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"We were moving slowly since the rituals take a lot of Viola's magic, plus the building of the city. Devotion for her isn't widespread yet." I close my eyes, feeling for those wells of power throughout Krillium and smile at the amount that is there. "Even though it's growing daily. But now that we know that Himureal is executing dissenters, we'll no doubt pull our timeline up."
Taegan lays back on the mattress and stares at the thatched ceiling. "It's surreal, you know? Being here. I've never left Ytopie before." He folds his arms behind his head, and a soft smile plays on his face. "Neither had Loris. He would've loved this place and immediately set up a grid."
"Ugh, Viola wouldn't have allowed it. She hates the sound of it."
"Her too?" Cirrha says, leaning against the wall. "You're the only person I know who thinks magic has a sound."
"Yeah, hertoo. I have a theory." I pull out one of the chairs at the slim table, running my hand through my hair. "Avidor called our magic dirty to Viola. That the fae essentially stole devotion to the Gods and that's how we ended up with our powers. I think Viola, being a God, and I, being her high priest, are both attuned to Godly magic, and we can hear magic that isn't from the Gods. I can't hear magic from Himureal, Avidor, or Solarius."
"Dirty magic?" Taegan spits, sitting up. "That's bullshit."
"I agree!" I say quickly. "I don't consider it that way. But they believe we stole their magic when the original high priests didn't bring them back from their banishment."
Cirrha rolls her eyes, hands absentmindedly scratching at some of the dirt caked on her jumpsuit. "Why am I not surprised they think they're so much better than us?"
Taegan pulls his filthy shirt off and tosses it aside before laying back down and closing his eyes. "Because they're Gods. Of course, they're going to think they're above us."
"Viola doesn't think that," I say quickly.
"Viola is different," he says softly. "She didn't want this. Probably still doesn't. The people you want in power are the ones who seek to avoid it." He yawns widely, rubbing his eyes with his fists.
"Let's get out of here," Cirrha says, putting a hand on my shoulder. "We'll see you in the morning, Taegan." He rolls over on his side and waves over his back at us as we slip out the door.
Cirrha's home is next door, and I usher her into it, awkwardly following after her.
There'sso much left unsaid between us. Something is obviously blossoming between us, but we haven't put a name to it or even had a chance to explore it. She looks at me, head quirked to the side, rich brown eyes sparkling. I take a hesitant step towards her, and she mirrors it, alternating steps with me until we are toe to toe.
"Zeph," she says quietly. "I'll admit I wasn't sure I would ever see you again."
"You had so little faith in me?"
"When Himureal started gathering people up, I thought for sure I'd be the first." Her body shudders, the memory plaguing her. "All I could think about was how I would never get to know what this was between us."
I drag my knuckle down her cheekbone, a soft smile on my face. "And what is this between us?"
"We've spent so much time together lately, and my affection for you has grown," she says breathlessly. "You're not the man I thought you were."
"Good thing, right?" I say, opening my hand to cup her cheek.
"Very."
My hand drifts to the back of her neck, and I gently pull her forward, locking our lips together. She sighs into my mouth, body melting. I wrap my other arm around her hips to hold her up against me. Her plush lips part for mine, our tongues tentatively exploring one another. She tastes ofwarm summer evenings, of that time right after a sun shower. I break my lips apart from hers and look into her eyes as we both pant and catch our breath.
This is something I haven't felt before. A pull towards her that urges me closer, deeper.
Feeding my hands underneath the shoulders of her jumpsuit, I raise my eyebrow, silently asking for permission. She grants it with a subtle nod. I push the yellow fabric down her body, and she steps out of it, wearing only a small pair of panties and no chest wrap.
Miles of her flawless dark skin are on display. Her nipples tighten in the slight chill of the evening, and I can't stop myself from running my thumb over one of them. She sucks in a breath at the contact.
"Zeph," she says quietly, running her fingers through my beard. "Be with me."
The vulnerability in her words strikes me, and I take that offered gift with a promise to myself to cherish it always. I am no stranger to bringing a woman to bed with me, but this time feels different.
There is more between us than just desire. Wedged between our flesh is a shared history that grew into an undeniable affection for one another.
One that I will not hold myself back from pursuing.
I walk her backward to the bed and lay her down on it, bracketing her head in my arms. I kiss her again, licking and nipping at her lip before pulling away and kissing a trail acrossher neck. She tilts her head back, baring her throat to me, as I pepper her soft skin with tokens of my affection. I drag my body down hers and blow across her nipples before lapping at them with my tongue.
