Chapter 16

"Come on, Cal, spill it," Max said.

"Alright, I'm seeing someone. But we're keeping it secret."

"Is she embarrassed to be with you?" Darius taunted, lazing back in his throne-like chair. It was getting late and everyone but the core group had gone to bed, leaving us all hanging out in The Orb celebrating our victory at the FIB impound. Me and the fam. The pack of dreams. Man, this was peace if ever I knew it.

The FIB agents who had turned on Lionel had all come to stay on Rump Island, bolstering the ranks of our army ever so nicely, and if that wasn't worth a few beers, I didn't know what was.

"Maybe it's the other way around," Max sniggered. "Is she a Walrus shifter who keeps her teeth out in Fae form?"

"Fuck off," Caleb said, but a grin played around his mouth. "It's just nothing serious. Nothing worth announcing to the world. I don't need the press sniffing around for the story."

I felt Darcy's eyes on me, but I couldn't turn her way as Caleb suddenly reached into my chest and gripped my heart in his fist – or at least, that was what it felt like. Him toying with it, weighing it in his palm and digging his nails in as if he was considering obliterating it.

Nothing worth announcing to the world.

Those words hurt far more than they should have. I'd agreed to this, hadn't I? Keeping it secret. But this was easy for him. Caleb's heart wasn't on the line. To him, this was nothing serious. He was never going to want me the way I wanted him, but the pathetic truth was that I'd take every scrap of attention he had to offer. Because while it lasted, even fragments of Caleb Altair were better than the cavity that was left in my chest without him at all.

I pushed to my feet, leaving them to talk and figuring I'd get another beer. What was I becoming though? Some loser who drank away his problems? I wasn't Orion. He was example enough to know how that shit ended. With him bitter and alone. He may have found his path out of the dark in the end, but I'd seen the emptiness in his eyes back before he had Darcy.

"I think I'll call it a night," I said to the others, leaving their protests behind as I swerved the beer and walked out into the cold night air.

A rumble of thunder in the belly of the clouds promised a violent storm, and I willed it to come and do its worst. I tracked along the path, the static in the air making my skin prickle with the urge to shift. It wasn't a bad idea. Run away into the dark of The Wailing Wood and let it have me like it had countless times before.

Only, this time, footsteps padded after me and the sweet scent of strawberries reached me as my follower caught up. Darcy. Of course it was Darcy. She knew me now, almost as deeply as the Heirs knew me, and in some ways she knew me more. Because she had known the cruelty in me, the vicious streak that painted my heart black. How far we'd come from being enemies, walking these paths, me stalking her like prey and her despising me with all the ire she had to give. Now, I couldn't imagine my life without her, a friend I treasured to the moon and back.

"You didn't have to follow me," I said.

I flicked up a silencing bubble, casting a glance back the way we'd come, but there was no sign of anyone following.

"No, but I wanted to." She fell into step with me, and I looked down at her while she looked up at me with those green, green eyes which saw right through me. "Caleb's just covering for you guys."

"There was truth in what he said," I sighed. "It's the very truth that haunts me. When this ends, it's going to end me too. But I can't stop, Phoen."

"Phoen?"

"Yeah, as in Phoen Dream. I can't exactly call you babe anymore. Feels weird."

She smiled. "Well, I'm not calling you Wolfman. And you'd better not be planning on calling Tory ‘Bitchy'."

"Why? I think she'd like it." I barked a laugh.

A rustle in the trees up ahead made me pause and Darcy frowned as she stopped too.

"Cal's here," I said in a low voice, despite the silencing bubble.

"Seems like the perfect opportunity to go talk to him then." She shoved me that way and I huffed out a breath.

"Nahh."

"Go and see him at least." She pushed me with a blast of air that made me stumble forward, then she took off into the sky like a damn kestrel and sailed away on the breeze.

"Feathery bitch." I grinned, then prowled toward the trees again, letting the silencing bubble fall.

I wouldn't know Caleb was watching unless he wanted to let me know, his ever-silent, ever-fast movements keeping anyone from hearing him unless he desired it.

I walked beneath the thick canopy, stepping off the path as my Wolf senses came to life. Every crack of a twig and rustle of a leaf carried to me, the hoot of an owl and the padding of footfalls belonging to various Fae in their Order forms out here in the woods. But none of them were close by.

