Chapter 13 #2
A very clever, or perhaps very stupid, idea blooms in my mind. My heart pounds as lies pour elegantly from my quivering lips, false desperation hushing my tone. “Valen. If I don’t get the amulet, Dimitar will kill me.”
The name-drop works. He goes still, the icy magic crackling over his blue irises until they glow blueish white. Violence drips from his voice. “The Amur?”
Slowly, I nod and hope that this lie works out better than when I used it with Lucas.
I’m fairly certain Valen isn’t about to storm out to hunt down the Amur like Lucas attempted.
Valen is far more coolheaded and has less of a complex past with the Guild than my friend.
It’s a gamble, but worth it if it works.
The tension is palpable. Valen’s fingers ripple in an agitated drum, magic whispering as they do. I almost smirk, but keep my expression beseeching and a little scared.
I make my voice small. “Would you consider a different deal?”
I can’t trade coming back to the Order. Not ever, or I will become infected by my curse as well, instead of simply being corrupted by it.
Then again, I’m not sure if there would be much of a difference between the two.
I’ve only read about curse-casting corruption and haven’t personally assessed Alasdair’s current state.
All I know for sure is that I don’t need the added complication.
Valen’s gaze slides to the side, his jaw tense as he considers me. My lie is working, but not quite enough. I need to close the deal fast, so Lucas and I can get the hell out of here.
Slowly, I ease off the chair. Valen’s attention snaps back to me, his eyes lightly glowing in the dim firelight.
I kneel at his feet, my hands resting on his knee.
My robe slips down to my bent elbows. The blue with the sheer lace casts my pale skin in a delicious porcelain hue that catches the flickering firelight just so.
I peer up at him with wide eyes that brim with unsaid emotions. “Valen…”
The smallest of shivers gives him away. But he doesn’t move while he waits.
I take his tapping hand in mine. “Maybe I’m making a lot of assumptions.” I huff a small laugh, ducking my head for a moment. “Or a lot of wishful thinking, but if you want me back with the Order because of… us…”
I wet my lips, my thumb pressing into the back of his hand.
He grips me back and it feels so good to be held by him, even in this small way.
I bring our joined hands to my face and rest my cheek on them.
“Maybe instead of the Order, I would consider returning to you instead. We can make a deal to try us again. I can give you two weeks of honest courtship. Then, who knows? Maybe I won’t want those two weeks to end. ”
My mind knows that I’m playing him, but my stupid heart makes my words sincere.
It’s a selfish deal, one where I get to pretend to fall into intoxicating love with Valentin Bauer.
The sex would be amazing. The courting so lavish that dreams would be mundane in comparison.
And in the end, I would walk away regardless.
Valen’s hand turns in mine, cupping my face. His thumb slides over my cheek, catching a tear and I startle, sniffling. “Oh.” I pull back. “Sorry.” Crying was not part of the plan.
But I don’t get far. He holds me there, his face close. He searches me. His voice is barely a whisper. “You don’t have to do that.”
I blink, trying to make the tears go away. “Do what?”
“Prostitute yourself to me.” There’s a sadness in his gaze and I lean into his hand. His other joins, cupping my neck. “I would never want that.”
“Is it prostituting if I want it?”
His lips twitch. “Maybe. That would be a debate for another time.”
I slide closer, bringing our faces in easy kissing distance. “We should probably focus on the more important things.”
“Probably.” His gaze drops to my lips. “Would be the smart thing.”
“Very smart. Definitely should focus.” My breasts press against the corset with my breath and my exhale whispers over his lips, parting them.
“Why do we need to make a deal? It feels so unnecessary.” My hands are on his neck and I’m not sure when that happened.
I stroke the skin there greedily, my fingers sliding up into his soft hair.
Our noses brush. A small, needy sound comes from my throat, my heart thumping painfully. “Help me get the amulet, Valen.” My fingers snarl in his hair. “I need… I need…” His lips brush mine and my breath shivers.
His voice is low and soft. “What do you need, Tori?”
Breath chokes in me, my voice cracking. “I need help, Valen.”
“Then take my deal.” He slides off the chair, his hand abandoning my face to wrap around my back, to lower me down onto my back slowly. His weight settles on me and it feels so good. So right. It’s what I searched for in so many nights with heavy blankets to replicate.
Now I go languid except for my hands. They keep their firm grip on his hair, keeping his face close, our breath mingling together, his eyes out of focus.
