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I put my hands to my face while looking at him. “I don’t know what I feel, Namir. I’m terrified. And if it’s anything else—I’ve never felt this way before.” But at the thought of him dying for my feathers, a piece of my heart kicked and screamed. “I need you to be safe, though.” I bit my lips, until I couldn’t stop it, and the truth came out. “Because I want to know.”
His expression relaxed a little, and he nodded deeply—then looked distracted, pulling out his cell phone. He grunted and stood after reading the screen. “Rax sent me the address of two local magical object auction houses—one of which is having a rush auction tonight.”
I caught my breath and finally started to feel sane. “Okay, then—let’s make a plan—”
Namir shook his head. “I’m not involving you. Not unless your plan is letting me throw you into Rax’s vault for safekeeping.”
The vault that’d gotten me into this mess in the first place.I snorted. “No, Namir—they’re my feathers; I have to go—”
“No,” he said, more firmly.
“But—” I stood up to follow him, whether he liked it or not.
“Lily,” he said, catching my shoulders. “To keep your secret, I’m going to have to kill everyone who knows your feathers exist. It’s going to be dangerous—and exceedingly messy.” I watched his jaw clench as he willed me to believe him. “I don’t want you there to distract me—and I don’t want you to see me like that.”
I swayed, stunned, and felt his fingers tighten to keep me upright. “You’re not kidding, are you,” I whispered.
“No. I’m not.”
“And...you’d do that? For me?” I blinked and felt my throat closing up. How much more could I even take today—tonight—whenever this was?
“It’s all right. I’m used to this. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Namir said, then his brow rose some, as did the corners of his mouth. “Can I put you in Rax’s vault, though? Because now that I’ve mentioned it, that seems like a really good idea.”
“No! Because this is all his fault—”
“Yeah,” Namir cut me off, nodding slightly, with a frown. “He told me to tell you he’s sorry. If he’d known the stakes, he never would’ve asked for money.”
I shook his hands off of me. “Fuck his apology! Wait—you told him?” My voice rose in horror. I’d onlyjusttold Namir about my feathers, and here he’d gone and told someone else?
“Had to,” he said, in a sympathetic tone. “I’m sorry. But your secret’s safe with him. He’s mated, and richer than God—and he’s letting me raid his armory for tonight.”
My hands clenched into helpless fists at my side. I’d thought I might have had feelings for Namir for a handful of seconds, and he’d already gone and betrayed me?
He stepped back and started reknotting his tie, like a man long used to the habit. “I need to go. Stay here. I’ll come back when things are finished.”
“Namir—” I started to protest being left behind and having someone else even vaguely in charge of my life—then I realized that this might be the last time I saw him alive. I could almost feel him pulling back from me as he finished his tie’s knot—it was like he was putting armor on.
“Don’t go,” I said, instinctively.
His green eyes gave me a soulful, worried look. “Lily—” he began, and I ran up to kiss him.
It wouldn’t have even been possible if I hadn’t had heels on—and I caught him completely by surprise. I’d only meant to give him a quick kiss on the lips, but then he grabbed me before I could rock back very far. His eyes searched mine, my lips parted, and his came for them.
Namir wrapped his arms around me and a second later, his tongue was in my mouth, stroking mine, asking me for more. I tried to give as good as I got, and found myself melting without meaning to, pressing up against him. He made a satisfied sound, and started to dance me backwards, so I threw my arms around his neck for balance.
We’d moved every few months when I was growing up, for my safety, and when I was an adult I’d been obsessed by my endless quest for survival...which meant I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I’d never felt safe enough around anyone to be kissed by them, much less fucked, but now—this was happening.
He pulled his mouth away from mine, and I tried to follow it—I wasn’t done kissing him yet, and I definitely was not donewith him kissing me—and he chuckled. He put his forehead to mine and his eyes searched mine. “Yeah?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I breathed, and started kicking off my heels. He reached down and easily picked me up, making me squeal. My skirt hitched up as I wound my legs around him. I could feel the hard promise of him underneath his suit slacks and tried to grind against it.
“Eager little bird,” he whispered, kissing me against my neck, before laying me down on his couch. “I won’t make it into my bedroom with you.”
“That’s okay,” I whispered back. I just wanted this—wantedeverything—now.
Before anyone else could take it from me.
Namir groaned again, and pulled his suit jacket off, before quickly undoing his tie and letting it slide off like a snake. He had one hand above my shoulder, the other at his belt, and then he paused.
