Page 175 of Commanding Flame and Shield
I pursed my lips, not liking the idea of splitting ways one bit. But I nodded. Alvara would know—would have looked for the best option before bothering me with it. She gave a pained smile and then nodded back before disappearing onto the field.
EIGHTY
LAKE HOUSE
ALVARA
Freya, and a handful of warriors from other covens, were to accompany us to August’s lake house, as it was already guarded by wardings. It felt nearly treasonous to leave the twenty healing souls with so little protection. Especially with Ansel among them. Had it not been the dead of winter, we all would’ve camped outside the cramped little cabin.
Marcus made his way over to us. His brothers flanked both sides, guards still high as they surveyed the meadow. He inclined his head in a respectful bow to Aren, who mirrored the motion.
“Grateful you’re in one piece,” August clasped Jason’s shoulder, earning a wry smile.
“Glad you kept your sister from slicing my head off.”
August chuckled, and my curiosity peaked. I laughed when I saw the memory, beyond grateful my mate had recognized those cerulean eyes.
“Will Ansel—” Marcus nearly choked on the words, and Aren finished for him.
“Heal? Yes. Praying it continues to go that way.”
“What now?” Damien, arm still slung around Alec’s shoulders, turned to August, then Aren. It was Aren who spoke.
“Find a way back to Middle Realm. I’ll walk the damned white desert if I have to. But we need a way in.”
“Westerlund is at your disposal, Commander. And we have room for more survivors. Call us should you need it.”
“Thank you,” we spoke as one unit, and Marcus flashed that grin I’d come to love. He inclined his head in a bow, and the brothers vanished. Saraya's soldiers and the mortals between them, followed only a heartbeat behind.
Dividing our forces felt so counterintuitive. But half a dozen large pods seemed the best option under the circumstances. Smaller groups would leave us too vulnerable until we could learn how Adrastos had broken our connection to Grayshell. Until we found our way back, and could ascertain what demon they had been serving, and how many more like them were waiting to strike.
Struggling to keep my eyes open, we begrudgingly formed our tight circle, joined hands, and made our way to the lake house. The moment we were satisfied we were not about to be attacked, we made up beds consisting entirely of blankets, too small for the soldiers’ long frames. August’s hand hadn’t left mine since we landed, and he guided me to the kitchen, where he’d sent someone to prepare hot toddies. It felt as though I could truly inhale for the first time in many hours, and I took a moment just to breathe in his scent and listen to the steady thump of his heart. One gentle smile later, he led me to the small bedroom in the back of the cabin.
The floor was the same warm hardwood that stretched through the kitchen. Three walls were painted a mellow grey, trimmed in white, with one emerald-green accent wall across from us, a bold geometric design of wood trim mounted against it. An industrial looking platform bed took up the center, constructed of rustic dark wood and metal. It was a humble but tasteful master suite, luxurious but not extravagant, or over furnished. I smiled at the humility he’d shown even in one of his most successful lives. From what I’d seen of the visions, the soul we called August remained humble, even as a Petty King.
Wordlessly, he led me to the white barn door to the side of the bed, gently pushed it open, and flicked on the light to reveal a small, but stunning bathroom. Black granite counters, and a matching slab glittered across the floor, which stretched into a meticulously organized closet. Great glass and metal doors framed a shower built of the same stone. The copper claw foot tub was also quite alluring, despite the depth of my exhaustion.
He kissed my fingers before releasing them, my hand immediately aware of the absence. August pulled out two deep green towels, and turned on the shower, which had a glorious array of modern jets spraying water from all heights on the wall, a skinny shower head that could be removed, and a lovely rain fixture on the ceiling.
August turned to look at me, and his expression was clearly satisfied with my reaction as the corner of his beautiful lips quirked upwards.
“We have two tankless heaters—more than necessary, if I’m honest. So even if the others wash up, you’ll have hot water if you want it. I’ll give you some privacy.” He bowed his head and turned to leave. I snatched his free hand and gave it a gentle tug. There was no way in hell I was letting him walk away. Not after everything we'd survived.
Eyes locked on mine, he pulled me against his body, wrapping our tangled hands behind him to guide me closer. His lips were gentle as he kissed me, soft, heated and yielding. His warm scent filled my mouth, nearly making my knees buckle. August smiled against me, feeling the weight I leaned into him.
My fingers found the hem of his shirt, and he raised his arms so I could peel it off him. So, so carefully, August stripped the hoodie from my body, his movements minutely aware of each healing injury. He kissed the healing wound on my shoulder, and gingerly fingered the line of my bra. I loosed a breath and shrugged off one of the straps.
August chuckled when I tossed it aside, and then pressed his body against mine, pushing me towards the glass wall. His warm skin, crushed against my breasts, felt akin to breathing air after drowning, filling my desperate body with tingling heat. The glass was still chilled, and I felt my breath catch as it pressed against my backside. In a quick movement, he dropped the underwear down my legs, and then leisurely traced a soft pattern up the backs of them, around the outside of my hips and waist. I rested my head against the shower door as the tickle worked up my body. He pressed his lips against my neck, my jaw, my lips, and suddenly he had both my wrists pinned above my head, the air escaping my lungs as my heart galloped. I didn’t even mind the painful tug on the wound on my chest.
Bucking my hips, I could feel the hard length of him through the damn layer of pants between us. That heat, that intoxicating, addicting warmth swelled in my core, twisting and tightening. I raised my head as he kissed down my jawline, gulping in as much of the now steamy air as my lungs could manage. Telekinetically, I pulled on the belt around his waist. When his lips reached my ear, he chuckled again, and nipped at the lobe with his teeth.
“Not yet,” he growled darkly, and a shudder ran down my body. He released my hands, and stepped back. As he loosed his belt, his eyes scraped over my body from head to toe. He dropped his hold, and I took in the full length of him, my mouth going dry.
Chest heaving, August blew a controlled breath out, and opened the shower door for me. His eyes again worked their way down the length of my body, bringing a wave of heat to my cheeks as my mind and body contested for control.
“Fuck, Ally,” his voice nearly rumbled. Guttural, and teeming with want, he rasped, "You’re so damn beautiful.”
“Come here,” I panted, stepping inside without hesitation. As he followed me into the shower, his fingers traced up the length of my spine, and I pulled my hair around my right shoulder, turning my gaze to the left to see his face as heat licked up my flesh. August studied my back, and his rough fingers gingerly traced the patchwork of scars across my skin. With a soft click, the shower door sealed, and in turn, August closed the small gap between us, pulling me into him.
