bChapter /bb156 /b

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“So, things with your father are going well?”

My finger trails along the dip of Cassian Draven’s chest as a stupid smile remains stamped across my face.

Honestly, I don’t know what this is, and I’m not even sure I want to find out.

“It feels strange hearing you refer to him as my father.”

“Should I call him His Divine Excellency, or…?”

“Or…?”

“Better we save that conversation for another time.” He catches a lock of my hair and ys with it between his fingers before bringing it to his

nose. “What I like most is that you haven’t lost the scent I perceived on you before.”

“Would it have been that bad?”

“Catastrophic.” My fingers continue wandering freely over his ivory skin. I trace the edge of his nose, surprised that a man can be this perfect, then glide downward, brushing his lower lip. “And you taste better than you smell.”

He pretends to bite the tip of my finger, but I pull my hand back before he reaches it.

Thank you, newly acquired reflexes.

His yfulugh makes the hair on my entire body stand on end–especially my nipples. He notices, and his blue eyes take on the tone of a

raging sea.

“Tell me more about the lessons Atarothz is giving you before I spread your legs and fuck you.”

If my body wasn’t already aroused, his words ignite a ball of fire in my abdomen. I swallow and sit up, supporting my weight on one arm as I

look at him with a flirtatious smile.

“Maybe that’s exactly what I want.”

“ra…”

I snort as I let myself fall back down, resting my face against his chest. Cassian is proving–if there was still any doubt–that his self–control is unshakable. It’s been days since he fed on me and gave me an orgasm so intense my legs still tremble if I think about him too much. As he promised, our encounters have been limited to caresses–very pleasurable ones–and kisses where our tongues and teeth fight for dominance. However, I haven’t yet felt the full weight of his body over mine. It’s ironic how intensely I now crave that, when a few months ago the thought of even breathing near him made my stomach churn. Thankfully, the time we spend apart keeps getting shorter, I never thought the day woulde when I’d want to run to him instead of away from him.

“All right, fine,” I say with a smile on my lips. “Everything’s going great. Little by little, he’s teaching me how to summon my own power. At least I won’t be a danger, ripping out souls without control.”

“Every time you did something like that, you were in danger. I wouldn’t call that losing control.”

“I don’t want to have to be in danger to defend myself.”

His eyesb, /bonce full of desire, soften with the closest thing to tenderness a man like him can ishow/i. “When theye for me, I’ll be ready.”

“I know.”

He lets go of the strand of hair he’d held to his nose, and with infinite delicacy–the kind that disarms me every time I catch a glimpse of it- he strokes my cheek, tracing up along my cheekbone before disappearing behind my ear. He tucks the hair behind it and clears my face sa he can look at me without hesitation. For several minutes, neither of us speaks. It’s not necessary. I think we both share a feeling we’re too afraid to say out loud. Maybe if we don’t, it’ll be less real.

“I should go. Atarothz will show up soon to continue the lessons.”

“I’ll see you again when you sleep.” He winks and presses a kiss to my lips that, if it weren’t for him, I surely would’ve deepened into something passionate. “Good morning, little wildcat.”

I close my eyes with the certainty that when I open them again, I’ll be back in my bed, alone. I’ve learned how to leave this little space we share whenever I want. It’s almost like blowing out ba /bcandle. Once I do, the connection is broken.

I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling of my room, lingering more than usual. I sit up in bed, swing my legs over the edge, and feel the cold kiss my feet. I reach for a silk robe and drape it over my shoulders as I wait patiently for Atarothz to appear. He doesn’t keep me waiting long –the temperature in the room drops immediately, several degrees. The balcony is closed, and yet a soft breeze stirs my hair.

“How are you feeling?” he asks as soon as he nces at me.

“Wonderful.”

“I thought so.” He tilts his head, observing me, and I arch an eyebrow inquisitively. “Your skin glows more than it did the first time we spoke.”

“Well, considering I was in some kind of limbo…”

Atarothzughs. Hisugh is warm, in contrast to his cial appearance. More times than I’d like to admit, I find myself staring into his eyes like a fool.

“Let’s begin again with your primary power.”