Page 141 of Tempt

Luca nods, then suddenly rises up, swings one leg over my thighs, and settles atop me. My tail comes around him, pulling him close, and he leans in to nuzzle his nose against mine.

I breathe in the scent of him, basking in the weight of his body, his wandering hands, and the careful kisses he lays on my jawline. The unchecked, unthinking noises he makes are music, and I wish I could lie here and listen to them all day.

‘I want to help,’ Luca signs when he finally pulls back.

‘Dangerous.’

‘I know. But I have a secret you need to know.’ He looks…nervous, and my hearts kick up, beating out of sync.

‘What secret?’

‘Prince Jyrion has been visiting me here when you’re gone.’

My entire body goes cold, like the blood in my veins has been replaced with ice. I stare at him, unable to move for the longest second. When I don’t respond, Luca bows his head, and suddenly my mind is bombarded with images.

Memories.

Jyrion approaching Luca in the forest. Jyrion holding Luca close during the storm and laying his scent on him. Jyrion putting doubt into Luca’s mind about me and my love for him.

I have never known rage like this, and it is only cooled as Luca places a hand to my cheek and forces my gaze to his.

‘At first I thought I could get information out of him. Then he had me fooled for a moment, that you were using me.’

“My Luca,” I say aloud.

He shakes his head. ‘I know. I was an idiot for believing him. And I am sorry.’ I accept his apology for what it is because it is genuine. ‘But he thinks I have doubts about you. I can use that to get him to trust me.’

My head is shaking before I can give it any real, proper thought. ‘No. Too dangerous. He killed Kori.’

‘I know. But I am strong,’ Luca insists. ‘And I want all the Vyastil to be free. I want you to be free.’

I allow his words to settle in my chest. I can’t bring myself to say yes, but I also know that he might be right. And if I am willing to risk myself, should I not allow him that same choice?

‘Can we speak about it later?’ I finally ask. ‘I want to enjoy what we have for now. And there is time.’

Disappointment flashes in Luca’s eyes, but he eventually nods. ‘Okay.’

My body softens, and I tighten my tail around him. ‘We will have moments together. And you will see Dante soon.’

Luca blinks at me. His trembling hand signs, ‘Really?’

I nod. ‘Rathyn told me he and Everest are working on it.’

His eyes widen, and then I see them fill with tears. He swallows heavily, then flings himself against my chest, burrowing deep into my arms. His sobs are soft, and they are raw.

I know how he’s missed his family, and I feel like a true monster for having kept him away for so long. But I can do this small thing.

And there are still so many things I must do, like speak to Dhoryn and Sabik once more. And I must prepare myself for actual war, should the need arise.

But for now, for this little moment, I will try to protect our peace.

I know I can find Dhoryn in the archives. It’s either here or with his companion—his VySytheh. This secret that Dhoryn is holding makes my hearts ache. I do not understand why he would not trust me with this knowledge.

But he has always been more solitary than Rathyn, more inward-focused.

It is why he is so hard to know.

It is why I worry that if he does not care for his VySytheh like he should, he may run and leave. Just like Luca almost did when he broke down from my neglect.