Chapter 37
Emmeric
When Emmeric had finished all of his schooling, he was only too happy to never have to read another book. And now here he was again in a library. Researching. Reading. He hated it.
And it wasn’t like he was focused, anyway.
Snippets of the morning with Iyana continued to replay in his head. Emmeric knew that some of those images were slipping through to Iyana, because she kept peeking over at him and blushing. Gods, he loved that rosy color on her cheeks.
Stop it, she said, throwing him a glare.
Emmeric smirked. Stop what?
You know exactly what. It’s very distracting, and I need to focus.
It’s not my fault that all I can think of is the taste of your sweet—
“If you guys,” Kaz said dryly from the end of the table, “could stop talking to each other in your heads, that would be fantastic. It’s gross.”
Iyana’s blush deepened, and she buried her nose in her book to hide her face.
“At least you aren’t sitting next to him,” Talon said from Emmeric’s right. “I can see the outline of his dick in his pants.”
Now Iyana popped back out of the book, her eyes wide. Emmeric frowned at his friend and self-consciously covered his lap. True, he was halfway to hard, but nobody else needed to know that.
“Why were you looking?” he asked. Zane raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
“I wasn’t. It’s just there. Impossible not to notice.” Talon glanced between Emmeric and Iyana. “Do you need to go take care of that?”
Honestly, not a bad idea. Maybe then he could focus on the task at hand…
“No,” Iyana hissed, shooting him another glare. “Gods, can everyone drop it? We have work to do.”
Kaz’s hand flew to her chest in mock outrage. “We’re not the ones practically fucking in the library.”
“We aren’t—” Iyana groaned and covered her face with her hands, then slowly dragged them down. “Look, can we stop talking about this? It isn’t a big deal.”
Well, that was one way to figuratively douse him with cold water. Emmeric stood from the table.
“I’m going to go search for other books,” he mumbled.
“Em, wait,” Iyana said, starting to stand. “I didn’t mean—”
He held his hand out to halt her movement. “It’s okay. I only need a minute.”
Iyana sat back down in her chair and let him walk away into the stacks.
Emmeric…
Please don’t. He couldn’t block her out the way she could. Mercifully, Iyana listened and didn’t say anything else.
Iyana thought it wasn’t a big deal? Emmeric had only been waiting for her to come to him for what seemed like ages. He felt as though he’d been searching for her his entire life, and that morning was the culmination of everything he’d ever wanted.
She had looked him in the eyes and told him, It’s always been you.
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to see it.
Sure, it wasn’t a declaration of her undying love, but Emmeric had taken it to mean she was finally giving in to what they had between them.
That she was admitting to both of them she wanted this too.
Wanted him. Maybe he had read the situation wrong—again—and Iyana was still only interested in him for a convenient distraction.
Walking through the stacks of books, Emmeric barely noticed the beauty of the space.
The library was deep within the palace, built into the cliff face, so there were no windows, but lanterns lit the space with a warm light.
The bookcases themselves were also made of stone, as if they had always been there and the empty space had been chiseled out around them.
Books and scrolls of every size and color were meticulously organized.
At least it was easier to find things in this library than in Elena’s.
There was even a disgruntled old librarian who had pointed his finger at them when they first arrived and told them there would be ‘absolutely no funny business’ or they’d be expeditiously removed.
But, Emmeric had to admit, the old man knew what he was doing and had found several books that could have useful information in them.
Emmeric picked a leather-bound book off the shelf and carefully leafed through its brittle pages. He wasn’t actually reading anything, the words blurring in front of him as his thoughts raced. It was more to make himself appear busy should one of the others come looking for him.
The bond within his chest thrummed as the scent of lavender engulfed him. Emmeric pointedly ignored her presence until there was a small touch on his arm.
“Sully?” Iyana asked softly. At least she was respecting his request not to talk through their bond.
He sighed and re-shelved the book, turning to face her fully, which was a mistake.
She gazed up at him with her sad, caramel-brown eyes and any anger Emmeric was feeling melted.
It wasn’t fair—this hold Iyana had on him.
“I didn’t mean it to sound like what happened between us was nothing. I only wanted them to stop, and after…” She dropped her gaze to the floor.
Emmeric felt it then—her fear.
