so that we were a hair’s width apart. His wings unfurled from his back seamlessly as my eyes flickered to them, my hand twitching.
“Like a fucking compulsion to touch them,” he chuckled softly, “I know the feeling, it’s because we are mates.”
“Oh,” I licked my lips. Then I watched him with a daring sassy smirk as my fingers reached up despite his warning rumble. I dragged them across--
And I was on the floor looking up at Koa before he took my lips, his playful mood gone as his hand cupped my jaw. I sighed into the kiss, my hands tightened on his neck to pull closer as a guttural groan came from his chest. I rolled us easily, relieving the slight pinch in my back as he looked up at me, his eyes dark like a cosmos.
His fingers intertwined with my own as I leaned down, our hands above us, as I deepened the kiss, his pace slow and relaxed as if he was savoring every touch. My body relaxed against his as a languid heat began working its way through my veins making me feel almost high. Damn. These men did a number on me.
“Sorry, Rain, she’s busy right now,” Merrick chuckled as Rain cursed over the speaker.
“Tell Koa to cut the shit,” Oliver grunted, making me giggle, much to my dismay, as Koa offered me a big smile.
“You should see her wings, they are fucking stunning,” Koa barely finished before a pop sounded and Bard’s gaze found mine, his eyebrows shooting up.
“Fuck, beautiful,” he cursed, “they are fucking gorgeous.”
“Huge confidence booster,” I admitted teasing.
“Kirin?” Oliver asked.
“Kirin?” I wiggled off the ground and went up to the phone.
“Zaya, how are you?” he asked warmly.
“Trapped in my house, but I have cool wings now,” I admitted.
“I bet they are beautiful,” he stated softly, Rain grunted and got back on the phone.
“Alright, ma belle. I need you to explain to me and Oliver what just happened.” His voice was far softer so it had me feeling a tad bit more generous. I curled up on the couch and started to explain everything.
Everyone seemed shocked by the amount of magic my mother had been able to put into the book. Honestly, it was a very weird feeling having magic. It felt odd but natural at the same time, like the wings. I felt like it was bubbling right under my skin and I was a bit afraid to let it go because what if it just exploded? I was understanding far better why my mother said I needed to train.
“She told you to go somewhere to train?” Rain reconfirmed.
“Yep,” I nodded.
“Sounds like a good enough reason to stop living there,” Oliver pointed out. It seemed like the two of them weren’t having the issues they had before, maybe I helped solve something there? Who the hell knows I am just glad they aren’t acting like assholes. My eyes fluttered slightly feeling absolutely exhausted.
“What’s our plan?” I asked my head tilting.
“Sleep tonight,” Rain sighed, “I know you need rest and your stepmother won’t open the door this late at night.”
“Why would we need that?” Koa asked curiously.
“If the two of us can get into the house,” Rain explained, “I can break the ward, I think, with Oliver's help. So tomorrow I am going to come over because I was worried about not seeing you at school.”
“Well, I will, technically, but he will be with me,” Oliver explained. Which was good because Rain did not pull off the highschool thing at all.
“Sounds good to me,” I mumbled.
“Night, beautiful,” Oliver said as I switched it over to non-speaker.
“Night,” I smiled with my eyes half shut.
“Zaya, please be careful,” Kirin took the phone and I offered a soft hum of understanding.
Rain was on the phone then. “I promise we will get you out tomorrow, Ma belle.”
I was half asleep but I did remember saying, “I know, Rain. I trust you.” Then the blackness seeped over me like water.
Chapter 19
Bardhyl Donahue
Since Day One
I had been in love with Ophelia for years now.
I don’t mean puppy love either, no, I don’t think I’ve ever felt that type of crush-like emotion for someone. It’s always been no emotions or the large overwhelming emotion that I felt for her. Even when we were younger, the memories she had from then faded out - something I hoped that would come back, I was stuck to her side. I think it was why I had become such an asshole these past few