Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

My hands grip his back, feeling the hard planes of his muscles.

The kiss fills me with something other than shadow. It’s light. the brightest day. The best of the past and a promising future.

Tyrren puts all of himself into that kiss and I do the same.

Chapter 26

Tyrren

The flicker turns into a full-on blaze as I realize what’s happening. All these years I dreamed of this moment. Now, here we are, in a parking garage, on the brink of war. A fae and a vampire. But before that, we were Lea and Tyrren. That’s who we’ll always be. Us. Just us.

She threads her hands into my hair and I grip her hips, pulling her close. We’re almost slow dancing and that’s what this kiss is. A back and forth, a give and take, a deep bass and high note. It’s a rhythm all our own and I am here for it. Fully here as the kiss deepens.

I inhale her citrus spice scent. I want this moment to last forever. If we survive this, that’s what we’ll have.

I break away, trailing a kiss along Lea’s jaw, the soft spot behind her ear, and to her neck. I’m consumed by how perfect she is. I want to breathe life back into her grayscale form. Ironic, I’m now a taker of life.

My lips brush hers and we share one more world-colliding kiss.

Ivan clears his throat.

Someone wolf whistles.

A few people clap.

“It’s about time,” Ivan says.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to say things like that,” Lea replies.

“The tension between you two these last few years needed some release. Okay, lover boy, you’re coming with me.” Ivan gestures I join him.

If I had blood left in my body my cheeks would be blazing. We walk away and I glance over my shoulder. I try casting Lea a smolder, but I probably just look deranged.

Her lips quirk and I have a feeling she doesn’t mind.

When we’re out of earshot, Ivan growls, “You hurt her, I’ll make sure eternity is an unimaginable agony for you.”

“I know,” I reply. I’m quiet for a moment and then say, “Actually, about that. The serum Glandias gave me enhanced my hunger significantly.”

“She probably wants to use us as weapons too. I’ve come across a few mages in my time. Don’t trust ‘em. Don’t like ‘em. Glandias has a reputation for being particularly underhanded. In fact, I think she’s the one who helped...well, never mind. What you have to know about vampires is we’re single-minded. We want pleasure. Glandias, on the other hand, wants power.”

“Where do fae fit into that?” I’m incredibly curious about Lea’s mission.

“They’re more of a both/and situation,” Ivan answers, leading me to an elevator. “As for Lea, well, there’s a lot of goodness in her. I can’t believe she willingly let Glandias rend her shadow.” He punches a button. “No, scratch that. I definitely believe she did it. Unseelie fae tend more toward the shadow. Seelie fae lead with light. But both can slip to one extreme in either direction. It just comes down to choice. What she did, in her own backward way, actually demonstrates that she’s willing to sacrifice herself, live in shadow to deceive and overthrow Glandias to save all of fae-kind. It’s admirable, actually.”

“She’s one of a kind.”

“She sure is, which is why you’re going to learn to control your vampire urges.”

We pass the penthouse. The elevator takes us all the way up to the roof.

It’s midday and overcast. The wind whips fiercely across the top of the building. Below, cars move slowly through traffic.

Ivan points to the northwest. “Our old penthouse was over there. Good memories. Too bad Emeric had to burn the thing to the ground. Thank goodness no one was hurt.” Ivan crosses his arms in front of his chest.

On one side of the roof, there’s a covered pool, hot tub, and lounge area. I imagine Ivan will entertain up here in the summer. There’s a ledge around the roof and he guides us to it. We gaze at the horizon for a few long moments.

“So, tell me what the thirst is like for you,” he asks.

“Burning, like glass in my throat, but it goes deeper than regular thirst. It’s like my body is hijacked. I can think of nothing other than obtaining blood to the point where it clouds my mind. At my worst moments, I’d do anything to feed.”

“Even bite someone?”

“Even bite someone,” I repeat. “I did once. The first night after I was turned. There was a guy down by the docks. He’d been in a fight. He would probably have died anyway. At least that’s how I rationalized it. I haven’t since. Don’t want to.”

“Good. It’s important to learn to front-load. By that I mean, get ahead of the thirst. Don’t ever let yourself get desperate. That’s one reason I created the Brooklyn Vampire Club and the dispensaries.”

He claps me on the back, moving us closer to the edge of the roof.

“Okay, hop on up.”

“Huh?” I ask.

“Climb up. Go ahead, right onto the ledge.”

“Uh, why?” I know exactly why. He wants me to jump. This is the initiation he mentioned. With horror, I think of how many people he’d brought up to the roof over the years when he and Lea lived in the other penthouse. I’m surprised we didn’t see bodies flying by in the big windows. I carry my thoughts to her, wondering what she’s doing right now. Hopefully, bonding with her sisters.

“You know that vampires are immortal, right?” he asks.

“Yeah. At least that’s what I’ve been told.”

“Trust me, we are.” A sad smile flits across his features.

I step onto the ledge and brace myself against the wind. I almost feel like I’m