“You never have to beg, my shadow,”Colton reassures me as he climbs into bed, pausing to kiss me on top of my head. He pulls me close, enveloping me in warmth and safety. Resting my head on his chest, I let out a sigh of relief, feeling his fingers gently massaging my scalp, playing with my hair, soothing both my mind and body almost instantly.
As I trace my fingers across his chest and down over the contours of his muscled stomach, a different sensation begins to replace my worry, transforming it into desire. “Colton,” I whisper, tilting my head back to lock onto his emerald eyes, which glow in the darkness.
“Yes?” he responds, his voice a soft hum. In that moment, I decide to lower my defenses, to open up entirely and let him feel the depth of my emotions. I lower my mental barriers, and I can tell the exact instant he senses the change—his lips find mine with an urgency that mirrors the sudden intensity of our connection.
Gods, how I want him—not merely as a distraction, but from a deep sense of longing. I’ve missed him, missed us together. He positions himself above me, and as I reach up, yearning for another kiss, he threads his fingers through my hair, gently tilting my head back while his other hand softly clasps my throat. He kisses me with an intensity that feels like both a discovery and a claim. His tongue moves with a familiarity that’s exploratory yet possessive, leaving me gasping for air and reveling in the sensation.
Each kiss feels like he’s marking me as his all over again.
“Fuck, Lyra,” he gasps as I pull away, desperate for air. When I face him again, he brings his forehead to mine, and our eyes lock. He lowers his shields, baring his soul to me. The torrent of emotions that floods me is staggering—not merely lust and desire but a genuine care and a profound yearning... Could it be love?
Though Colton has never uttered the words, this surge ofemotion that washes over me, warming me from within, can only be described as such. My heart expands in response, soaking in the momentary connection until his defenses rise again, and I exhale a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
The sudden, overwhelming need for more of him courses through me, the mere thought of ever losing him igniting a sharp fear in my chest. In response, I reach up, my hand finding the back of his neck, gently coaxing him down until his lips meet mine once more. His lips, soft and yielding, draw me in, and I savor them—licking, nibbling, exploring each contour with a growing hunger. With my free hand, I tug at his shorts, a silent plea for closeness, until he complies, effortlessly shedding them with a swift kick.
He then lifts me slightly, enough to slide my nightgown upward, and our kiss breaks for a mere moment—long enough for him to remove my garment entirely.
His hand traces a path down the center of my body, and as he introduces a finger inside me, a moan escapes, blending into our kiss. The evidence of my desire for him is undeniable. He hums into the kiss, a sound laden with satisfaction, as he deepens the exploration with two fingers, skillfully moving within me.
“I want to feel you wrapped around my cock like this,” he whispers, voice thick, and my entire being yearns in response.
“Yes,” I breathe out, my hands seeking him out, confirming his readiness.
A soft plea escapes me, encouraging him closer, and when he positions himself at my entrance, I bite down on my lip in anticipation. The need for him to fill me, the need for more of him— all of him—is so strong in this moment.
The door bursts open, and I let out an embarrassing scream of surprise. “We’re under attack. Get dressed and get to the surface,” Nyx commands.
The intense fury in his eyes as they sweep over us before he slams the door sends a chill through me. Colton springs into action, quickly pulling on his shorts and tossing my clothes to me. I hastily pull on my nightgown and grab a black sweater from the closet to throw over it. As I step into my boots, Colton is already reaching for my hand, leaving me no time to process the chaos unfolding around us.
Colton pauses, looking down at me. He clasps my face with both hands and kisses me hard.
“We will continue this later,” he promises, and all I can do is nod, the intimate moment we shared already feeling like a distant memory. The haunting image of Nyx’s fiery gaze lingers in my mind. “Stay close and stay in control. I don’t know what’s out there, but try not to let your dark magic take over. If it does, know that I’m here and will guide you back, always.”
Taking my hand again, he tugs me out into the hallway.
Nyx is nowhere in sight, and the hallway is deserted, which isn’t unusual for this part of the hive. I hardly ever see anyone here. We go to the center of the hive, where staircases spiral up and down as far as the eye can see—yet there’s nothing. For a moment, I wonder if Nyx was playing some kind of joke, perhaps knowing we were in bed together and wanting to separate us. But then Colton pulls me into his side, and the familiar, comforting scent of him surrounds me as a gust of wind picks up around us, and we channel to the surface of the hive.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight unfolding before us.
Chapter4
Nyx
As if drawnby my subconscious, I glance up the hillside as Lyra and Colton emerge at the surface. The urge to rush to her is overwhelming, but I’m too furious, still seething from finding them together. Darkness descends around us, the scene quickly becoming an ominous shroud. I tilt my head back, my gaze piercing through the gloom, fuck. Countless Sarrols swoop down from the sky, their dark forms blotting out the moonlight.
Where are these creatures coming from, and why? If it’s still a matter of the bridge being unlocked, then sealing it must become our top priority—before any more of these fiends infiltrate and spread to Nighthold. The last thing I need during my absence is my kingdom under siege. I trust Bim to manage, but it shouldn’t have to come to that. I’m not leaving until I can take Lyra with me—alone.
Her presence is distracting. A Sarrol descends upon me and nearly knocks me over. I duck under its wing and stab it through the chest. Its frothing mouth drips black sludge onto my arm, and I look down at the creature, repulsed. Sarrols trulyare among the ugliest monsters ever to set foot in the realms—deformed, goblin-like creatures with pointed noses and sharp fangs.
I shake my head and turn to face another two that landed behind me. I swing my blade, slicing the wing off one and kicking the other in the chest, my leg barely escaping its claws. Then I send a burst of fire into the face of the creature, burning it to ash in seconds.
There are so many of them. I want to check on Lyra, but every time I turn, more are dropping in. The Lamia are enraged, and their realm is under attack. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Lamia fight like this before.
I make eye contact with Drew across the field as she sweeps across the terrain so swiftly it looks like she’s levitating. She bites into the throat of a Sarrol, tearing it out with her fangs and spitting chunks of dark flesh onto the ground. Black blood flows freely down her chin and onto her chest. I can’t look away as she repeats the gruesome act and then winks at me. She truly is terrifying—no wonder so many fear her.
The descending Sarrols finally give way to the moonlight, and the battlefield before me reveals a harrowing sight. It’s a maelstrom of chaos where hundreds of these wretched creatures dart across the dark sky, their grotesque forms casting fleeting shadows over the ground.
Below, only a few dozen of us stand, vastly outnumbered but resolute against this infernal onslaught. My mind races to Lyra, whose dark magic is desperately needed to turn the tide. With this thought fueling my urgency, I push up the hillside. I suspect Lyra and Colton might have headed down the other side toward Blood Lake, perhaps seeking a strategic advantage or a momentary refuge.