"I know you're here, Cal," I called, walking deeper into the forest.

I didn't bother to cast a Faelight, my eyes adjusting to the dark as if I was in my Wolf form. Predators didn't need light to hunt by, and here in these trees, I had always been top of the food chain.

The wind was making the branches rattle and my senses were alight as I looked this way and that, trying to pick out my stalker between the boughs.

"You're hunting big game," I warned. "The deadliest animal on campus."

A whoosh of air told me Caleb was launching his attack from above and I jolted forward to try and avoid the strike. He landed behind me, locking his arm around my throat and yanking me back against him.

"Second deadliest." He tried to bite me, but I grabbed his arm, forcing it away from my neck and twisting around, ready with a punch that slammed straight into his gut.

He cursed, shooting away with a surge of Vampire speed then coming at me from behind again. I ducked the swing of his arm, turning and throwing my shoulder into his chest, trying to throw him off balance.

His heels dug into the ground, churning up dirt but in the next second, he was gone, darting away in a burst of speed that left me stumbling to my knees. He reappeared in front of me just as fast, fisting his hand in my hair.

His head cocked to one side and a smile played around his lips. "Down on your knees for me already? What a good pup."

"Fuck you." I launched myself upward, latching my hands around his throat and pinning him to the nearest tree with so much force that the whole thing swayed.

My teeth were bared, my muscles bunched and anger was pulsing hotly in my chest. I was furious for all kinds of insane reasons. Because he had spoken about me as if I was nothing, because he had so much power over my heart, because of every insufferable second I spent without him and every fleeting one I spent with him. Most of all, I was angry because he didn't love me back, and because I had once felt so unbreakable, but now a single rejection from him could shatter me completely.

I shoved away from him, prowling off into the trees back towards the path.

"Seth," Caleb called, but I didn't reply, unsure where my head was at right now, only that it was in a tailspin.

My Atlas buzzed in my pocket and I took it out, finding a news article linked in the group chat.

The Twisted Truth of the Twisted King, by Tyler Corbin and Portia Silverstone.

The foul darkness spreading across our land is an atrocity that can no longer be ignored. Fellow Fae, whether you bury your head in the sand or not, this war has besieged our home, and it is time to do what is honourable and prepare to fight to reclaim our kingdom.

First, what must be acknowledged are the videos depicting the Vega twins burning a Nebula Interrogation Centre to the ground along with the Fae trapped inside. All is not as it seems, the Fae depicted are not them at all, but a monster wearing the face of our queens to besmirch their names – an illusion set to deceive the faithful. Question why, after fighting for justice and freeing many Fae from such imprisonment in these centres, the Vegas would turn on their own people now? Little sense could be made of such an endeavour, but much sense can be made of the truth. A scheme to tar their names by a terrible foe, and who might be more fitting for the role than the one who calls himself king, or perhaps the monster he calls queen?

Memories have been offered up willingly by none other than Darcy Vega and her Elysian Mate Lance Orion since their escape from captivity at the Palace of Souls. Click here to view the disturbing eyewitness account of Lionel Acrux's violent acts. But he is not the only violent royal in his court, for it seems the False King answers to his queen, a creature straight from the Shadow Realm, a Nymph who has been tainted by darkness, making her unimaginably powerful. Click here to watch Lionel face the wrath of his so-called Shadow Queen when she was displeased by him and decide for yourself which power we should fear more within the palace. Is Lavinia Umbra our true enemy, or does the False King have her under his control?

It is time to decide, dear nation, on which ruler you want on your throne. If your allegiance once lay with Lionel Acrux, there is no shame in changing your mind now that his true nature has been unveiled. Many Fae have joined the rebellion who stood on the other side of a once uncrossable bridge. Portia Silverstone, for example, former head of The Celestial Times, once heralded Lionel Acrux as a fine representation of Fae after a long-standing professional relationship with him, has come to work for The Daily Solaria since her daring work with the rebels, exposing the Dragon's darkest secrets. Among them being the murder of his beloved brother, Radcliff Acrux, who had long ago been set upon a great path to rule alongside the other Councillors to bring peace to our kingdom. Alas, that fate was stolen from his clutches, and now it is time we all do as Portia has done and step out of the shadows to declare allegiance to the righteous side of this war.

