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Darkness came for everyone eventually. But on the darkest night of every month, one of the most elite warriors of the midrealms became a monster. An intoxicating song called to the most primal part of him, buried deep within, and all the colour leached from the world. There was no stopping the change. In a wave, onyx power thrummed through his veins, fracturing the smooth surface of his sun-kissed skin, membranous wings spearing from his muscular back.
He had been a hero once. Now, he was cursed with the half-life of a shadow wraith.
Not only was he an entitled, fragile man-child, but he was a fucking idiot as well.
‘What should I call you, Wildfire?’ The word slipped from his lips before he’d even thought it, for that was what the woman was – a living flame, both in her violent actions and the streaks of red through her burnt-umber hair.
‘She was trying to kill you.’ ‘Some of the best sex starts that way, my young apprentice.’
‘Don’t underestimate the skills you can learn from a romance book.’ He laced his words with innuendo. ‘And no matter what I read, I could still kill all of you in my sleep.’
‘Warswords are not born. They’re forged with blood and steel,’
Smiling, he offered it to her – the heart of a wraith. ‘I considered flowers, but I thought you’d like this more…’
‘Luck be with you, sister.’ Drue gave her friend an extra squeeze. ‘Not if he’s been with you first.’
Drue nodded in agreement. She regretted nothing about that kill. ‘What about you?’ ‘How much time do you have?’ ‘I think we’ll manage.’ ‘Don’t be so sure. There are unlimited creative ways to end a man.’ ‘Well, by all means, educate me. I might find your boasting instructive.’ She gave him a pointed look. Talemir grinned. ‘A while back, I killed a man with a book.’ Drue snorted. ‘You bored him to death, then?’ ‘No. One hit to the head with the hefty tome, and he was gone. Killed by a love story, no less.’ ‘Romantic.’
‘If you need words of comfort, perhaps remember this: there are all kinds of darkness in this world. Some good, some bad, and some with no agenda at all. It’s what that darkness means to you and what you do with it yourself that matters most.’
‘What’s your poison, Warsword?’ Drue’s voice sounded. Talemir turned to find her holding several bottles. ‘How in the realms did you manage to find those?’ Drue gave him a secretive grin. ‘That’s for me to know,’ she said. ‘So, what’ll it be?’ Talemir took up a stool opposite her, unable to stop his own smile from spreading across his face. ‘I’ll take whatever you give me.’
‘Let’s have it, then. What is it you demand of me for your first win?’ Drue surveyed him brazenly before folding her arms, her chin jutting out. ‘Take off your shirt,’ she ordered boldly. Talemir’s answering laugh vibrated through his whole chest and into his bones. So she’s playing offensive. I can handle that. He’d been curious to see what path she’d take them down, given the first victory. Keeping his eyes on her, he reached for the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing his bare torso beneath. ‘Interesting choice of prize, Wildfire,’ he said, his voice low as he watched
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The Dancing Badger… She wondered what its sister venues were like and who had founded such a network. It had been a long time since Drue had seen any formal establishment in full swing. She hoped that elsewhere in the midrealms, where things were less bleak, such places were teeming with fiddlers and dancers, with life and laughter, and that perhaps one day, she might see them for herself.
he was not ashamed of what he wanted and how badly he wanted it. He met her gaze and didn’t hesitate. ‘I want to make you come so hard you see stars.’ Drue blinked at him. ‘I want to make you come so hard you forget your own name.’ Her lips parted slightly. ‘I want to bury my cock so deep inside you that all you remember is mine.’
He shook his head in disbelief. ‘How is it that in a world leached of colour, I see you brighter than the sun?’ ‘What do you mean?’ Talemir’s whole body heaved, flickering between the two forms again. ‘When I am… this,’ he said slowly. ‘I see the world around me in black and grey… There is no colour, only shades of darkness. But you…’ Drue closed the little remaining space between them. ‘Tell me.’ Talemir reached for her, but recoiled at the sight of the black talons protruding from his fingertips. Drue took a breath, covering those claws with her hand. ‘Tell me,’ she said again. Talemir’s
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‘We could be dancing,’ he whispered. Drue followed his gaze, unwilling to let him go. ‘I thought you didn’t dance…’ The Warsword placed his hand on her waist and clasped his fingers around hers, drawing her to him, his body flush with hers as he guided her into a slow waltz. ‘There are many things I don’t do that I would gladly do for you,’ he murmured.
When they were done, they looked at one another and Talemir shook his head. Drue’s hair was mussed, her outfit in disarray, her expression sheepish, and from the way she moved, he could tell that her skin was still sticky with him. ‘How do I look?’ she asked, eyebrows raised. Talemir bit back a laugh. ‘Beautiful, as always.’ Drue folded her arms over her chest. ‘But?’ A chuckle tumbled from him. ‘But you also look like you’ve been fucked sideways.’ Drue burst out laughing. ‘Great.’ She dragged her fingers through her hair. ‘I’ll never hear the end of this.’
Love didn’t happen once, she realised. It happened every day, in little moments, in the quiet gaps between grand words, in the lingering touches, in the hope it promised in the dark. Love was something that breathed and expanded, that was made and remade, again and again, reforged only to become stronger.
Drue recognised Adrienne’s messy handwriting at once and unravelled the parchment with trembling hands. We’re all safe. Mission was successful. Regroup halfway between camp and field. Luck be with you. (Though he had a grand old time with me first.)
Dratos seemed to consider whether he wanted to continue berating the man who had just helped defeat the shadow wraiths. In the end, he gave Talemir a mock salute before draining the rest of his flask and surveying him critically. ‘You know… I do believe my wings are bigger than yours…’ Talemir barked a laugh. ‘Un-fucking-likely.’
‘Talemir,’ she cried, a pulse of longing rippling through her. ‘I don’t know what I prefer more,’ he murmured, kneeling before her and lowering his mouth to her. ‘When you say my name like a curse…’ He closed his lips over her, sucking gently on her clit, teasing, only to pull back. ‘Or when you say it like a prayer…’
Pocketing the bottle, Wilder shook his head and mounted his horse. ‘Fuck you, Tal,’ he said again, before riding off towards the horizon. Someone let out a low whistle nearby and Talemir turned to find Gus’ cousin Dratos, the half-wraith ranger, watching, a bemused expression on his face. ‘That went well…’ But there was nothing malicious in his words, only pity. ‘Let’s hope my next conversation goes better,’ Talemir replied, running his fingers through his hair. To his surprise, Dratos fell into step beside him. ‘So, no hard feelings between us?’ Talemir asked tentatively. ‘If you’re good
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When Talemir embraced Malik and tried to introduce his oldest friend to Drue, words failed him and fresh tears tracked down his face. The giant former Warsword simply grinned at Drue and pulled her into a bear hug. If only Wilder had been there to see it.
‘Lift your dress and spread your legs.’ Drue whimpered against his lips, the sound sending a thrill of power through him. This was one of his favourite games between them, commanding her until she was a pleading mess of desire before him.
Drue seemed to sense his thoughts. ‘We’re married,’ she whispered, smiling in awe at the term. ‘You’re officially mine, Talemir Starling.’ Talemir laughed, the sound like a light melody on his lips before he kissed Drue gently. ‘I was yours from the moment you vowed to carve out my heart, Wildfire.’
