Chapter 26 Dianna
DIANNA
“When we spent time together, she, um … would run her ideas by me, but I didn’t take them seriously. I thought they were just ramblings, and she wished to impress her unimpressive father.”
“Okay.” My arms stayed folded, and I slumped back in my chair, listening to him.
We were in a rundown tavern, discussing our next plan of action, and Cameron seemed quite amused as Samkiel fumbled over his words. He sat to the side, his eyes flicking back and forth between us.
“She wanted an armada, and it appears she now has one,” Samkiel said.
I raised a brow, knowing my face held nothing but disdain for this bird woman. “She has wings. Seems redundant.”
Cameron snorted, but hid it behind his drink and pretended to look somewhere else.
Gods love Reggie. He just continued to lean against the windowsill, staring out through the dirty glass.
Samkiel cleared his throat and shot Cameron a warning look before folding his hands. “She comes from the southern region. It is tropical and made up of floating islands, much like Jade City. It makes sense she’d wish to rule the sky she grew up in.”
I nodded slowly, still leaning away from him, my opinion on this turn of events clear. “Huh. So, what? Your engaging in post-sex conversations helped her conquer the sky? Riveting.”
Samkiel’s shoulders slumped, clearly knowing he was not winning this. “Dianna.”
“Samkiel,” I mocked, my tone a little too harsh and critical. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to wrap my head around this ex of yours. She’s in league with your sister and learned how to build massive warships because you helped her when you guys used to …” I looked at Cameron. “What was it?”
He lowered the mug just a bit and said, “Hate sex.”
Samkiel glowered at Cameron, but he ignored him.
“That’s right, hate sex,” I said. “With the queen of what again, Cameron?”
“Trugarum.”
Samkiel looked at Cameron, ready to leap across the table and throttle him. Cameron only shrugged and glanced toward me as if to say I’m more scared of her than you.
“So, from what I’m gathering, not only did she not die in the rebellion, but she has teamed up with your psychotic sister and built weapons that can make our eyes bleed from the sound, all because you decided, hey let’s talk about weapons of mass destruction after penetration.”
“I didn’t think it was something that would actually occur.” Samkiel looked at me, his expression shifting to pleading discomfort. “She’s not that bright.”
“Well, she’s something.”
“No, she’s not.”
I growled, unmoved, and asked, “Then why did your heart speed up when you saw her?”
Cameron choked on his drink.
“What?” Samkiel said.
“I felt it, so don’t lie,” I said. “Miss her or something?”
“No.” He looked at me like I had slapped him. “If anything, it was a surprise and fear, since her warships incapacitated us both. Are you being serious right now?”
“All roads lead to one,” Reggie said suddenly. We all turned to look at him, but he just stared back, blinking at us as if he hadn’t just spoken.
“What?”
Cameron patted him on his back. “Oh, thank fuck. I was wondering when you would start your crazy ramblings again.”
Reggie looked at me, then Samkiel, and back. “Did I?”
I smiled softly at him. “Yes, and actually, thank you for the distraction.”
“All roads lead to one?” Samkiel asked. “What does it mean, Reggie?”
Reggie shook his head. “I-I don’t remember.”
“Maybe it means that all your past lovers lead to Dianna so that you guys can stop this small argument that means nothing, because … Okay, I’ll shut up,” Cameron said before absently scratching at the back of his head.
I knew I sounded bitter, but that was because I was.
I was a jealous, possessive, mean bitch when it came to him.
Of course, Samkiel had others before me.
I knew that, and I’d had others before him.
What we had was different. He’d claimed me in every way, made me the ring I currently wore on my finger, and we’d shared vows binding us together forever.
Yet as he talked, all I thought about was roasting her like a fucking holiday dinner.
Maybe I was just sour because she was powerful, hot, and had a giant army. I also realized how possessive I was. He was mine. I barely wanted people to even look at him too long, much less hear about past conquests that resulted in an entire airborne arsenal.
If I were honest, I knew I was being irrational.
I had nothing to be jealous of. Samkiel’s devotion and loyalty were beyond contestation, and I was the last person fit to judge his past. Milani and the armada were just feathers on a larger bird that I was more than ready to roast. I was tired.
