57. Ayden

Chapter 57

Ayden

D eclan and I strode back to the Mages’ Compound in silence. What does one say to the death of so many? How should one react after so many were laid to rest?

Pyre upon pyre, row after row, seared themselves into my vision, my heart, my very soul.

When the door to Declan’s chamber closed behind me, he turned and wrapped me in his arms, as though he’d waited the entire walk back just for the comfort of that moment. I gripped him with all my strength.

Never before had any man needed another.

I prayed it would never again be so.

When the long moment passed, Declan pulled back but held my shoulders. His eyes brimmed with every emotion of the day, yet they also held a love I knew to be eternal. They held a desire for the ages. They were reservoirs of hope.

He stared so long I thought he might never look away, then slowly, gently, leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. So tender was his kiss I felt my very spirit pour into him, yield itself to his will.

His hands kneaded my muscles, then drifted from shoulders to biceps, then traveled to grip my chest.

Feather touch grew to passionate kiss, then soared to urgent need.

I’d barely gained a breath before he robbed me of my cloak.

Then my tunic.

Then my trousers.

Naked before him, my arousal swelled and throbbed.

He tore off his own tunic and nearly ripped his pants apart.

Our kisses were those of madmen, desperate and longing, as though the world might steal the moment from us and we would never feel the warmth of each other again.

Then salt struck my tongue.

His chest shook.

His lips quivered.

And his arms wrapped around me.

Sobs followed.

I guided him to the bed and held him, his head resting beneath my chin, his body squeezed tightly in my embrace.

“I couldn’t save them, Ayden. I tried. I tried so . . .” His words died as tears fell.

“You did everything—”

“No, I didn’t,” he said. “The Well, it surged to hot, with such power. It flowed through me, and I held back the whole army.”

I stroked his hair and kissed his forehead but held my tongue.

“But I wasn’t enough. The Well wasn’t enough, Ayden. We lost the city. If the people hadn’t been evacuated, and the Phoenix—”

“Shh. Dec, the Phoenix played her part. órla played her role.”

His chest heaved against mine as another wave of sobs racked his body. “Oh, gods, Spirits, órla’s gone. Ayden . . . gods no!”

For the second time that day, there were no words.