Page 96 of Shardless
He heard Taly’s sharp intake of breath, felt her body stiffen.Here it comes, he thought, closing his eyes. She would likely never look at him the same way again. Not after this. Ava had been so young—completely innocent. And he’d killed her.
“My family decided to try to keep it quiet,” Skye mumbled, trying to fill the silence. Maybe if he kept talking, he could stall the inevitable. “All the evidence that pointed to House Myridan was circumstantial. It never would’ve held up if we took it before the Dawn Court. And when I came back to the island, Sarina and Ivain both said—"
Skye started when he felt Taly’s fingers graze his cheek. She turned him to face her, and his eyes found hers. But instead of reproach and fear, he only saw warmth and compassion shining back at him.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, shepulled him closer. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me,” she said, pressing her face into his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
Skye released a harsh breath. She hadn’t pushed him away or recoiled in fear. She hadn’t tried to minimize the gravity of his sin because the woman had been mortal. And really… why had he ever expected any differently? This was Taly.HisTaly. His friend. She had always known exactly what he needed.
“You’re here now,” he whispered, his voice low and rough. He finally moved to return her embrace, burying his face in her hair and breathing deeply. His shoulders relaxed as the lingering tension of the day melted away.
They sat there for a long while, quiet and content in each other’s company. And though he couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment, something shifted. Their embrace suddenly became…more. His arms tightened around her. Her fingers began to gently toy with the ends of his hair. When she finally pulled away, there was an unnatural rosiness to her cheeks, and Skye suspected that she could feel the erratic beat of his heart where their bodies were still pressed together.
Unable to resist the urge, he trailed a finger along the line of her jaw. Here, with the light of the fire casting a warm glow across her flushed skin, he could almost forget the veritable nightmare they had both just been lucky enough to survive.
When they had set out that morning, completely unaware of the horrors they would each face, he had thought that this irresistible pull he could feel drawing him closer to her was nothing more than some vague sense of sexualfrustration, a purely physical urge that could easily be quenched with any woman that was willing.
But that was silly.
Now that he had her here in his arms, now that he’d felt that breathy sigh puff across his skin as he dragged his thumb across her bottom lip, he knew it was completely absurd to think that any other woman could satisfy this craving. There was something in her eyes, something he wasn’t accustomed to seeing. Longing, desire, maybe even lust? That thought, the idea that shewantedhim, shook him to his core.
His heart beat wildly in his chest as he began to lean in, and a violent shiver tore through him when he felt her fingers graze the skin of his neck, twisting in the collar of his shirt as her eyes drifted shut.
A sharp knock shattered the silence, and Taly jumped away, looking anywhere and everywhere but at Skye. Whatever it was that was about to happen between them had ended just as swiftly as it had begun.
Skye sat there for a moment, dazed. His lips still tingled, and he had to fight the urge take her in his arms again—to hell with whoever had chosen thisparticulardamn moment to interrupt. He had almost convinced himself to do just that when another heavy knock echoed through the room.
“You should probably get that,” Taly mumbled. She didn’t look at him, but Skye could clearly see the deep crimson blush that stained her cheeks. Even the tips of her ears were red.
This had better be good,he thought as he pushed himself to his feet and moved to answerthe door. A young woman that he vaguely recognized as being Eula’s assistant stood on the other side. The timid mage fidgeted with a lock of mousy brown hair, the apprehension falling off her in waves.
“S-sire,” she stuttered, sketching out a shallow curtsy. Her hands moved to toy with the sleeve of her robe—a traditional spellcaster’s garment that most likely had various crystals sewn into the seams for easy access.
“Ensign Vera. What can I do for you?” Skye said kindly. Yes—he was irritated. But he wasn’t going to take it out on the girl. She already looked like she wanted to faint.
Vera ducked her head. “I was told to inform you that the remaining leadership has agreed to your request to meet at ten bells.”
“Thank you, Ensign,” Skye replied with a patient nod. He opened his mouth to say something else, but the jittery mage was already scurrying down the hall. “And Ensign,” he called, suppressing a laugh when he heard her squeak, “anything non-critical? Feel free to slip a note underneath the door.”
Vera bowed low, her forehead nearly touching her knees. “Y-yes, sire,” she quavered before turning and skidding around a corner.
Chuckling to himself, Skye closed and locked the door behind him. A flash of light rippled over the wooden surface as the silencing wards engaged.
“Where are you going?” he asked when he turned to see Taly sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplace, preparing to pull on her boots.
“Downstairs,” she said as she undid thebuckles. “It’s late, and I’m done with this day. I’m going to go find a place to bunk.”
Muttering under his breath, Skye tiredly shuffled over to her chair in front of the fireplace, placing a hand on either side of her. When he leaned down to look her in the eye, he was again overcome with an almost violent need to feel her lips pressed against his.
“Or,” he drawled, forcefully suppressing the powerful feelings that welled up inside him unbidden, “you could just stay here. I promise I won’t bite—unless you bite first, of course. Then I promise nothing.”
She tilted her head, her eyes never leaving his as she considered his proposal. A slow smile began to emerge, and when the tip of her tongue darted out to lick at her lips, it took every ounce of strength he had not to close the distance. Their faces were just inches away, their noses almost touching. It would be so easy to just…
Without preamble, she gave him a sharp, unexpected shove, and he stumbled back.
“Thank the Shards!” Taly hopped up out of her seat. Then, sprinting across the room, she threw herself onto the ornately carved bed.
“Huh?” Skye knew that he looked slightly dazed as he watched her stretch out on the bed, her hair fanning out across the wine-colored damask of the coverlet like a river of gold, but he didn’t particularly care.