Tory and Darcy Vega, now crowned among their people as queens, request that you join the ranks of the True Queens' army, or if you are at risk from Lionel's tyranny, join their refuge of safety at Zodiac Academy, protected by powerful and ancient Phoenix magic that cannot be breached by enemy forces.

Join us and you join the side fighting for equality, compassion, and morality.

I clicked on the link to watch the memory play out of Lionel being beaten up by Lavinia, my lips hitching into a grin as he began to beg. Caleb had moved to my side, watching over my shoulder.

"Look at him. He's pathetic," Caleb hissed, his fingers brushing mine, the small contact enough to have my heart rioting.

I gripped his hand, knowing we shouldn't do anything this public, but it was dark. Besides, I had my Wolf needs. No one would question it too much.

Our fingers interlinked and the rough graze of his palm against mine calmed the thrashing of my pulse.

The moonlight highlighted the high arch of his cheekbones and the hollows of his cheeks, making him look as though he was carved from stone.

So many had fallen in this war. But I was one of the lucky ones, holding on to a life that all the fallen would trade me for with everything they had left to give. I might soon find that luck waning, and Caleb might too. Did I really want to walk beyond The Veil having never shared the most desperate secret of my heart?

"Meet me in Aer Territory in an hour – dress in something hot," I said, stepping away from him.

"Why? What are you thinking?" he asked like he hoped I had some mischief planned.

"You'll see." I grinned playfully, then raced away down the path with a plan in mind and my heart thrashing at the prospect of it.

Caleb was the Fae who had given me the moon, so I planned on giving him the sky.

When everything was ready, I stood outside Aer Tower waiting for Caleb to show. I wore a white button down with my favourite ripped jeans, the braids in my hair freshly bound and the subtle earthy scent of Elemental Number 6 cologne on my neck.

Doubts were kicking in, and I was one negative thought away from cancelling this whole idea and never revisiting it again. But then the moon winked at me in the sky, and I knew she had my back. She was in her waxing gibbous phase tonight, almost full but not quite, teasing the world with that little shadowy part she kept hidden. It was like she'd dressed up for the occasion, wearing a dress with a slit up the leg, showing just enough skin but not giving away the whole bakery with the muffin. You dirty little gibbous.

Despite her provocative display, she didn't have me thirsting for her any longer. We were lovers turned friends, and she was testing me tonight, just checking I was really over her and had truly given my heart to another.

"Sorry, babe," I said. "You understand though, right? I mean, have you seen him? He was made for me. At least, I think so. It's all kinda fucked. But I'm going to fix that. And you're gonna make sure it all goes smoothly tonight, yeah?"

The moon glittered a little, amused by me and I grinned, swatting a hand at her.

"Seth?"

I looked down, finding Caleb there on the path leading away from Aer House and my pulse rioted. He was dressed in a pale blue shirt and black jeans, his golden curls pushed back, styled just so, like he hadn't put any effort in at all. It was only that I knew him so well that I was sure that hair had taken him plenty of time in the mirror.

Words failed me. Me. The most wordsy of wordsmiths. So I just extended my hand in an offering, hoping he'd take it.

There was no one around. All was quiet. As if the moon had planned it to be so.

He walked forward, eyeing me suspiciously but clearly trusting me enough not to push me for answers about what I had planned.

The moment his fingers gripped mine, I cast a platform of air beneath my feet, launching us skyward, and Caleb whooped. The cold air rushed around us and Caleb warmed it with fire, heat emanating from him in waves.

I led him away across campus, sailing over the gleaming rooftops, the lustrous golden hue of The Orb catching my eye. I took us all the way to a far corner of Earth Territory where a fluffy sea of clouds gathered above us, all of which had been wrangled with my air Element earlier on.

I drew Caleb through them and we stood among the clouds which stretched far enough in either direction that we couldn't see the campus below, only the glittering sky above. The stars were watching, but their brightness didn't seem too alluring tonight; it was the moon who took centre stage. She looked closer than ever, like she had inched nearer just to watch us.

"This is…shit, Seth. This is awesome," Caleb breathed.

"As far as you can see in each direction, all the way to the edges of the clouds is a solid platform of air," I announced.

Caleb's eyebrows arched in surprise. "What's it for?"

"For you," I said, my mouth hooking up. "You can run through the sky, Cal. As fast as you like."

