Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
She nods, but her body stiffens. And no wonder. The tension between them is thick and undeniable.
Closing the last bit between them, Ice wraps his arms around Sabelle’s middle, just beneath her breasts. His legs shadow hers, thighs to thighs, shins to calves, his feet braced around hers. The witch’s breath catches when Ice drops his head, resting his forehead to her crown. His breath fans the little tendrils of hair at her nape. Some of the hair artlessly piled on her head slips free of its clip, caressing Ice as she leans back into him.
Neither moves as their bodies seemingly meld together.
“I’m going to blast you with cold. Try to pass it through you to her.”
Like an energy transfer? It doesn’t escape me that if Aquarius were awake, she would embrace this holistic energy healing and give it two thumbs up on the karma scale. Since she’s not, I hold my breath, willing this to work.
Sabelle closes her eyes. A moment later, she stiffens, then gasps. Finally, she tries to jerk free from Ice.
“No,” he growls. “Stay with me. See where she needs cooling and pass the chill there.”
With chattering teeth, Sabelle nods. Her hands turn cadaver white, then blue. I frown. Ice is projecting his cold to Sabelle, but she’s not transferring it to Aquarius.
“Please,” I cajole Sabelle. “I know it must be uncomfortable, but don’t give up.”
Olivia gives my hand a supportive squeeze.
With a wobbly nod, Sabelle consents. “Sorry. It was…quite a lot. I’ll try again.”
With a nod, Ice wraps his arms tighter around Sabelle, touching his lips to her ear. “Take in my energy. Send it through.”
Sabelle squints, trying to focus inward. Ice grips one hip, pressing himself closer until there’s not a breath of air between them. The other hand he splays across the flat of her stomach, fingers stretched from just beneath her breasts, all the way to her navel. Sabelle’s head falls against his shoulder, eyes closed.
“Feel me?” Ice whispers, his voice husky.
“Yes,” Sabelle answers in a ragged gasp. A rosy flush blooms across her cheeks, spreading down her neck.
But Aquarius remains deathly still.
Perched on the other side of the bed, I lean forward and watch as Sabelle’s expression morphs before my eyes—dreamy, wanton. Her lips part, a silent moan. As she arches back against Ice’s muscled chest, a trembling sigh escapes her. The air crackles with their shared heat, and I can’t look away.
“Fuck!” Ice jerks away as if scalded. “You just blasted me with heat.”
“I-I don’t know why.” Sabelle won’t meet his gaze, but I see her eyes—unfocused and dilated. Guilt and desire war on her face.
She’s not just affected; she’s burning for Ice, even as she fights it.
Understanding blazes across Ice’s features. His jaw clenches, muscles rippling as he visibly wrestles for control. He grabs her elbow, then tilts her chin up with one finger, forcing her to look at him. “Princess, talk to me.”
“Leave it,” she breathes, trying to retreat.
He holds fast. “Not until you bloody explain what just happened.”
Ice knows damn well Sabelle’s reaction melted his magic. He wants to hear her admit it. Meanwhile, my friend is dying, and we’re wasting precious time on this charged standoff.
“It simply didn’t work,” Sabelle insists, her mask of indifference firmly in place as she turns to me.
“Bollocks,” Ice growls. “I felt everything.”
Silence stretches between them before Sabelle whispers, “You know it’s impossible.” Regret flashes in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
She flees, leaving Ice staring after her, raw need etched into every line of his body. Olivia’s slack-jawed surprise mirrors my own.
One thing I’m almost certain of? Ice won’t let Sabelle run again now that he knows their attraction is mutual.
Chapter
Forty-One
Caden
The minute Ice returns to the study, Bram begins pacing in front of his ornate desk, looking at each warrior. The gravity—and disapproval—of that stare is unavoidable. I bristle. Admittedly, if I was still a Marine and Bram was my superior officer, I would deserve an ass-chewing.
But I have my own problems—my transition, Sydney’s attack, Lucan’s illness. Since my plate is full, I’m tempted to shout that I owe Bram nothing. But the situation is no longer that simple. The man’s sister is keeping my brother alive—at great personal expense.
I also can’t deny that, without Bram, Zain likely would have killed Sydney. I know little actual magic—and prefer it that way. It won’t be necessary once I return to Texas, but today…leaving isn’t an option because there is no mistaking the fact Sydney’s fate has utterly changed. As long as the Anarki believe she has the diary, true or not, they’ll hunt her.
Then there is the fact that Anka is somewhere out there, alone and unprotected, with little idea where she belongs. As much as I despise it, I need Bram’s help now more than ever.
“Today, many things changed. Caden transitioned. The Anarki began hotly pursuing the book once more. We have a prisoner. Again.”