“You would give up the Rim for me? You couldn’t; you would have to return there so as to not go mad.”
“I would give up anything for you, Lark. I love you and only you. You have held my heart since we were children. How can you not see it?”
The moment was loaded with longing, with the desire to hold him against my skin and feel his lips on mine. To know if he truly was the one I loved. Or if it was Ash who held the key to my heart.
How could I decide between two men so different, each of them calling to parts of me the other didn’t?
He held his hand out to me, an invitation I didn’t want to turn down. We were here, alone. Together.
Peta put herself between us. “No, I won’t let you hurt her.” Her words cut the tension like claws shredding silk.
“I’m not the one hurting her, Peta. I would never hurt her.” He spoke to her, but his eyes never left mine.
Breathing hard, I made myself stand and put my tall boots on. “We should eat and get some sleep. We have to find my father.”
Cactus’s jaw tightened to the point I thought he would crack his teeth. He went to the table laden with food and spooned a bowl full of stew for himself. I followed his lead and filled a bowl for Peta, and then one for myself. Heavy with curry, the stew had thick chunks of meat and vegetables that had absorbed the flavor. I dipped flatbread into the liquid. “Peta, do you think you could do some snooping? See if Samara is right about dissension? I can’t believe there is nothing out of order here.”
She swiped a paw over her face, cleaning off the stew. “You make a good point. I can stay close to the mountain where there is no need for me to have the Sylph guide.”
I nodded, trying not to feel bad about what I was doing. “I don’t think we have much time here. The queen said we have free rein, but if my father is here and Cassava is with him—”
“Then she might already know we’re here,” Cactus finished for me. I nodded.
Peta stretched her body out, her eyes on mine. I had to fight not to flush under her gaze. “Let me out then,” she said.
I walked her to the door and opened it a crack. She reached back and stuck her claws into my pants. “Lark. He will hurt you. Don’t do this.”
“I have to know, Peta. Spirit spoke to me when I was with Ash. If it is quiet with Cactus, then—”
A sigh escaped her. “I trust you. I do not trust him.”
She stepped out with a flick of her tail and I shut the door.
“Did you get rid of your familiar?” Cactus was right behind me, his hands on my shoulders. He slid them down my arms to my hands, a slow burn flickering in his wake.
I turned my head and stared into his eyes. “I love you both, Cactus.”
“I won’t share you, Lark.”
“Then we can’t do this. Because I won’t give him up.” My own words shocked me, but they came from my heart. I would not give Ash up for Cactus, any more than I would give up Cactus for Ash.
In that moment, I knew I had it in me to love them both, if they would let me.
He tugged me back against his chest and kissed me from behind. His free hands slid under my vest, caressing the skin of my belly. Heat flared where he touched, making me arch against him. I wanted him, wanted his skin on mine and his kisses, his laughter and sweet smile.
I spun in his arms and wrapped myself around him. He stumbled a little under my weight and we both laughed. “Easy, tiger,” he murmured against my lips.
“Easy nothing. Love is a harsh taskmistress.”
“Then I think I should spank her.”
I threw my head back and laughed. He kissed my throat and nipped at the delicate skin, which turned my laugh into a groan.
Stumbling backward, we hit the bed together as we peeled out of our clothes. Every fantasy I’d had about him rushed forward and I took great pleasure as I ran my hands over his bare skin, feeling the way his muscles tensed. He rolled to his side and touched my arm where my tattoo curled. “I should have stopped her sooner.”
The wounds had been the result of the lava whip, wielded by the queen of the Pit. I should have died, but was healed first by Blackbird, which still confused me, and then fully healed by the mother goddess. But I was left with the curling vine studded with thorns that marked every place the whip had touched. I barely noticed it.
“What’s done is done. Unless you want to kiss it better?” I arched an eyebrow at him, surprising even myself. Playfulness was not something I knew in the bedroom. Yet with Cactus, it seemed natural.
Grinning from ear to ear, he bent his head. “As you wish, princess.”
His lips found their way around my body with ease, drawing more than one moan from my own lips.
Cactus lay on top of me, holding himself up on his elbows. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to complain I seduced you and you had no idea what you were doing, in the morning.”
I rolled my eyes. “Keep talking and I’ll change my mind.”
He kissed me softly and lowered himself—