Chapter 28 Zadyn
ZADYN
It takes less than an hour to hunt down the intruders, following their scents from outside the apartment building. Even from a healthy distance, that gold-plated armor is unmistakable.
They’re already on the hunt.
The Vod soldiers make their way down the streets, peering into windows, kicking down doors, and prying screams from the innocents inside.
The pleasure house probably is the safest place for us right now.
Ilayna once told me it’s warded due to its high-profile clientele.
The gatekeeper is the old fae with the glass eye.
Behind that frail, haggard facade lurks a creature of nightmares—a monster wearing the skin of an old maid, bred to destroy anyone with ill intent.
We make our way back as the sun is setting, sticking to the shadows of the foul back alleys. When I enter the room to find Serena missing, my heart speeds up.
“Where is she?”
“Relax, Zadyn,” Mar says, turning to me. “She’s taking a bath. No need to have a conniption.”
“Where’s Jace?”
“He’s with her.”
My entire body tenses. She gives me a withering look and turns back to Kai’s swollen leg. “Not like that.”
What other way is there?
I slip from the room, tugging on a glamour to conceal myself. Following her scent to the baths, I place a hand on the closed door and freeze as it cracks open a hair.
A loud splash sounds from within, followed by Serena’s laughter.
“You. Little. Witch,” I hear Jace say.
“You needed the bath more than I did.”
She giggles. Actually giggles.
“Are you coming?”
“I think need a second.” Jace pauses. “To cool off.”
I grit my teeth, only imagining what’s going on behind this door. My instinct is to rip it off the hinges, storm in there and tell him to get his filthy fucking hands off of her. But I remain frozen in place.
“Think you can make it back to the room without running into trouble?”
“I thought you didn’t want me out of your sight.”
“That. And I just wanted an excuse to see you in the bath.” *
Deep, hideous jealousy eats through my stomach. I shake my head, scowling, and force myself back from the door. My feet carry me away before I can even register what I’m doing. Where I’m going.
I find Ilayna alone in her room. My name hasn’t even fully left her tongue before I lunge forward, slide my fingers into her hair, and kiss her deeply.
I pull back to study her expression.
Her eyes flicker over my face once. Then she leans in, slamming the door shut behind me as I walk her back into the room. We fall onto the bed, a tangle of hurried limbs. Undressing quickly and artlessly, I bury myself inside of her, purging my desperate longing for a girl that will never be mine.
A girl that I am stuck with for all eternity.
I know I have a tendency to act out where Serena is involved.
I did the same thing with Cece. Desperate for release, desperate for her, I end up chasing after the easiest bet. Whatever is ready, willing, and accessible. It’s a fact that shames me.
A flaw that makes me even more unworthy of her.
It wasn’t always like this. The ache to love her wasn’t always there.
Neither was the other ache. That one came later.
But it’s been that way for at least a decade now, and I don’t remember what it was like not to be in love with her.
Not to think about her every moment of every day—the need to be near her far surpassing my need for air.
I re-dress in a hurry, keeping my eyes downcast. Ilayna sits up beside me, slipping on a silk robe. Getting to my feet, I dig into my pocket, reaching for some gold coins. Her hand stills my arm as she shakes her head and stares up at me from the bed.
“Please don’t.”
I give her a pleading look. “I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.”
“You weren’t. It’s been so long since I…was able to enjoy myself with a male. Not a patron. I wanted to. I don’t want your money.”
Guilt pools in my stomach. I just used her for sex. I’m just as bad as the rest of the males that darken her doorstep.
I look at her for a moment, in her beautiful, vulnerable innocence, then shift my focus to the floor. “I should go. Check on everyone.”
She nods without speaking.
I open my mouth to say more, but nothing comes out. So I turn and duck out of the room, nearly colliding head-first with Serena in the process.
“Hi,” she breathes, startled. Her head tilts to the side as her lavender stare strips me down to the bone.
“What are you doing out here?” I snap, not intending to sound so defensive.
“Mar said you were back, I came looking for you.”
“You shouldn’t be out here. Someone might see you.”
“Why is your face all red?”
I shrug.
“Were you just…” She motions to the door before lifting her brows. “Wow. Okay. Good for you.”
She turns on her heel and starts the other way. I catch up to her with little effort.
“Oh, just say it,” I mutter under my breath.
“Say what?” Her focus is set straight ahead, her lips pressing together like they do when she’s withholding a big, fat opinion.
“Whatever it is you’re thinking.”
“Nothing,” she says nonchalantly, lifting one shoulder. “I just didn’t know you were into prostitutes.”
“She’s not a prostitute, she’s a courtesan. And a good person,” I counter. “She helped us get you out.”
“I’m sure she is. I guess I’m just surprised.”
“Careful. You almost sound jealous.” My voice contains a sliver of bitterness as she matches my stride.
Her eyes roll. “Not this again. I told you in the past and I’ll tell you now. I’m not jealous and I don’t care who you fuck.”
Smirking, I lean toward her ear. “Say that with your fingers uncrossed next time.”
Her mouth pops open in surprise as she skids to a stop. “Oh, grow up.”
“Live another two hundred years, and then tell me to grow up.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And you’re a terrible liar.”
“Not lying. God, you are so—”
I turn to face her head-on. “What, hmm? What am I?”
“Annoying.”
“I’m annoying?” I bark a laugh as she nods.
“Yes! It’s like if you’re not getting enough attention, you have to run off and have sex with the first female you see. Not to mention, your timing could not be more inappropriate. Can you ever just keep it in your pants?”
“Do you ever stop to ask yourself why what I do bothers you so much? Why you get all weird after you find out I’ve gotten off with someone?”
She stares at me blankly.
And before you answer, know that I can tell when you’re lying, I add silently.
Fine. I don’t like it when you run around fucking other people.
As opposed to fucking who?
As opposed to fucking—
She cuts off her thought abruptly and gives me a death glare. But I know how that sentence was about to end.
I catch the shift in her scent. The shift that hints at desire.
And now I’m fucking hard.
“You know what, it’s been a long day and I don’t even know what I’m saying so I’m going to go to bed—”
I catch her arm as she walks past, earning a stunned glance from her.
“Maybe one day, when you’re not so tired, you can finish that sentence.”
She squirms uncomfortably as my eyes lower to her thighs, clenching together.
Good gods have mercy on me.
“Yeah. Maybe.” She jerks her arm away and stalks off. Catching the scent of her wet hair as she tosses it over her shoulder, I groan into my hands and lean back against the wall.
I might just die of wanting before I ever get the chance to tell her how I feel.
* Cue: When You Were Young by the Killers