His navy eyes brightened and he shot away from me in a blur, a whoop echoing back to me. He ripped through the clouds, sending plumes of white swirling away from him as he zig-zagged this way and that. A laugh fell from my throat and he came speeding back to me, grabbing me by the arm and swinging me over his shoulder. I landed on his back with adrenaline bursting through my veins and I held on tight, banding my arms and legs around him.

Caleb zoomed along at high speed, faster and faster, racing in circles and then daggering sharply to the left, then right.

"Jump, Cal!" I called, and when he obeyed, I cast air beneath his feet, launching us skyward at a wild speed.

We flew up fifty feet before I let the wind fall and we went tumbling back towards the clouds below. I slowed our descent at the last second, placing Caleb on the platform of air, and he was off running again the moment his feet touched down.

I released him with one hand so I could cast shapes in the clouds ahead of us, creating archways and hoops, tunnels and bridges for him to take on. An entire obstacle course was brought to life, and I built more and more of it around us, spiralling stairways, twisty slides that spat us out into a pool of more clouds, ramps for him to jump from and huge rolling balls of clouds he had to work to avoid.

We were both laughing our asses off by the time we took a break, falling down onto a soft bed of air, our clothes wet through from the moisture in the clouds.

Caleb was panting, his hand on his stomach as it rose and fell, the big ass smile on his face making my chest swell. He looked like a fallen god, hair tousled and chaotic, eyes full of endless light. I wanted him to be like this, always. Carefree and overflowing with life.

"How do you see time?" I asked.

Caleb rolled onto his side, resting his elbow on the bed of air beneath us and propping his head up in his hand. "What do you mean ‘see' time?"

"Like, to me, in my head, there's a sort of calendar. January is a little pink square that's kind of up here somewhere." I waved my hand above my head. "Then February is blue and sort of sparkly, and March is orange with fairy lights around it. And I'm kind of floating above the little calendar as we move through the year, you know? So then April is purple, and May is green but with lots of flowers and a birthday cake - because it's your birthday. I have a birthday cake in February for Max too, and one in August for Darius, but your cake is the biggest. Then June is yellow and-"

"Wait…why does this make a weird kind of sense? Do you feel like December is downhill?"

"Yes! And January is uphill!" I cried. "Oh my stars, I knew I was crazy, but at least you're crazy too."

"Who wants to be normal anyway?" He smirked.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Imagine having to do normal boring things like walking to the grocery store and buying groceries."

Caleb laughed. "Shit, imagine having to pick out a lettuce and put it in a basket."

"Then paying for it at the checkout," I added with a snort.

Caleb laid back down, cupping his hand behind his head. "Damn, I love being an Heir."

"It's pretty sweet. Although…what if the twins don't want us on the Council? What if they don't even want a Council? Like...what are we gonna do? I haven't even thought about other careers. I mean, I guess I could be a moonologist…"

"That's not a thing."

"Pfft, it is a thing. "

"It might be a thing, but it's definitely not called a moonologist." Caleb sniggered.

"Well I'm not gonna have some boring job. I'd rather go pick out lettuces all day."

"I don't think I'd mind picking out lettuces with you," he said thoughtfully. "Maybe boring is peaceful."

"I guess. But can we still go on adventures at weekends? Oh shit - will you take me to The Hellion Hunt!?"

"That's so illegal," he said in a way that told me it excited him.

"And dangerous."

"But I swore I won't hunt anyone again but you," he muttered darkly.

"Yeah…true," I said sadly.

"We could just watch though."

"Uh huh. Or we could watch the Vampires hunt for like two rounds, then I could go in there and you can hunt me. Just me. No one else."

"Dude, that is so dangerous. I heard the Vampires who go there have to survive a month without feeding before they'll be admitted to the game." Caleb ran his tongue over his fangs.

I shivered excitedly. "I can't wait. You're gonna hunt me so good."

"Maybe I wanna hunt you right now."

"Oh yeah?" I grinned, shoving to my feet immediately as adrenaline buzzed through me. "How about we play it Croc-Snap style?"

"A thousand percent yes." He leapt upright, his eyes flashing with the thrill of the coming game.

I cast a thick blindfold of leaves over his eyes then leaned in, speaking to him so close that our mouths grazed.

"Catch me if you can." I ran away, springing off into the clouds and Caleb shouted, "Croc!"

"Snap!" I called back, turning a sharp left when he came shooting towards me. I made it out of his grasp, using air to guide me up high.

