Chapter 35
Thirty-Five
BECKS
I smile reassuringly at Haven when we get out of the SUV in front of Talon’s cabin, hoping it doesn’t reveal any of the turmoil that’s been churning in my gut since Cassian’s confession to her late last night.
I know Cassian well enough to say that some of his prattling is nonsense—the incoherent ramblings of a fractured mind—but his warning to Haven wasn’t that.
It felt lucid, a warning he was desperate for her to heed.
The thought of Haven being trapped in the same hell Cassian went through, but not just for hundreds of years, for eternity, makes my blood run cold.
She hasn’t said anything about it, but I can tell it’s been on her mind as well.
I’ve caught her staring into nothing more than once, her brow pinched with worry, her unseeing gaze filled with anxiety, which is why I need to be her rock right now.
The demon won’t get her. I won’t allow it.
This plan we have is going to work. I need her to believe that . . . even if I have my doubts.
Ensley beats me to Haven, linking her arm in hers as she stares at the cabin.
“So, this is the love nest?” she asks with a cheeky smile.
Haven blushes, and fumbles for the right words.
I roll my eyes, knowing I’m going to take a ribbing from my sister over the next couple of days. Clearly Locklyn told her about Haven and me. I’m going to have to tell her to take it easy on Haven. Ensley can be overwhelming.
Titus slides up next to me. “She can handle it.”
I lift a questioning brow and Titus smiles. “It’s written all over your face. You’re worried about her. But she’s tough. That much is clear. Ens is just trying to take her mind off of everything. Better to be a little embarrassed than riddled with stress and anxiety.”
Titus has a point, but still, my sister can be a lot. And she’s not the only one I have to worry about.
As if on cue, Imogen joins the two girls. “Love nest, huh? One question: are the rooms soundproof? Because if not, that might be an issue.”
Haven’s mouth pops open.
Titus barks out a laugh as I scrub a hand down my face.
“Imogen,” Kade warns, giving her a stern glare. “Stop embarrassing her. Her business is her own.”
Imogen peeks over her shoulder, an innocent smile on her face. “I wasn’t asking for her. From what I hear, this place is short on rooms for the six of us,” she says, her smile turning sly. “I was asking for us. Since we’re the odd ones out, we’re going to be roomies.”
I snort a laugh, but Kade doesn’t so much as crack a smile. He just shakes his head, his expression as stony as ever, and moves past the girls to the front door.
“I call the couch,” he says before entering the cabin.
“We’ll see about that,” Imogen calls after him.
“No, we won’t,” Kade yells back.
Imogen grins at Haven and Ensley. “That yummy male is so in denial.”
Ensley laughs. “He doesn’t stand a chance.”
“No, he does not,” Imogen says, and then bounds up the steps after her prey.
I catch Haven’s profile and she’s smiling.
At first, I hesitated to bring everyone back with us, worried we might draw unwanted attention. It would be easier for Haven and me to blend in on our own, but I gave in, knowing that if something went wrong, we could use the extra backup.
Kade’s the fiercest human I know, and the others are strong magic users, and battle-tested. Now, watching Haven smile as she chats easily with Ensley as they enter the cabin, I realize it was the right call. For more reasons than just protection.
I make sure Haven gets her old room, wanting her to feel as comfortable as possible. She stands in the middle, looking a little lost.
“Everything okay?” I ask, and her gaze flicks up to where I stand in the doorway.
She musters a small smile for me and nods. “I’m good.”
“You sure?” I ask, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind me to give us privacy.
Even with the door shut, I can hear Imogen arguing with Kade down the hall, and Ensley laughing at the pair.
Haven shrugs one shoulder. “It’s just a lot.”
“It is,” I agree, wrapping her in my arms and pulling her tight against my chest. “But I’m not going to let anything else happen to you.”
When she doesn’t respond, I pull back enough so I can look down into her eyes. “You believe that, right?”
She nods, but tucks her lower lip into her mouth, biting down on it, a telltale sign that she’s nervous, and also a move that drives me wild. Whenever I see her bite her lip, it makes me want to as well.
I drag my gaze from her mouth, knowing that’s not what she needs right now.
“This is going to work,” I say for probably the tenth time. “We’ll get through tonight, and then figure out how to unlock those superpowers inside you so the demon doesn’t stand a chance during the next blood moon.”
“You’re right. I know. It’s just what Cassian told me . . . I just can’t get it out of my head.”