Tilting his head back, a breathy laugh escaped him. Emmeric took a small step towards her, closing the distance. Iyana still wouldn’t look at him, so he put his knuckle under her chin and lifted her face, but she refused to make eye contact.
“Look at me, Mouse,” he murmured.
When she finally lifted her eyes to meet his, Emmeric pressed a gentle, fleeting kiss against her lips, but wouldn’t let her deepen it. She needed to hear him, and he needed her to know how much she meant to him.
“Do you understand just how thoroughly you’ve imprinted yourself onto my life?” Emmeric rested his brow on hers. “You are all I can think of. I get excited to wake up each morning because it means I get to see your face. Everything I do is for you, Iyana. Everything I am is yours.”
Iyana inhaled sharply.
“I can’t pretend I know what you’re going through and the conflicting emotions you must be feeling after…
him.” He pulled away slightly from her and ran his hand into her hair so that he was cradling her head.
“I’m not expecting any grand gestures from you.
I’m only asking for you to give this a chance. ”
“I can do that,” whispered Iyana.
Emmeric’s breath whooshed out of him, a knot in his chest uncoiling.
He hadn’t realized how tense he’d been and how much he needed to hear her say those words.
This time, he kissed Iyana’s mouth with a bruising force.
She gripped the front of his shirt and dragged him close.
One of his hands was still at the back of her head, the other Emmeric used to tug her waist forward.
Backing her into the stack of books, he deepened their kiss, running his tongue along hers and moaning at the taste.
It didn’t matter that he had been inside her a few hours before—he was desperate to feel his skin on hers again.
Suddenly, Iyana broke apart and pushed him away slightly. Her chest heaved with panting breaths.
“As much as I want to continue this,” she said, “Kaz had an idea she wanted to pitch to us. I was supposed to bring you back.”
Emmeric bit back a groan of frustration. “You go on ahead. I, uh”—he cleared his throat—“I need a minute.”
A knowing smirk crossed Iyana’s face, then she lifted onto her toes to kiss him softly. “I’ll see you soon.” When she went to walk away, Iyana trailed her hand across the front of Emmeric’s crotch, making him and his cock jump.
He grabbed onto her wrist and leaned into her ear. “Just know, Mouse, that this isn’t finished, and I plan to have you writhing in pleasure underneath me tonight.”
Iyana shivered, and she glanced towards the bulge in his pants before her eyes jumped back up. “I’m going to hold you to that promise.”
Emmeric released her wrist and shamelessly watched her ass as she walked away from him.
Several minutes later, he rejoined the rest of their group at the table they had claimed, sliding back into his chair next to Talon, who leaned over towards him.
“Better?” his best friend asked.
“Much.”
“But you two didn’t actually, you know, fuck, did you?”
Emmeric glared at him. “No, we did not fuck in the library.”
“Good,” Zane said. “I think the librarian would have had a conniption if he caught you doing that.” Talon chuckled and opened his mouth to say something, but Kaz cut him off by clearing her throat.
“You all know how much I love talking about fucking, but I actually have a good idea for how we can figure this shit out without books.”
Iyana smiled brightly. “We’re all ears, Kaz.” Then she shot the three men a look that clearly said, shut the fuck up right now or I will make you shut up.
“We ask a star.”
The four of them sat there staring at the shifter. Emmeric was wondering if there was more to this plan, and if there wasn’t, then he was wondering if Kaz was insane.
“Are you insane?” Talon asked.
Kaz crossed her arms. “Think about it. We’re searching for information from a thousand years ago. Most of these books here are only a few hundred. But the stars were there when they were banished.”
“Obviously,” Tal said dryly. Kaz flipped him off.
“So they’re going to be the best source of information on how that actually happened.”
Iyana’s lips were pursed. Zane sighed and ran his hands down his face.
“She’s right,” he said.
“I know I’m right,” Kaz said, sounding slightly put-out. But what did she expect? Her ideas usually consisted of having a threesome or a full-blown orgy. For an actual plan to exit her mouth was a wonder.
But still, Emmeric shook his head. “Absolutely not.” He stared at Iyana. “Last time you saw Altair, you nearly burned down an inn.”
She winced. “So we find Scuti.”
“Even if we can trust Scuti,” Talon said, “we have no way of knowing how to contact him.”