"Croc," he growled.

"Snap!"

He leapt for me in the sky, arms outstretched and fangs bared, his fingers grazing my ankle. I released the air beneath me, hurtling down and evading him once more.

I raced away with the clouds swirling around my waist, trying to keep quiet as he stood with his head cocked, listening for me.

"Croc," he snarled getting all angry Vamp about the game, and I was here for it.

"Snap," I answered, and he came at me like a runaway train.

I darted left, trying to put some distance between us, but I collided with him as he appeared in front of me. He gripped my shirt in his hand so I couldn't escape, and I cursed. But the loss of the game was sweetened when he ripped the blindfold from his eyes and crushed his mouth to mine.

My heart thundered and roared, every piece of me awakening just for him.

Our lips parted and the words were spilling from my tongue like they'd been placed there by the moon herself. There was no avoiding it any longer, no fear great enough to stop me from declaring it. Despite whatever came in consequence to these words, nothing could keep them from being said.

"It was too damn easy to fall in love with you when I already loved everything about you, Cal," I said, my voice rough with those words which had tortured me for so long.

His eyes widened, but I couldn't let him speak yet, not before all of it was said.

"The moment I let myself imagine something more than friendship between us, I was done for. I know that might not be what you wanna hear, but I can't keep it secret anymore. I've tried everything to keep it locked inside me, because I know that these words risk what we are. But I can't keep it bottled up forever, I get that now."

"Seth," Caleb started, but I barrelled on, too terrified of what he was about to say.

"Anyway, nice night, isn't it? Too cold, some would say. But not me. I like the cold weather. I can run faster and further in my Wolf form when it's cooler. I don't overheat, see? Oh and the ground's all firm, and the leaves are all crispy under my paws, so-"

"Seth," Caleb snarled, and I fell silent, waiting for the axe to fall. It was about to smash through my ribcage and cleave my heart apart. I knew it. The stars knew it. The moon definitely knew it. Maybe she was smirking, watching my heart get destroyed in penance for me turning my sights from her. But she wasn't usually that petty. Maybe she'd see reason when I was cast to ruin beneath her.

"Go on then, say it," I sighed, heat blazing up the back of my neck. "That we're just fooling around, you never wanted things to get this serious. That maybe we should take some space, see other people – oh fuck, please don't see other-"

Caleb grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked, making me yelp. "Shut up for a second."

I nodded mutely and he released my hair, stepping closer to me, so close I couldn't see anything but him. Beautiful, perfect him.

"Don't put words in my mouth. Look, I don't know what this thing is between us, but…"

My heart hung over the edge of an abyss, Caleb's hand dangling me there on a string, threatening to burn that tether to him at any second.

Caleb moved even closer, his voice dropping, becoming gruffer. "I do know that I've never felt like this about anyone before. This is special in a way I can't put a name to."

"And you don't have to," I said on a sigh, the burden of fear leaving me at long last. Caleb Altair didn't love me back, but knowing he cared, that he thought this was special, it was enough. At least for now. "That's all I wanted, Cal. To know this was something more than casual."

"It's far more than that," he admitted, his navy eyes unblinking and leaving me raw. "And I want to show you what you mean to me."

His fingers deftly opened the buttons of my shirt and his mouth trailed down to my throat, painting lines of fire across my skin. I slid my hands into his hair with another heavy sigh, his gold curls spilling through my fingers, his touches making me feel like I'd earned the throne of my kingdom a thousand times over. No feeling could compare to this. No accomplishment, no level of power.

His kisses turned to bites, and I growled at the sharp slice of his fangs, marking my skin with pinpricks. A little blood slipped from each one and he dragged his tongue over the hard planes of my chest, catching every drop. My power drained as he drew it into himself, and I revelled in gifting him the magic in my veins, wanting him and only him to possess it. I was his Source, and there was strength in that position, this most fierce of creatures having chosen me. And I had the honour of fulfilling him.

His hand splayed across my stomach and he lifted his head, giving me a hungry smile before shoving me so I fell backwards onto the bed of air. I bounced on the cushioned surface, the clouds swirling around me as I grinned up at him.

My cock was already hard as stone, straining against my jeans, and Caleb's eyes trailed the swell of it, desire burning in the depths of them.

"Show me," he commanded.