Her gaze goes hollow, like she’s imagining what it would be like to be trapped in the demon for eternity.
“If it finds me, death would be a kindness.”
“Not while I’m breathing,” I say. “Not while I’m standing between you and it.”
The thought of Haven’s death sparks something hot and dangerous in my chest, and I shove it down hard.
“Remember what happened the last time we were in here alone?” I ask, forcing a subject change before I lose it.
Haven’s gaze refocuses on me, and the corner of her mouth turns up, which of course draws my attention again.
“I’m not sure. Maybe you can help refresh my memory.”
I don’t need any more encouragement than that. I swoop down and press my lips to hers, pulling the bottom one into my mouth and biting down lightly like I’ve been aching to do.
She lets out a low moan, and bending down, I grab her under the thighs and lift her, wrapping her legs around my waist, all without breaking our kiss.
“It’s starting to come back to me now,” she whispers against my mouth, and I feel the smile on her lips. “But maybe I need a little more reminding.”
This time, it’s her that dives in, deepening the kiss. I let her take the lead, content to follow wherever she takes me.
When her tongue brushes up against mine, my mind goes fuzzy.
I can’t get enough of her. I’ll never get enough.
She brushes her fingers against the back of my neck and releases a small gasp when scales appear. I swallow the noise with another kiss, and she runs her fingers over the smooth scales once again, causing a shiver of desire to run down my spine.
With difficulty, I pull away before things really start to get out of control.
I’m right on the edge. It’s already a struggle to focus on anything else besides the taste of her on my tongue, and the feel of her soft curves beneath my hands, but before things go further, I need her to know she’s more to me than just this physical connection.
Haven’s lips are wet and puffy from my kisses, and there’s a hazy look in her eyes as she stares up at me.
I can’t do this while I’m still holding her. She’s too tempting. I gently set her on the edge of the bed then kneel in front of her. My hands are still latched to her hips because I can’t seem to make myself let go of her.
The emotions surging through me are more intense than I’ve ever felt before, making me lose some control over my shift once again. Haven’s eyes drop, and she runs her hand over my forearm, where a patch of smooth teal scales have appeared.
I never considered my scales to be very sensitive, but I was wrong. The warmth and gentle strokes of her fingers make me want to forget whatever I think needs to be said and take her in my arms once again.
I swallow, wetting my throat, and Haven’s gaze lifts. Her honey brown eyes fill with love, even though she hasn’t uttered the words yet.
“I love you,” I say for the both of us.
A sweet smile lifts the corners of Haven’s mouth, and I breathe a little easier. Part of me still thinks I may scare her off, but I can tell she likes hearing the words. But those aren’t the only ones I have for her.
“I always planned to leave the human world after I helped find Locklyn’s sister,” I admit, and Haven’s smile slips.
I hate seeing that, but I need her to understand how profoundly she’s affected me. How much she means to me.
“There was nothing to keep me here. Locklyn has Talon. Kade wants me to stay and help the Order, but I knew once I found her sister, my purpose here would be done. I may not be the dragon heir anymore, but my place is still back in my world. It’s the only home I’ve ever really known.”
Haven pulls back and crosses her arms over her chest, putting a little distance between us, but I don’t let go.
“I get it,” she says quietly. “You have a family back there. People that are important to you. A life.”
“I do,” I admit. “I have all those things, but what you need to understand is that it doesn’t matter anymore. None of it. Because from here on out, my home isn’t a place anymore, it’s a person. It’s you.”
Haven’s eyes glisten and she unfolds her arms. I take her hands in mine, not letting my gaze slide from hers. I want her to read the raw honesty in them for herself.
“The creature world, the human world, it doesn’t matter anymore. The only place I want to be is with you.”
A single tear escapes her eye and trails down her cheek. Reaching up, I wipe it away.
“Why are you telling me all this?” she asks, her voice wobbly with emotion.
“Because I never want you to feel the way I made you feel before. You’re my forever, Haven. And there’s no way I’m letting something as insignificant as a demon take my forever away.”
“Becks,” she says, taking in a shaky breath. She slides a hand behind my head and draws me closer, our foreheads almost touching. “You have to know by now that I—”
The door slams open. “Dinner’s in . . . whoa,” Ensley says, taking us in. “I was joking about the love nest before, but looks like I was spot on.”
“Ens, get out of here,” I shout as Haven leans forward and buries her face in my neck.