Page 3 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

This room holds a dark and enigmatic beauty. The floors are the same shiny black stone seen in Drew’s chambers. Thick velvet blankets of the deepest purple envelop my bed. The same hues are reflected in sheer curtains, extending from ceiling to floor, encapsulating the bed. It reminds me of my childhood days of fort building in my room with my father. The absence of a fireplace highlights the room’s cool dampness. I’m sure I’ll appreciate the plush blankets tonight.

To my left, a shelf hosts a variety of books and trinkets. To my right, the door opens to the corridor, and straight ahead lies a small archway leading to a bathroom. Exploring the area, I discover a black clawfoot tub, a matching sink, and an ornate gilded mirror suspended above. Over the tub hangs a chandelier loaded with candles, the warm glow animating the room.

I pause before the mirror, taking in my own image for the first time in what seems like forever. The white-blonde waves of my hair, which should shimmer like moonlight on water, hang dull and dirty, spilling down to my hips in unkempt waves. The sheer slip that Citlali made me wear still clings to my curves, my breasts almost spilling out beneath the thin fabric. Gods, I would normally be horrified to have walked around like this, but I’m thankful that only Soren and Drew have seen me.

Silently, I remind myself to ask about Citlali in the morning. The image of the obedient Lamia, who so reverently regarded Samael as her master, revolts me—yuck. I shed the filthy garment with haste and lean in closer to the mirror. The blue-green swirl of my eyes reflects back at me like a stormy sea, the colors blending into one another. Even in the soft light, my gaze seems to hold an inner fire, betraying the Fae magic that flows through my veins.

I scan the healing marks on my body—Soren’s handiwork. The vicious gashes that once marred my skin are now reduced to thin, angry red lines. The stitches that zigzag along my side show a precision that speaks of his care, each one a meticulous testament to his skill. But the realization that Soren had to undress me to tend to my wounds washes over me, leaving a mix of horror and embarrassment. I try to shake off the feeling because I am grateful for what he did. I’ll have to remember to thank him the next time I see him.

I fill the bathtub with warm water, adding some sandalwood-scented soap. I’m careful not to soak my stitches as I clean myself and my hair. Once purged of all the grime and haunting reminders of the day, I towel off and pick through the clothing Soren left. I don a silky white nightgown and robe then quickly slip under the thick blankets to keep warm.

Alone in bed, sleep feels impossible. The silence of the room makes my mind spin with worry. I can’t believe Chepi is gone. Images of his broken wing and Samael stepping on him keep flashing in my mind, causing tears to stain my cheeks. The only thing that keeps me from breaking completely is knowing I have a chance to get him back.

My mind can’t stop replaying all the things I don’t want to think about right now. Nyx…Why did he have to lie about so much? Did he ever really care for me? His last words linger fresh in my mind. “I love you,” he said as the wind picked up around me. I heard it right as I channeled. They weren’t enough to stop me, because I think I had loved Nyx, but after everything, after all the hurt and all the lies, I don’t even know if my heart is capable of love anymore.

My chest squeezes at the thought, and the lump in my throat starts to hurt again. Everyone I have ever loved has hurt me, and everyone I have ever trusted has betrayed me. Going forward, I can only truly trust myself, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to put all the pieces of my heart back together. I can’t let that happen again. I can’t take the pain.

I roll onto my side and curl up in a ball, deep inside wishing Nyx was wrapped around me and Chepi was sleeping at my feet. I let the tears run freely until eventually sleep claims me.

I’m jolted out of bed by a loud knock on my metal door, the sound echoing across the room. My internal alarms go off as I frantically search for a weapon, realizing the door doesn’t even have a lock. If it were an attacker, they wouldn’t be knocking.

The heavy knock resounds again. With a held breath, I turn the handle and pull the door open. The sight that greets me is as surprising as it is concerning – Nyx, drenched in blood.

Chapter

Two

Nyx wraps his arms around me, and our lips crash together in a frenzy. I lose myself in his embrace, savoring his taste and scent. Thoughts of getting lost against his soft lips and warm skin erase any notion of what I should be doing.

A tugging sensation at my leg snaps me back to reality. Pulling back from Nyx, I glance down to see Chepi and can barely believe my eyes. I drop down to the ground and scoop him into my arms. I shower him with kisses, and a sob escapes my throat as my cheeks feel a wide grin.

“How is this possible?” I manage to say, clearing my throat.

“Chepi is a glyphie,” Nyx explains, bending down and touching the stone pendant on my chest. “His existence is bound to the safety of that stone. I intended to tell you, but you channeled before I could explain anything.”

Instinctively, my fingers trace the stone’s cool, smooth surface. “How? I don’t understand.”

“It’s a bloodstone harvested from the Dream Forest.” Nyx settles down on the ground next to me. “Its magic is intrinsically linked to Chepi’s life force. As long as this stone remains intact, he’ll be reborn, time and again.”

“And if the stone gets destroyed?”

“Chepi wouldn’t die, but it would signify his final life,” he explains.

My father did give me Chepi and the necklace at the same time. No wonder he told me never to take it off. Chepi licks my cheek again then curls into a ball on the ground.

“Snoring already.” I turn to Nyx and giggle. “He must be as relieved as me to be back. Poor guy is exhausted.”

Nyx pulls me against him, and I let my leg wrap around his. He brushes stray curls from my face and tangles his hand in the back of my hair, coaxing my mouth closer to his. Our lips connect again, and when he pushes his tongue between my lips I open for him, welcoming the feel of him as he explores my mouth. I let my robe slide off my shoulders and fall to the ground. Nyx slides one hand under my ass. With the other still pressed against the back of my head, he sits me down on the edge of the bed. Then he’s pushing me back, and his hands are working their way up my nightgown. All the while, he kisses me utterly senseless.

I give into him fully until he inches away from me long enough to pull my nightgown over my head and toss it to the floor. He looks down at me, his gray eyes glowing bright in the dark room. Dipping his head, he places another kiss on my mouth and then starts his descent down my body. He trails kisses down my neck, pausing to take each of my nipples into his mouth before kissing my stomach and spreading me wide.

His mouth presses to my center, and he feasts on my pussy, sliding his finger in and out of me. I lose all train of thought, my mind unable to focus on anything else except for the heat of his breath on my clit.

I feel as if I might explode from the pleasure. Then he pulls away, giving me a moment to catch my breath as he pulls his pants down and reveals his cock. Coming closer, he thrusts it inside me. He moves slowly, teasing me and drawing out my pleasure one embarrassing moan after another. I wrap my arms around his lower back, pulling him into me, coaxing him to move faster and harder. I find my release, the orgasm washing away the tension in my body. Nyx presses inside of me one last time, finding his own release and then falling off me onto his back.

We both lie there in silence, staring up at the ceiling, breathing heavily. My mind clears from the pleasure stupor I was stuck in, and I realize I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. Nyx is a liar, and I just promised myself I wasn’t going to get sucked back into his lies. Then he shows up here caked in blood, and I spread my legs for him. I need to get control of this situation before my heart betrays me again.

Nyx’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “That was—”