Chapter 41
Aurora
Everyone finishes their dinner in silence. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, it warms my heart to watch Camryn eat a hearty meal. Apparently, her acknowledgment of the mating bond means a healthier appetite.
Probably serves a purpose that I don’t dwell on for too long.
Caelum refuses to let Draven to lie in a bed with Camryn, so we clear the dining table.
Given what we know about how Draven works his magic, Clara escorts Maeve out of the room, promising the girl all the sweets she can find in the kitchen.
Mei joins them to offer Camryn more privacy, and Numara reluctantly follows after Caelum gives her a death stare.
There is no chance in hell that I’m going anywhere when a lust-seeking dream demon is about to enter my best friend’s mind. Soren stays by my side, much to Caelum’s dismay, but he understands Soren’s desire to be near me.
Caelum collects pillows and blankets from a bedroom to make Camryn more comfortable. He lifts her onto the table and lays her gently on her back. My cheeks heat at the way they gaze at each other.
Draven watches impassively on the other side of the table. He is so strikingly beautiful, I can’t look directly at him, like staring at the sun. Caelum hurls a pillow at him, and the incubus clasps it as it thumps against his chest.
Caelum pulls a chair beside where Camryn lays. He clenches his fists to keep from reaching out to her. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want him sucked into the dream.
I stand near the center of the long table, Camryn to my left and Draven settling onto my right. He rustles the air as he lies back. Oh gods, he even smells good.
I close my eyes and turn my face away from him. I take a deep breath through my nose and suddenly feel as though I’m wearing too many clothes.
Despite Caelum’s commands to leave, Arc stays, offering to stand along the wall, well away from my friend, who will soon be filled with desire. My eyes shift to see him watching me with a smirk. “Oh yeah, there are some fun side effects from being near an incubus while he works his magic.”
Soren stiffens beside me and as I turn to calm him, his eyes are hooded, and he must be feeling the effects, too.
I gaze at my friend watching me from the table. “You two wanna leave? Or just have at it here? I won’t object.” She grins at me as though she’s inhaled some potent greenery.
“Camryn!” I squeal before giggling like a schoolgirl. Soren squeezes my ass, and I wonder if we are going to make it through this with our clothes on.
“Fuck,” Camryn groans, making Caelum go rigid beside her.
“That is some serious magic you’ve got there, my dude.
” She lifts her chin to look down the table at Draven who lies at her feet.
He stares up at the ceiling, inky eyes dark as a country night.
Suddenly, deep blue wings whoosh from his back, spreading out wide over the table.
Holy shit. Dark plumes of magic ripple from his perfectly sculpted body.
“Let’s get on with it,” Caelum sneers through gritted teeth.
“Yes, sir,” Camryn says as her eyelids slide shut.
A moment later, I’m listening to the soft cadence of her breathing.
The room falls silent, all eyes on Camryn sleeping soundly.
My eyes widen as a fresh wave of lust magic trickles down Draven’s body and ripples over hers.
My nipples perk beneath my shirt as the shadowy magic drifts past me.
Soren shifts beside me, and I bite my lip, thinking about how this is affecting him.
I squeeze my thighs together just as Camryn moans in her sleep.
Her mouth parts, a whimper escaping her lips.
Caelum’s fist clenches so hard atop the table that they turn white.
His chest heaves with slow, angry breaths.
I can’t imagine how it feels to watch his mate lay there while an incubus—his best friend—enters her mind, filling her with desire.
Draven’s eyes are closed and he lies motionless, as still as a corpse.
Camryn begins to speak in her sleep. “Fuck. This is … intense,” she pants. A low rumble vibrates from Draven and Caelum flashes his eyes at him.
“There,” Camryn says urgently. “Behind you on the water.”
I wish I could see what she is seeing. Listening feels as though we are stuck in the control room while Draven and Camryn are exploring an uncharted planet, describing their findings to our unseeing eyes.
Camryn writhes on the table, her hands groping to rip her clothes from her body. Caelum looks at Arc. Arc rolls his eyes but pushes from the wall and strides toward the table. Caelum keeps his gaze locked on the dark lord, and I realize he must be communicating in his mind.
Arc slides his hands from his pants pockets and hovers them above the table. Magic crackles through the air and flickering blue shackles clamp down on each of Camryn’s wrists and ankles, securing her to the table.
She’s whimpering when a single word escapes Draven’s lips. “No.”
“Do you know her?” Camryn asks.
Silence.
“Do you know her?!” Her voice rises, echoing through the room.
Draven’s breaths grow shallow. “It can’t be.” His words rumble from his chest.
“Draven! They’re coming. We have to go. Who is it?!” Camryn pleads.
“Isolde.”
Arc’s already pale face blanches. Caelum’s head jerks toward Draven, his mouth agape. I draw a sharp inhale into my clenching chest as Soren grips my shoulder.
And Draven? Although his mind is elsewhere, his face expresses every emotion he’s feeling. His brows are pulled tight together, and his lips press into a hard line.
The next moment, Camryn bolts upright, shaking and reaching for Caelum. “You’re okay,” she cries. “You’re okay.”
His shocked face softens as he lays eyes on her frightened expression. He pulls her to his chest and wraps his massive arms around her body. “Shh. Yes, I’m right here. You’re safe with me.”
All lust magic has retreated back into Draven. He slowly sits up from the table and dangles his legs over the edge, staring at the floor. Arc walks to him, his long fingers wrapping over the incubus’ shoulder. Draven’s blue wings vanish and his eyes return to an ocean blue.
“She’s alive,” Draven whispers.
“She’s alive,” I repeat to Soren, casting him a worried glance.
“What does this mean?” Soren’s face is hard as he glares at Arc.
Camryn turns from Caelum’s chest, but she stays clutched to his side. She looks exhausted.
Arc returns Soren’s gaze. “I don’t know what it means.” His brow furrows.
“Did you know?” Soren’s voice grows louder.
Arc’s icy eyes flash. “Of course not. I believed she was dead, just like you did.”
My head dizzies. Isolde somehow survived our battle, and now she’s aligned herself with the king. She’s the missing piece. She’s been desperate to escape Arc, and she must have made a deal with King Caledor.
With Isolde in the king’s arsenal, it changes what we thought we knew about the impending battle.
It changes everything.