind may know that he’s distracting me from a discussion we desperately need to have, but my body is happy with the direction he’s trying to pull me in. All it feels is the warmth of his skin against mine. The thin layer of silk separating us. The deep husky drawl of his voice. My body wants Knox and I’ve never been very good at denying it from him.

I lift my face tentatively, finding all-consuming heat in his eyes that drop to my parted lips. “On one condition.”

His tongue peeks out, sliding along his lower lip. “And what is your condition?”

“No more secrets, please.”

“So long as you put your life before mine.”

My heart plummets. “I willnever, so long as I breathe,everput myself before your life. Don’t ask me such a ridiculous thing again.”

I turn away, stepping out of his embrace, burning with anger that he would ask such a thing, but he grabs my wrist and pulls, spinning me into his warm chest again. As soon as I am in his arms, his lips are smashing against mine.

Knox kisses me with such fierce abandon and passion I can’t help but moan into his touch. My lips part for him as we pour all of our frustrations from the passing weeks of danger into the kiss.

Because it’s Knox, and no matter how infuriating he is, I would put up with anything to be with him. Even if he makes plans with Aurora behind my back to whisk me away at the first sign of danger.

Because I have a plan of my own if things go south.

One that involves Zephlyn.

Chapter7

Delilah

The sound of dragons pumping their leathery wings fills the sky like a war drum.

A shadow crests me, blocking the rays of sunshine that have been pummeling me for the entirety of the journey, as a beautiful black- and gold-scaled dragon passes above.

The first time I laid eyes on a dragon my heart filled with an array of emotions. Awe at their beauty, fear at their size, and wonder at their existence. The moment made me cry for my beloved friend, Easton, who wanted more than anything for the once-thought mythological creatures to be real.

Now I see them for what they truly are.

Weapons of mass destruction.

Especially those who have lost mates, loved ones, and riders. The dragons and griffins will not rest until they wrap their razor-sharp teeth around the necks of each and every demonic creature sent to these lands.

Sinking my hands into Aurora’s thick raven fur, Knox’s words from this morning before we took flight ring through my mind. The plan his court and I came up with on how to destroy a piece of my childhood. The diversion we want the dark lord to believe is our focus. I keep my thoughts on that as the Deyanira Mountains rise on the horizon—and the bellows of pain, strikes of steel, and screams of slaughter.

The front lines on the border.

The battle that has been waging for weeks.

The enemies that, no matter how many times we spill their blood, are summoned back to these lands with a vengeance.

Do not look down,I chant, forcing myself to not face the horrifying destruction that is wreaking havoc upon the border. The destruction we will do everything in our power to keep out of our lands.

The soothing touch of Knox’s fiery shadows that are trailing down the bridge between our minds tries to calm the hatred burning within my heart and soul. But this is not the time to let my fire die.

Without taking his focus away from scanning the skies, Knox’s silencing shield stays intact around our legion, our enemies unaware of what’s soaring right above their heads.

That certainly won’t be the case for long.

Our legion comprises of Knox leading at the front, three dragons and two griffins—not including Aurora and Zephlyn—and Lenox flanking our back, being our eyes and ears of protection. No one else seems to share my fear, only the unending rage.

Once the fight fades, I peer below once more, but the sight of the blood-red Mason River has my stomach hollowing out. Forcing myself to breathe deeply in through my nose and out through my mouth, it’s a miracle we leave it behind us without me losing the contents of my breakfast.