Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, #2)

by Callie Hart

“You have any idea how fucking incredible you look right now?”

“Cruel, cruel female,” he chided.

There was something very empowering about a male like Kingfisher relinquishing control and offering free rein over his body. It was an act of trust.

Was it my love for him? His love for me? The lines were so blurred I couldn’t tell where his feelings ended and mine started.

“Look at you,” Fisher rumbled. “Fucking magnificent, aren’t you.”

I’ll give you what you want, Little Osha, don’t you worry.

Because I’m the luckiest bastard alive. And because you look like you’ve just been thoroughly fucked.”

But they hadn’t been her.

And now she was here, my Little Osha, and she was more than I could have hoped for.

She hadn’t learned yet that she could tell me anything and I would be there for her, no matter what.

“And you’re in love with her?”

“Yes,”

“Osha?”

“Fine. But I swear to the gods, if you talk the entire time, I will kill you and leave your carcass for the crows, Carrion Swift.”

I was a sight taller than Swift. Significantly better-looking, too, but that was beside the point.

“You’re too pale,” Carrion hissed.

“What do you mean, too pale?” “I mean, even the dead in Zilvaren have more color in their cheeks than you do.

“If you exhaust all of your magic, you’ll be as powerless as me, then?” I scoffed at that. “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll still know how to hold a fucking sword.”

And she was my mate now. My mate. She was beautiful, fierce, clever, independent, and strong.

Even libraries that didn’t specialize in such things. Because what was a book, if not a portal into another realm, another time, another life even.

For Saeris’s sake, I would protect it.

She’s worth it.”

She had surprised me. Where I had thought her weak, she was strong. Her heart was bigger than the horizon half the time—too big for her own good. I’d misjudged her. She was incredible.

Fuck, I just ached for her. I wanted her here, next to me. I wanted to hold her; the fact that she wasn’t in my arms right now felt like the greatest injustice that had ever been inflicted upon me.

I could only pity him that she wasn’t his and be fucking thankful that she was mine.

I tried. But my heart was just too full of sorrow to make room for her.”

Osha.

Gods, it’s good to see you.”

And like this, with his eyes devouring me, I could feel myself coming undone.

“So responsive. I love how your body reacts to me, Little Osha. It lets me know that you’re mine.”

“Just accept it. My fox is your fox, too.”

Every single thing this male did made me want him. Made me want to scream. Made me want to—

“Haven’t you learned your lesson yet, Osha?”

“Your heart’s racing, Saeris Fane. Why might that be?”

“The most unique, most beautiful creature in the entire realm, on her knees in front of me, looking up at me like she’s feeling feral and might just like to fuck me? Yes,” he said, “I’d say I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself.”

This male. This. Fucking. Male.

Was this what life was going to be like now? Falling more and more in love with him? Just wanting him, and needing him more t...

Osha.”

“It’s okay, Saeris. Really. I can understand how touching any part of me would drive you to distraction.”

“I’m not arrogant. I’m fucking proud. I hear how your pulse quickens when you touch my body, and it makes me feel fucking invincible. You can hear my pulse do the same when I touch you, can’t you?”

“but it feels like a gift. We’re alone. It feels safe. It’s snowing out there. We have the fire, and food is cooking, and the fox is chasing insects. This is all I need, Saeris. Something simple. And you. I’m claiming you, Osha. Come on. You’re coming with me.”

“If you think a broken hand is going to stop me from fucking you properly, Osha, then please…”

“I could spend the rest of eternity right here and die happy,”

“I could fuck you and feast on you until the ages turned and the suns all died and burned out in the skies, and I still wouldn’t have had enough of you.”

Don’t thank them, came Fisher’s low, resonant reply. Thank me. I’m the one who’s about to make you scream.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispered.

“You’ve existed in my mother’s drawings for most of my life, but you were never real to me before. I didn’t believe…”

“I had no idea what you would mean to me. I had no idea what I would do to keep you safe. When I close my eyes, you are all I fucking see, Saeris Fane. I could be dead in the ground five thousand years and the frosts could have taken my bones, and still no oth...

Hearing him speak this way? To me? Having him love me like ...

He was larger than life. Stronger. More powerful. He was bigger than the swell I felt in my chest whenever I heard him say those three words. I. Love. You.