Page 116 of The Last Guardian

“I didn’t do anything,” I said bitterly with a grimace. “I thought it was you doing whatever it was.”

“My power doesn’t do that.” Zaidkiel shook his head, a grin on his lips. “And don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it yourself.”

I scoffed. “Well, I don’t have any power, remember?” I replied, ignoring his last comment. “Perhaps Eirlys cast a spell on you while you enjoyed your free time with her, when you were busy ignoring me!”

“Careful now, you sound jealous, love.” The jerk smirked, stroking my nose playfully. My blood boiled.

I tried to ignore how my heart stumbled at the nickname.

“Please,” I snorted, scowling. “I would have to care first.”

A chuckle escaped his chest, and the warmth of his body mingled with mine.

“Oh, I think you do,” Zaidkiel said, raising his eyebrows and wearing the same grin as his eyes fell on my lips. “Your wicked mouth says one thing, but your heartbeat says otherwise.”

I returned his smirk. “And you sound delusional.”

His smirk widened into a grin. Hells, this jerk was handsome. “Denial suits you well,” he whispered, drawing nearer. Every fiber of my body ignited at the closeness.

“Keep trying. Praise from you won’t work, Commander.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw the glint in his eyes.

The word transported us back to another night—the first time we had spoken. The night I’d sneaked away from the dining hall during Aurora and Asael’s first ball. The night Zaidkiel had found me on the balcony.

From the first moment we’d met, a pull had forced us together. Since the first day, I’d never been able to control my tongue, nor look away.

I swallowed and tried to change whatever was happening between us—the charged tension that had built up for days, for weeks.

“Don’t blame me for that little vision or whatever it was. I prefer to avoid discussing it further and being around you. Go back to your resentment towards me. It’s easier that way.”

I dismissed the conversation, walking away to return to my chair, but when I passed him, his hand curled at my waist, turning my body to face him, my chest against his.

Close.

Damn the god, the goddess, the stars for that—but it wasn’t close enough.

My gaze met his, like a pull I would never—could never—want to escape. Everything shrunk around us, the people, the room, the laughter. Only he and I remained.

His breath caressed my skin as his gaze lowered to my lips, as mine fell on his before returning to his eyes. I felt the rumble in his throat vibrating against my chest.

“It seems that even with all my strength, all my might—even when the whole fucking universe begs me to keep my distance…” Zaidkiel murmured, his fingers tightening around my waist. “I can’t stay away from you.”

His other hand moved softly towards my face, where a stray lock of hair hung. He picked it up, just as he had a couple of nights before. This time, instead of putting it straight behind my ear, he gently ran his fingers over it, as if to imprint the sensation on his skin.

His eyes never left mine—I felt them traveling over my face, over my hair, like he was trying to ink every detail of me inside his soul. His gaze settled on my lips for a moment and then lingered on my eyes once more, stirring something beyond my being.

My heart pounded in my chest. His fingers on my waist moved in time with each beat.

The sound of cutlery against glass echoed in the room, and we instinctively moved away from each other. His warmth was already an old memory, one I would forever miss.

People were gathering in the other room, around the long table, chatting, laughing.

Still, we searched for each other’s eyes, seeking an unspoken truth about what just happened. For whatever reason, we needed to stay away from each other, not let the temptation draw us any closer.

Dangerous. It was a dangerous game.

My nostrils flared as I fought the tornado of emotions—the way he made me feel like I would burn through his gaze. How willingly I would let myself dance with his dark flames.

Zaidkiel bowed his head slightly, his teeth clenching in his jaw. He turned his back, the hard muscles tightening with each step.