He was tired. We all were. We had searched the realms for any sign of Kaden, Isaiah, and Miska, but we’d come up empty-handed.
Every time I thought about what could be happening to Miska, surrounded by enemies, terror became a breathing, living thing inside of me, gnawing at every thought.
On top of all of that, now we had this armada to worry about.
“My main concern right now is finding Miska and then sending Kaden and Isaiah to their graves,” I said, the wooden legs of my chair scraping on the stone floor as I stood.
Samkiel cast me a look of pure agitation before realizing I had stood. “Where are you going?”
“I have to go to the bathroom.” My glare bit into him.
His chair almost toppled as he stood to his feet. “All right.”
“I can go alone.”
“I have to go as well,” Samkiel said.
Narrowing my eyes, I waited for Cameron to make some remark, but he was suddenly too focused on the food on the table.
Reggie had returned to watching the people moving around the town outside the window, seemingly enthralled.
I got the feeling he was determined not to acknowledge his sudden outburst. I shrugged and walked toward the back of the tavern.
When I asked where the bathrooms were, a sweet, older barkeep pointed the way.
I barely made it around the corner and out of sight of the main tavern before Samkiel grabbed my elbow and dragged me into the dark shadows beneath the old wooden staircase.
“You’re so jealous at times. It truly pisses me off,” he said, pulling me against him. “But it also makes me crazy for you.” His lips slanted over mine in a hard, passionate kiss.
I pushed against his shoulders and chest, but he locked me in against the wall. He inserted a knee between my thighs and ground his cock against me, letting me feel what my little outburst did to him.
I sank my teeth into his lower lip, glaring up at him when he pulled back.
“You are one to talk. You got all twisted up because I simply said a man’s name.
So now what? You are fine fucking me in the hallway for everyone one to see?
” I challenged, trying to hide that I was feeling a little breathless.
Samkiel’s eyes flared silver. “Yes.”
He claimed my mouth again, sliding his tongue over my lips, demanding entrance.
The moment I opened to him, he invaded, claiming what was his.
He ripped at the laces of my leather pants, opening them enough that he could slip his hand inside.
Every ounce of irritation I had suddenly melted away as his fingers circled my clit.
I pulled my mouth from his to gasp for air. “Not fair.”
Samkiel rested his forehead against mine. “How many more ways can I show you I belong to you and only you? How many words do you need? Ask and I will provide.”
His hand curved around my pussy and he slipped a single finger inside me. I moaned and clenched, jolts of pleasure shooting through me.
“Shall I tell you that if the ancients asked me of love, I’d merely have to whisper your name?
” Another finger joined the first, and when he curved them, my back pressed against the wall as I became lost to pure hot rapture.
“You own me, complete me, and if you think you’re jealous,” he said, his tongue dancing over mine as he kissed me, “When you said Cameron’s name when you came, I wanted to kill him.
He is family and one of my best friends, but I would have happily pulled out Oblivion and destroyed him in that moment. ”
“Oh, my gods,” I moaned.
Elation filled me at his jealousy and what I felt across our bond.
He desperately craved me as I did him. I knew that part of my reaction to Milani came from being cheated on in the past. That trauma had reared its ugly, broken head, but Samkiel, as always, knew how to vanquish that demon as he did them all.
A broken piece of me that was always scared of being replaced, being not enough, healed with every word he whispered in this dark little corner of the world.
Barkeeps walked back and forth past our hiding spot beneath the stairs, the business of the tavern drowning out any noise Samkiel and I made.
My body thrilled with excitement at the possibility of being caught, and I felt utterly wicked doing this in public.
The heel of his palm rested on my clit as his fingers delved deeper, and I undulated my hips, chasing my release.
“Say my name,” he demanded. His fingers curved just right, and I almost screamed. “Please akrai. Free me from this torment.”
I gripped the back of his neck and pressed my forehead to his.
My body tightened, that pinnacle of release barrelling toward me.
And when Samkiel very deliberately curled his fingers and slid them over that spot deep inside, pleasure slammed through my body as sharp as the lightning he wielded.
I came apart, doing exactly what he asked.