Boneyard (The Thaumaturge Series Book 2) (33 page)

He withdrew with a gasp and immediately slammed his ass back down hard, making me choke and whimper. I grabbed his hips and pounded up into him two, three times and then I was coming, my toes curling and a whine tearing from my throat.

He let his fangs slide back in and I screamed.

It took some time for clarity to return to me. Distantly, I became aware that Leo was speaking to me. He patted my face gently and something wet and rough moved over my groin, cleaning me. I shifted, my limbs flopping. I blinked.

Leo moved into my field of vision and touched my face.

“You okay?” he asked and the smugness in his voice made me snort.

“I’m...yeah. I’m here.” I lifted a hand to my throat, feeling the slightly swollen, raised wounds.

He followed with his own fingers, pressing gently at the bite. “Did I hurt you?”

I smiled lazily. “No. No, it didn’t hurt.”

He smiled back, his eyes lit with an unfamiliar light, something tender and fond.

“Was it okay for you?” I asked and snorted a laugh, drunk with relieved pleasure.

“You taste amazing,” he replied, leaning down to kiss me while tugging my cool sheets up to my waist. “You should sleep,” he added.

I nodded, my eyes growing heavy. I kept my fingers on the bite. It throbbed to the tune of my heartbeat.

“Thank you,” Leo whispered, kissing me again.

“I love you,” I replied.

“You too,” he said, and touched my face, my throat. “See you tomorrow.”

The bed dipped as he moved around. I reached out into the dim light, finding his arm. I grabbed hold of him.

“Leo,” I said softly. “Stay.”

A beat, and then the covers lifted and he slid back in beside me. I fitted my head under his chin and his arm came up and around me. He stroked his fingers down my back.

I fell asleep to his lips in my hair and that night for the first time I dreamed I was being held together, all the bones finally laid to rest.

Chapter 21

I woke up some time before dawn, to the sound of shuffling near the foot of the bed.  Blearily, I sat up, blinking in the darkness.

“Leo?” I whispered and the shuffling stopped.

“Sorry to wake you,” came his voice and then the bed dipped under his weight.

“What’re you doing?” I asked, drowsy and confused.

His hands cupped my shoulders and he drew me towards him. I cuddled up against his warm chest and smiled softly when he squeezed.

“Babe,” he murmured. “I have to go.”

I nodded, because, yeah, the sun would be up soon.

“No, Ebron. Ebron?”

“Hmm?”

“I have to
go
.”

The understanding came all at once, like a flash. My mind shied away from it and I shook my head. I pulled away, my lungs suddenly strangling.

“No,” I said. “No. Why?”

He sighed, and I shoved past him, leaning far over to turn on my lamp. I needed to see his face.

In the muted yellow glow, his eyes looked like deep water, like waves over the rocks.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Why?” I wanted to pull away from his grasping hands, but let myself be coaxed back into the circle of his arms. He smoothed his hands down my bare back.

“I’ve been called back. Summoned.”

The bitter sarcasm in his voice just confused me and I tilted my head back to look at his face. “Are you joking?”

He shook his head. “No. What I did, killing that witch, calling in the Namordo. It’s not... there are treaties. Agreements. I broke some and I have to answer for it. For my crimes.”

“What?” I asked, my mind spinning. “Who do you answer to? Summoned by
who
?”

“I told you,” he said softly. “My life away from here is ugly.”

I clutched him. “No. No, Leo. Let’s...” I drew back and looked hard into his face. “Let’s go. Let’s just leave together. You and me.”

For one, wild, wonderful second, I thought he was going to agree. His eyes went soft and hopeful. I held still, my whole body waiting.

“I can’t,” he breathed finally. “No, Ebron,” he pulled me back when I jerked away. “It’s not because I don’t want to. It’s because they’ll find me, no matter where I go. And if they find me with you...”

“Who are ‘they’?” I begged.

He leaned forward, pressing his head against my shoulder. “My... family. My family, Ebron. I don’t have time to explain. I have to go before they come here.”

I shook my head, holding him so hard my fingers hurt.

“Don’t do any resurrections, okay?” he said into my ear. “And stay away from that lawyer. Just lay low. Fuck. I hate leaving you when he’s around. Promise me you’ll stay away from him.”

“I promise,” I said. “Leo...”

“And watch yourself with that cop. You have to pretend to be normal, okay? No resurrections. No contact with any witches.”

 “Are you coming back?” I demanded, trembling.

“I don’t know,” Leo whispered. “If I am allowed.”

“Leo, Leo, is this—is this goodbye?”

He pulled me close, touching his lips to the wounds left still aching on my neck. “It might be, love. It might be.”

“Leo—” I choked out. He kissed me, but I could feel him drawing back, pulling away.

“No, no, no,” I cried, reaching for him. He shook his head, and cupped my face. “Be good, okay? Get some rest. Just...take care of yourself.”

“I love you,” I said numbly.

“I love you, too,” he said and kissed me one last time, long and warm. Then he was gone, the door clicking closed behind him.

I didn’t go back to sleep. In the gray shadows of the snowy morning, I sat on my porch and watched the sun rise over the mountain. The first rays lit up the frosted trees, but I couldn’t feel the warmth.

There didn’t seem to be anything left inside me at all.

The Thaumaturge Series will continue

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