I ignored his bossy tone, pushing up onto my elbows and giving him a cool stare. "If you want something, come and get it, Cal. Don't think you can use that asshole tone on me and get what you want."

His eyes glittered as if he liked me biting back and he shot forward, suddenly kneeling over me with all the darkness of a sinner twisting through his gaze.

He unbuttoned my jeans, his eyes never leaving mine and I groaned as he freed my cock, his fist gripping the base firmly. He rolled his hand up and down my shaft, his fingers tightening and his thumb gliding over the tip, making me swear. It felt so fucking good, and he didn't stop, increasing his pace and driving me crazy as he started moving his hand in a corkscrew motion.

I took in the flexing of his muscles, the intensity in his navy eyes and the thick ridge of his cock driving against the inside of his pants. He needed this as much as I needed him, and I never, ever wanted it to stop.

Caleb gave me a roguish look before dropping down and running his tongue up the length of my dick. I growled like a Wolf and he did it again, running his mouth all over me and bringing me to the brink of madness. When his lips closed over the top of my dick, I nearly exploded right then and there, but I held out as his fingers pumped the base and the heat of his tongue had me panting.

"Cal," I warned, knowing I could only hold out a few seconds longer, but he didn't stop.

He took me in right to the back of his throat and the tips of his fangs grazed my sensitive flesh, making my hips buck so that I drove in even deeper. I was a goner, pleasure racing through every nerve ending in my cock as I came, and he swallowed without hesitation, groaning with desire. That noise rumbled right through me, drawing out my climax and leaving me spent.

Caleb lifted his head, the lust in his eyes blazing right through me, and he suddenly grabbed my hips, rolling me onto my front, and yanking my jeans further down my legs.

"Lube, right pocket," I said breathlessly.

He got it with his Vampire speed and in the next second, he pushed a slick finger into my ass, getting me ready for him. I groaned as he drew his finger in and out of me, then took it away completely and lined up his cock, ready to claim me. He eased his way inside me, and I cursed as he filled me inch by inch, making me brace against the air bed beneath me.

When he was fully seated inside me, he started moving, fucking me slow and deep, his body pressing down onto mine so his mouth was by my cheek. I turned my head to meet him in a kiss, our tongues coming together and my hips rocking back to meet every thrust of his.

The clothes between us were too much. I wanted his skin moulded to mine, and as I drew back and put a voice to that thought, Caleb reared up and sent a flash of fire over us, burning our clothes clean off. Fucking destroying them as if he gave no fucks about the designer items, turning them to ash which blew away on the wind. When he dropped back over me, I was delivered the warm plane of his muscles driving against my back and I ground against him, revelling in that sensation.

He reached over my head, taking my hands and winding his fingers between mine, and our breaths came heavier as we worked in that slow, torturous rhythm. My cock was hard again already, grinding into the mattress of air and feeling so fucking good. But nothing beat the way Caleb Altair felt inside me. Every thrust from his hips was a gift from the stars, the way he fucked a talent in itself.

He drove his hips forward again, groaning and cursing, his cock throbbing inside me, telling me how close he was.

He started fucking me faster, chasing his release and I drove my hips back time and again, wanting to feel him explode.

He came inside me with a roar, his fingers knotting tight around mine and his hips pressing me down. He panted against my neck and we rolled sideways so he was curled around me, his hand falling to my straining cock and stroking it softly, keeping me on the edge.

"I wanna feel you inside me," he growled. "One day soon."

"How soon?" I asked keenly, and he laughed.

"When I say so, pup."

I rolled so I was facing him, my teeth grinding. "I'm not your pup."

"No?" he smirked, taking hold of my dick again.

"Fuck," I exhaled as his thumb rolled over the tip in that perfect way. "You talk big for someone whose pretty lips are all red from taking my cock."

He released my shaft and reached around to slap my ass hard enough to leave a print there and make me growl. "I could say the same thing about your pretty ass."

We both laughed and I leaned in to kiss him, my hand gripping his chin and holding him just where I wanted him. Our amusement fell away as our kiss deepened and Caleb's hand resumed stroking the length of me, his rough fingers getting me off so damn easily.

I thrust into his tight fist as I finished with a groan and Caleb's tongue pushed deeper into my mouth, kissing me hard.

My heart beat steadier than it had in a long time. Together, here in the clouds, nothing could touch us. And long may we fucking reign.