Unleash the Storm (Steel & Stone, #5)

by Annette Marie

Trust, he’d said. Complete, utter, fearless trust. The magic of the Nightmare Effect fed off even the slightest hint of fright, and only a total absence of fear or doubt—conscious or subconscious—could negate it.

“They attacked you.” She grabbed his chin, tilting his face to examine a scratch down his cheek. “They hurt you,” she growled. “They aren’t allowed to hurt you. You’re mine.” His head turned back to her. In an instant, his eyes went from stormy gray to pitch black. “What did you say?” “You’re mine.” The words came out layered with challenge, daring him to deny it, her shaded calm somehow mixing with anger and possessive fury.

“And then,” he continued, “Raisa very astutely observed that you are, in fact, a—” “—water daemon!” Raisa blurted eagerly. “A haemon with roots in an aquatic caste,” Lyre continued smoothly,

“We incubi might claim to understand them,” he grumbled to Ash, “but no male can actually comprehend how a woman’s mind works.” “It’s safer to not even try.”

“The only one,” he murmured, his deep voice sliding down to her bones, “I want to belong to is you.”

His fingers touched her cheek, guiding her face up. His lips brushed softly across hers—not hesitantly, but more like he was savoring every moment of something long awaited.

The Lyre she knew and loved smiled gently at her.

yes, the only reason i highlighted this is because i love Lyre. and?

“Would you like me to kill him?” Kiev’s quiet, menacing voice sent a visible shiver down every apprentice’s spine. Randy’s gaze swung to the draconian and he backed away several fast steps. Retreating from a predator? Had he absorbed any of his training? She waved a hand. “Nah, he’s not worth the effort. But thanks anyway.” “I doubt it would take effort.”

LOVE YOU KIEV

“You can survive anything. Loss can be like chains holding you in place or a fire pushing you onward. We each choose every day what it will be to us.”

“You know you are my heart and soul,” he murmured against her mouth.

Groggily, she realized she’d closed her eyes without noticing. She squinted them open. On one side, Lyre leaned against her, his head on her shoulder, fast asleep. On her other side, Ash’s head was tipped back, resting on the wall, eyes closed, breathing slow. He was asleep too.

cuties