Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Zenith

Anash wakes first. The weary look in his storm-cloud gaze tells me I need to feed him. And I also need to feed him, but we'll need our own room for that. The thought sends heat coursing through my veins. I long to care for him, to give him everything he needs, to keep him safe and satisfied for all our days.

But first, breakfast. Or dinner. I have no idea what time it is. Or what day it is.

"We made it?" His voice is weaker than normal.

"Sure did. Thanks to you."

"Thanks to Rahz."

"And you ."

"Is Talus okay?"

We both look at the sleeping gargoyle. I shake my head. "Not yet, but I hope with time, he will be."

"I hope so too. I'm sorry he isn't what you were expecting."

"I'm glad we freed him. My gut told me it wasn't right that Queen Aurielle wouldn't speak of him. I wish I'd listened to it sooner."

"We're learning to trust our intuition, you and I. All we can do is our best." Anash pushes himself up, stretches, and yawns.

"Hungry?"

"Starved." Surprise lights his face. "Oh, you meant… Wait, what did you mean?"

I chuckle. "I meant food, Nasha, but you may certainly have both."

He grins. "I actually meant food too, but now I want both."

"Come on. Let's find the kitchen and see about getting our own room. Perhaps we can also find someone to watch over Talus so he isn't alone when he wakes."

"Sounds good." He glances down at himself and the lacy cream robe the incubi loaned him. "And maybe some clothes?"

"Don't worry. They're being laundered." I finger the ties at his belly but stop short of opening them. "Lace suits you."

"I'm glad you think so. You may strip it off me later, but let's eat first. I need to recover my strength."

We wander the halls, passing by room after room. The entire building smells strongly of perfume and faintly of sex, not altogether an unpleasant scent but I'll be glad to leave nonetheless.

It turns out the kitchen isn't on the ground floor but below ground, which is interesting. As we bumble down the stairs, the savory aroma of baking wafts up.

"You're just in time," says a human I don't recognize. "They told me you'd be hungry, so I've put on some fresh herbed bread. Sit." She gestures to a set of barstools at the counter. "I'm Lila. Oh! Should a bow? I should bow." She bows.

"No, no, no. Please. No formalities on my account." Anash waves her up. "I'm Anash, and this is Zenith. We'd offer our wrists, but yours is covered in flour, and we have yet to properly bathe after last night's adventures."

"Hi, Lila." I offer a smile. "Smells great."

"I'll fix you a plate. Sit tight." She bustles around, gathering fruits and cheeses to add to our feast. "Are the others awake yet?"

"Well, Talus I expect to be sleeping for some time. As for Rahz and Jindal, we were hoping to find out as much ourselves."

"I'll send for Hiluron. He'll know. He's made up a room for the two of you as well."

"That's awfully kind of him." I can hardly believe I'm relying on the hospitality of incubi. I will owe them after this. My thanks will never be enough. "We don't want to bother him if we don't have to. In fact, we'll take this and go if that's all right with you."

"Of course." She thrusts plates into our hands and selects a bottle of wine and two glasses. "Come with me. I'll show you to your rooms."

"Thank you," we say and follow her back upstairs.

Our room is on the same hall as Talus, but not right next door, and I count both of those as boons. I intend to make my beloved squeal, and I'd rather not wake my commander doing it.

The bed is richly decorated in emerald-green velvet curtains with silver ties, a lighter shade of green for the coverlet, and a black fur thrown over the foot. More pillows than any two people could need tower high at the head. The rug is a rich brown with burnt orange accents and tassels around the border.

We sit in twin armchairs, a tiny table between us, and tuck into the food. Delicious fluffy bread, warm enough to melt the butter and soften the cheese as we put together little sandwiches. We both moan.

I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I started eating. I'd thought perhaps Lila had given us too much, but now I see it's just enough. Once Anash has eaten his fill, I devour the rest and two glasses of the honeyed wine that's so popular in the south.

Anash is making eyes at me over the rim of his cup, fluttering his lashes and swinging his tail behind his head. When he slowly licks his lips, I sputter out a laugh.

"Very subtle."

He grins, sets the cup down, and crawls into my lap. "If you wanted subtle, you wouldn't have chosen me."

"I couldn't have chosen anyone else." I tug him in close. "We're meant to be."

"I feel the same." He kisses me, tasting of honey wine and need. I plan to take care of him so thoroughly he passes out all over again.

This is our last night together before I make my new position known. I won't risk Anash getting caught in the fray. He'll hate it, but I'm going to ask him to stay here, where it's safe, while I put an end to this war once and for all.

But no thinking about that now, not when he's squirming and eager in my arms. I lift him. Anash wraps himself around me like a sea monster, all arms, legs, tail, and tongue.

I put him in the center of the fancy bed and take a moment to relish just looking at him.

"If you don't unwrap me this instant, you'll lose the privilege." He starts untying the lacy robe he wears.

"Stop that." I smack his hand playfully. "You said I could take it off you, and I will. In fact, lie back and relax. I'm going to make you come, and then I'm going to come for you. All you need to do is feel. And sup."

"As you command." His sweet smirk, paired with his come-hither stare, is intoxicating. He lifts his arms over his head, stretching long, and leaves them there.

Mine to plunder.

Beneath my questing fingers, the lacey robe comes undone, revealing the long line of his chest, belly, and thighs. The hard length between them.

Wasting no time, I put my mouth to work. The soft column of his throat vibrates beneath my lips as he hums his contentment.

His nipples pebble under my gentle caress. He shivers, opening his legs, showing me with his body where he needs me next.

I'd never deny him.

As I suck him between my lips, his sounds shoot heat to my groin. Little whimpers. Throaty moans.

He digs fingers into my hair and moves my head just how he likes it, which is exactly how I like it. Anash controlling me and losing himself in that control.

He thrusts, and I take him deeper. I grip his thighs in my big hands, palming the muscles, giving them a good squeeze.

It doesn't take long. He comes with a cry, body stiffening, abdomen trembling. I swallow everything he offers and lick my lips.

"Oh, Zee." He breathes out my name as he goes pliant beneath me. All that coiled energy sprung for the moment. Soft and yielding. His magic calls to mine. "Give me more."

"With pleasure." I straddle his waist and stroke myself over him. There will be no lasting tonight, not with that hungry twinkle in his gaze, those parted lips, that pretty pink wet tongue. That otherworldly hunger he has for me unlocks, ready to feast.

I give of myself in rope after rope of seed. White lines on his chin, his cheek, his lips. He uses his fingers to collect it all into his mouth, shivering and moaning his pleasure to the skies.

After. When he is fed. When we're both supple and limp as wet noodles. When the silence is finally comfortable and right again, we curl up in each other's embrace beneath soft blankets.

Anash tucks his head beneath my chin and presses his cheek to my chest.

We breathe as one.

"You know something?"

"Hmm?" he murmurs sleepily.

"I saved an incubus once. In the war…"