Page 172 of Tempt

‘Water. Rain,’ he replies, and just as he signs that, it starts to pour, water pounding the street beneath our feet. I reach out and grab onto Eissa’s hand. He squeezes it tightly, and we rush forward, toward my small condo with the light still on. It’s exactly as I left it, I think as I find the spare key under the mat and let us all inside.

All except Vyrian, who stands on the porch, hand outstretched as the rain hits his palm.

Eissa leaves the door open, reaching for a throw blanket that I settled over the back of my couch and placing it on Lucie’s shoulders while I flip on the lights.

They blink on, and suddenly I find myself overwhelmed. It’s felt like ages since I’ve been here, and it’s all the same. Untouched. Even my plants are still alive, which means someone—probably Dante or Cielo, took the time to come over and make sure they were watered.

I feel Eissa approach me, his tail reaching out and wrapping around my waist, pulling me in. His hands are on me now, soft and caressing, touching me reverently, making sure I’m not injured. I’m not. I’m fine. Angry as hell on behalf of the betrayal I witnessed. But I’m more concerned for Eissa, to be honest.

‘I’m fine,’ I say, grabbing onto his hands and squeezing them tightly.

I feel his limbs tremble, and I bring his fingers up to my lips and kiss them softly. His tail tightens around me, a soft pulse before it loosens.

‘I cannot believe what just happened,’ he says, his hands shaking. ‘Kori. He was alive…’

He turns his head, and I do the same, seeing Lucie hunched over, his entire body heaving with sadness.

‘But we will discuss it all later. We must take care of Lucie and Vyrian. And I’m sure your brother will want to know you are safe.’

I want to discuss it now, want to lie in bed and comfort him, but he’s right. It has to wait for the quiet of the early morning when we are finally alone.

I nod and lean forward, pulling Eissa into a long hug, feeling his arms wrap around me as he holds me to him. I feel his hearts beat soundly and I let myself just exist like this for a long moment—knowing he’s safe and alive—before pulling away and meeting his gaze. His hand brushes my cheek softly, and he tilts my chin up, kissing me, his tongue pushing into my mouth, tasting me. I can feel the vibration of his contented purr move through his body before he pulls away.

He glances over at Lucie once more, and I see him staring at us, dejected, cheeks and nose red from crying.

I step away from Eissa, knowing that watching us together must only be bringing him pain. I can’t imagine being separated from Eissa. We would go days without one another, and I felt his absence like a hole in my chest. And now that the portals will most likely be shut down, Lucie will be without his other half—possibly for a very long time.

‘I’ll make us some tea,’ I tell Eissa. ‘Could you go over and wake my brother and Cielo to let them know we’re back?’

Eissa reaches out and touches me once more, as if he can’t help it, and then inclines his chin. ‘I will go and be back shortly.’

I fill the kettle and set it to boil before making my way to the couch where Lucie is. In the open doorway I see Vyrian on the sidewalk outside my condo, arms still outstretched, completely soaked, his lips curled up in a delighted smile.

If only some of that could transfer to Lucie.

I move to sit down next to him, bringing him into my arms. He goes willingly, clinging to me, his body shaking from the sobs that overtake him once more. My hand strokes up and down his back, unsure of how to console him.

I glance over and see the water is boiling, and I pat Lucie’s back. He lifts his wet gaze, and I sign, ‘Tea.’

He might not want it, but the way he’s trembling tells me he needs it. Something warm, something like home.

I push up, my chest pinching as I move toward the kitchen to make us a cup of tea. As I’m steeping a bag, something moves in my periphery and I see Cielo and Dante appear, their eyes wide, their hair sleep-mussed.

‘Oh my god!’ Dante signs, rushing over to me, pulling me into a long hug. My eyes close as I breathe him in. We stand like that for ages until I finally pull back and reach for Cielo. He lifts me up and squishes me against his chest, his tail wrapping around me as he holds me tightly.

I feel a possessive rumble move through my bond with Eissa and glance at him standing near the doorway, watching us. But he doesn’t move, doesn’t interject.

When Cielo puts me down, Eissa moves toward me, pulling me into his side and wrapping his tail around me, staking his claim.

‘I can’t believe you’re here,’ Dante says, his hands fluttering around him. ‘I had no idea…what happened and who…’ He points to Lucie curled up on the couch and then to the front door where I assume Vyrian is.

‘It was chaos. I have so much to tell you, but,’ I begin and then point to the tea mugs, ‘let me give this to him. Lucie,’ I fingerspell. ‘He needs it.’

‘What happened?’ Dante asks, and I make a small fist in the air, asking him to hold on for a moment. Dante nods but flicks his gaze back to Lucie, concern in his gaze, and then he does what I knew he’d do. He moves toward him, this stranger, and pulls him into his arms.

Lucie clings to him as he did to me, seeking comfort where he can. He must feel like he’s being ripped in two.

I don’t know how to help, so I just let Eissa guide me toward the couch where we settle around him with mugs of tea in hand, Cielo next to Dante cradling Lucie, and Eissa pulling me onto his lap. I know exactly how Eissa feels. I don’t want to be parted from him again. The last few hours were hell.