Zane looked to Iyana then Emmeric, and Em felt in his gut that he wasn’t going to like what the emperor was about to say.
“We cannot discount the fact that Altair has sought out Iyana twice now. I think that if we left the palace, he would probably try to find her again.”
Emmeric hated the pity he saw in Zane’s eyes.
“We should go see the city tonight,” Zane continued. “I would bet you anything that Altair approaches us.”
“No,” Emmeric said immediately.
He refused to put Iyana in that situation again, where she had to look the person who betrayed her and killed both her grandmother and friend in the face. Unless she decided she wanted to kill the star, Emmeric would try to keep her away from him at all costs.
Emmeric…
Whipping his head towards Iyana, Emmeric frowned. He recognized that tone. “No,” he said, again.
It’s a good idea, she said.
It’s a terrible idea. Do you want to see him?
Emmeric thought they had reached an understanding a few minutes before, but if Altair wasn’t lying about Iyana being his ‘star-bound mate,’ then maybe she was still connected to him despite all the shit he’d put her through.
No, of course I don’t. But we could ask him how to find Scuti and leave it at that.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Talon whispered loudly.
“Hopefully something naughty,” replied Kaz in the same tone.
“Aww,” Tal said, returning to his normal voice. “There she is. We missed you, Kaz.” He went to pat her head, but the shifter slapped his hand away.
“We’ll go into Istoria tonight after dinner,” Iyana announced. “If anyone asks, we simply want to take in the local scenery.”
Emmeric absolutely despised this plan, but there was no way in the nine hells he was letting Iyana go without him, so he braced himself for seeing Altair again. Because Zane was unfortunately correct. That star always seemed to turn up wherever Iyana was.
Several hours later, they left the palace to go ‘check out the nightlife.’ Emmeric had made sure to steal an hour of Iyana’s time before they left to remind her that she didn’t need Altair; that Emmeric was the one who understood her inside and out.
He’d watched her get ready, loving the simple domesticity of the moment, and still he was in awe of her beauty underneath the flickering lanterns of Istoria.
She wore a normal pair of trousers, but a low-cut tunic that showed the swells of her breasts and also put most of her back on display.
Instead of wearing her hair down to hide her scars, Iyana piled it on top of her head and declared she wasn’t ashamed of them anymore.
Emmeric worshiped those scars with his lips and tongue, and would have torn that tunic right back off had Iyana not laughed and pushed him away.
Her lashes were lined with kohl and she’d painted her lips a blood red. She looked ready for battle.
She was glorious.
Talon and Kaz jostled and joked with each other as they walked down the streets, trying to find a tavern suitable for their needs—something a little off the beaten path.
Iyana and Zane made a valiant effort to keep up the act with their more exuberant companions, but Emmeric couldn’t bring forth even the ghost of a smile.
He kept his eyes glued to Iyana, tracing every curve of her body, wondering what those red lips would look like wrapped around his cock.
Once, she glanced at him over her shoulder, grinning widely, and winked at him.
I can show you later, she told him.
Phaedros take him, Emmeric could have come in his pants from that sentence combined with the promise in her gaze.
A smile almost graced his face, then. Almost. Because as much as he wished they were all a happy group of friends going out to have drinks, he knew better. They were hoping—fucking hoping—a violent star with a penchant for betrayal would find them.
They finally found a tavern that appeared seedy enough to suit their needs.
Walking inside, they ordered ale, then took their drinks and separated.
Emmeric and Iyana took to one table with a good view of the front door, while the other three sat across the tavern in the shadows.
If Altair were to show, they would be backup.
Hopefully it was a precaution that wasn’t needed.
For the better part of an hour, the Aztia and Kanaliza quietly sat on a bench next to each other, their thighs pressed together.
Emmeric didn’t know what to talk about, and neither did Iyana, apparently.
Even their mental bond was silent, simply humming with anticipation and nerves.
They sipped on their godsawful ale and waited.
As Emmeric downed the final dregs of his watered-down alcohol, he was going to tell them it was time to leave when the front door opened.
Two cloaked figures entered. One went to the bar and sat on a stool, picking up a conversation with the barkeep while the other walked straight towards them.
They lowered themselves into the chair across from Iyana and Emmeric and lowered their hood.
Golden eyes stared at Iyana, not even acknowledging him. Godsdammit, Altair had found them.