Flickering Shadows

Chapter 21

I hadn't realized another tear had fallen until Aziel's finger brushes it away.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, love," he says. "You will never go back there. I promise you."

I shift so that I can see his face, making sure that our eyes connect as I say, "I'm not scared of them anymore. I know that you'll protect me."

A smile lifts his lips, and my eyes drift down, watching them tilt. I look for too long, and when I glance up, his eyes are heatedly staring back.

Goosebumps raise my flesh as he stares at me. He looks transfixed, and it does something to my insides.

I swallow, and his molten gaze tracks the movement.

"I would very much like to kiss you right now," he whispers.

Excitement stirs my gut in circles.

"Well," I start, breathless. "You are taking entirely too long to decide if you're going to act on that desire."

His smirk is the last thing I see before his lips are on mine.

Fireworks pop across my mouth, and it feels like nothing I've ever experienced before.

His lips fit against mine perfectly, and kissing him feels like coming home.

He pulls back, breathless as he rests his forehead on mine, and I don't think I'll ever get rid of the smile that's on my face.

"That was the greatest thing I've ever done in my life," I say, just as breathless.

He chuckles. "That's just the beginning."

Anticipation roars to life inside me, clawing with the need for more, more, more.

I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck.

"Why don't you show me the rest of the story?" I ask, a mischievous lilt to my voice.

I've never been so forward, but it feels good.

His eyes darken, his wolf clearly warring with him.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

I remember when I first came here. The horror that had captured my attention as he said we would share this room. I remember the terror that took root at the implication of pleasing him.

I don't feel that same fear now, but some hesitation is still there at my inexperience.

"I'm not sure how," I mutter. "But I'd like to try."

He rubs his nose up my jawline and I shiver.

"All you have to do is tell me what feels good," he murmurs against my skin. "And as soon as something doesn't feel good, we stop."

My breath catches as he kisses up my neck. "That sounds easy enough."

Something close to a purr rumbles in his chest before he says, "Good."

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

The blush staining my cheeks isn't going anywhere. Trust me, I've tried. Nothing can wipe what Aziel and I just did from my head. It plays on a constant loop through my mind as I go in search of Kiana.

After (events that shall not be named for the sake of turning my cheeks back to normal) Aziel told me about everything that happened while I was out of it, including bringing Kiana back. I basically jumped out of bed at the mention that she was here.

The one thing that kept me sane in the Sun kingdom was Kiana. The fact that I left her there was a devastation that pulled on my heart daily, but now she's here, and I can feel the excitement at seeing her again building.

Giddiness makes walking at a normal pace nearly impossible, but I only just manage as I walk through the dining room.

Something tells me that she'll be in here, especially given our limited resources back in the Sun kingdom. We were offered scraps, but Kiana always managed to sneak more.

Zara pulls open the kitchen door right as I go to push it open, and a panicked expression lights on her face.

"Inara," she says, quickly shutting the door behind her.

All of my excitement dies on the spot at the look on her face, and fear settles in my stomach.

"What?" I ask, fidgety. "What happened?"

She laughs suddenly, and the mood change gives me whiplash. "Nothing happened!" She guides me away from the door. "I'm just so surprised to see you here!"

Confusion twists my features, but I clear it away. "Do you know where Kiana is?"

She practically pushes me away from the kitchen as she yells. "Yes! Kiana was here a minute ago, but she just left!"

I touch my ears lightly, cringing. "Why are you yelling?"

She looks around the back door before turning back to me, smiling widely. "Ok, you can go find her now."

A smile raises on my lips despite the confusion of the moment, and I cross my arms. "What is going on right now?"

Her eyes blink twice before she waves me off. "Nothing. Everything is normal."

I nod my head in a skeptical sort of slant. "Uh huh."

"Inara!"

I don't even have time to turn around before a body is barreling into mine, and I laugh like a crazy person when I realize who it is.

Kiana pulls back to look me in the eyes as she says, "You have no idea how much I missed you."

I put my hands on my hips. "Definitely less than I missed you."

She squeals, and the sound is a welcome relief.

"We have so much to talk about!" She wraps an arm around my shoulders, leaning in to whisper, "Starting with why your cheeks look like twin roses."

Oh great.

An obnoxious gasp sounds, and we turn around to find Zara's stunned face. "Did you finally have s-"

I rush to cover her mouth, giggling when she pouts.

"I will tell you everything if you promise to be quiet!" I whisper yell.

They both smile.

"Do we get details?" Kiana asks.

I shove her away. "Don't be gross."

But I'm laughing, and so is she, and it finally feels like the world is right again.