Page 164 of Infernal Secrets

“My mom once said that Kalthea allows souls to dream.”

I looked up at Zeke. “Dream?”

“Peaceful dreams. Like what you’d call heaven, I guess? Some kind of paradise or whatever makes them happy?”

The way he said it, it didn’t sound as terrible as I’d pictured. Sustaining an entire population while living a peaceful afterlife without pain? I couldn’t see a downside.

“So when you came here all those weeks ago, Kalthea took your wings, since you didn’t have souls or magic to offer?”

Ash nodded. “Our wings materialize through magic. That’s probably why. It didn’t take any of our other powers. We’ve tested them.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked up at Zeke.

“I got to meet you, so at least I got something good out of it.” His forced laugh made me frown. “Really. I’ll be okay with time. I don’t do well with loss.”

You and me both.

“Do y’all wear the same earrings?” I reached up, touching the small black disc in Zeke’s ear. I’d thought he wore plugs, not smooth discs lying flush against his earlobes.

“Ash has discs like me. Ezra’s are smaller black studs. Cyn wears small gauges, so it doesn’t look too different.”

I leaned in to study the charcoal-gray swirl etched into the disc.

Zeke cleared his throat, the sound raspy and close.

I turned my head to find our lips mere inches from touching.

“Rae,” he whispered, his breath ghosting my face. His gaze lowered to my lips, and I licked them before I could think better of it.

The air thickened with the sweet scent of honey and vanilla as his fingers flexed against my side.

“Is she awake yet?”

Zeke jerked at Cyn’s voice and toppled off the bed with a hard thud.

I looked down, shame flooding me, my cheeks burning. I felt like a kid caught with my hand in the cookie jar.

Cyn had no qualms about messing around when he cared for Zeke. Zeke clearly felt differently.

When I said I wouldn’t interfere, I meant it, but I couldn’t ignore the pull toward him. I thought he felt it too, but his reaction told me he wouldn’t give in, and I hated myself for wishing he would.

Ash reached out and pulled me onto his lap, cradling my head against his chest. “Don’t worry about it,” he whispered.

I didn’t understand why it didn’t bother him to see us almost kiss.

Cyn strode into the room when I looked up. His vibrant amber stare dragged down my body. As if satisfied with what he saw, he said, “Where’s Zeke?”

Zeke put a hand on the bed, pulling himself to his feet.

“What the hell are you doing down there?”

“I fell.”

Cyn walked over to him and pushed his disheveled hair back, smirking. “How did you fall?” A gentle smile played on his lips, a stark contrast to the hardness etched into the rest of his face.

Zeke shrugged. “Being stupid.”

“Stop calling yourself that,” Cyn said. “Come on. I’m ready for bed.” He glanced back at me when he reached the door. “Dinner’s in the fridge.”