His lips murmur against mine and I tingle all over. “Come back to me, Tori. Take the deal. I’ll help you get the amulet. I’ll help you, Tori. I swear.” His arm tightens, our bodies fused together. “Whatever it is that you’re keeping from me, we’ll solve it together.”
My breath catches, but no words come out. The ache in my chest, the never-ending pain that worsens every moment I’m without my grimoire, burns anew. I want to rub it, but that would mean letting go of Valen’s hair. He can’t see my face; I’m too raw.
He tries to lift back again and fails. He releases a harsh breath, eyes searching me as best he can.
“Talk to me, Tori. Why don’t you want to come back?
You could have everything you lost and more!
” Frustration is bleeding out more and more.
“Come on, Tori. If you won’t run far away, then return and reclaim your right!
” He bares his teeth, his magic crackling with the slip of his emotions. “Let’s fix this. It’s an easy choice!”
I swallow. But it’s not. Because he doesn’t know what I did.
“I… I…” My heart is too heavy, my vision too blurred, my mind too far gone. Everything I left, everything with him, is right there. Right fucking there for me to take. Everything, and I can’t quite remember why I can’t have it. A small sob cracks my voice. “Valen.”
He growls. “Fuck, Tori. Fuck!”
He kisses me and I fall into it wholeheartedly, my hands clawing him to keep him close.
It’s all raw passion and hunger and frustration.
His. Mine. Both. I bite his lips, nearly ripping his hair out.
My legs tangle with his before locking around his hips.
He undulates against me, and I gasp against his mouth when his cock presses against my aching sex.
We writhe together, his hand gripping my hip.
The friction lights me up, my neck arching back with a moan.
It feels good, too good, and he’s still fully clothed. I want to reach down and rip open his pants. The urge to get fucked deep, hard, into his expensive carpet is overwhelming. I cry out, my hips shivering.
But no. Lucas.
I snap my eyes open. Lucas.
I let things get too out of control before, and I refuse to forget him this time. Lucas.
I need to get control. Lucas.
Valen’s hand leaves my hip to grip my corset’s edge, his fingers wedging between it and my sternum, lighting a spark.
With a flare and a sizzle of magic, he rips it open, the busks snapping apart, and a zing of pleasure jolts down to my core.
I arch into him, head tossing to the side with a gasp.
His hands smooth over my bruised ribs, snagging on my chemise, and it’s all so achingly familiar that I feel a near-orgasmic pulse. “Valen!”
He mouths my lace-covered breasts and my mind wipes out, hips desperately grinding against his hard length. I’m going to come, and I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Seems good. I moan, fisting his hair and holding him there. Yes. Good. Good idea. “Yes, Valen. Yes!”
No. I swallow. Lucas. He’s alone, trapped, trusting me. I told him he could trust me. Lucas. Vincentius will kill him. Lucas. Shivers ripple down my body. His smile. His stupid cap. Lucas.
The shoulders above me are wider, the hair my fingers are twisted in longer. The hand stroking me is rough with calluses and I moan so lavishly that it echoes in the room. I drag him up by the hair and kiss him harder, deeper, legs tightening like a vice.
Valen rips back, staring down at me with his blue eyes. Not honey brown. Icy blue. We both breathe heavily, the sound filling the room. He’s on his knees, his hands planted on the carpet on either side of me. The air is much needed.
Did I moan the wrong name? Ice shivers down my arms at the thought, all the blood leaving my face. If I did, then I don’t need to worry about Vincentius. Valen will gut Lucas all on his own.
Valen takes two more gulping breaths. “I need you to take my deal.”
Anxiety claws at my gut and paranoia creeps in. Was this all a game? Am I really that blind?
He takes a slow breath to calm his breathing. “There’s something you don’t know.”
Goosebumps ripple. “What is it?”
“My father is in Havenport and probably at your shop at this point.”
The ground drops out from under me. Words fail me as I free fall, white noise almost stealing Valen’s next words from me. “He went to retrieve you. The Archweaver put a bounty on your head, in effect as of yesterday. Thirty thousand for your immediate return to him alive.”
“What…” My mind is spinning and I shake, trying to focus. “That’s an insane amount. Why would he do that?”
He knows… Cold horror grips me.
“And your amulet isn’t in my father’s library anymore. It’s in the museum. So please, Tori. Take my deal and come back to the Order.” His breath rushes out of him. “Because I think you’re going to need my help.”