Read Online Dark Flight (The Shadow Slayers) by Cassi Carver - Free Book Online
Authors: Cassi Carver
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ridiculous. I mean, you’re a good lay, don’t get me wrong, but I deserve better than a pseudo-relationship with a man who never remembered me in the first place.”
He’d swallowed and looked into the distance, not meeting her eyes. “Yes, you do. And I wish you the best.”
In a million years, she hadn’t seen it ending like that. It was true that she wasn’t content with what little time they’d spent together, but she couldn’t help the craving she always felt for Julian, like her body wasn’t complete until he was locked inside her.
“Are you still going to help Gavin?” she’d demanded.
His eyes had narrowed, like he was offended, but at least it brought his gaze back to her face. “Why wouldn’t I? I gave my word, and I’m not going back on it. Besides, I’m not planning on living in such a hovel of a kingdom forever. I will master my gifts and take my rightful place amongst these people.”
“Then I guess we really are done here. Have a good life.” As she’d turned, her throat had almost swollen closed with the strain of emotion building there. She’d put her hand to the sun pendant around her neck. “Gavin,” she’d called desperately in her mind.
“Kara!” Julian had said from behind her, and the strong bark of his voice almost had her turning back to look at him. “Have a good life.”
Gavin could feel the crushing sadness in Kara when he looked up from the map and saw her lost in thought. It didn’t take a wild guess to know what had her so upset. It was Julian. It was always Julian.
Despite the reason for Julian’s decision, noble or otherwise, Gavin felt as if a two-ton yoke had been lifted from his shoulders the day the shell of his oldest friend sent Kara away. Being Kara’s personal chauffeur so a virtual stranger could mount her was perhaps the most demoralizing activity he’d ever willingly engaged in—not counting mating Brakken’s females like a stud for hire.
Since the time he’d met Kara, he’d only wanted her. And after these past months of self-imposed celibacy—almost unheard of for his kind—he was starting to feel reckless. Cupping himself, imagining it was Kara, had long since lost its appeal. The desire to love and comfort her with his body was a gnawing need inside him—one he had to push away with every breath simply to be able to draw the next.
“Princess?”
“Yeah?” Kara pulled herself up taller. “I’m ready. Next stop: Raleon’s fawn—whatever that is.”
“I don’t remember exactly where the fawn is, but I can get us close.”
She shook her hair back. “Perfect. Then let’s get going. We have a feather to hunt down.”
When she stepped into the circle of his arms so he could transport her, Gavin pulled her close and rested his chin on the top of her head. He breathed in her scent and willed her courage, though she was nothing if not resilient.
Truth be told, he wouldn’t have wished Julian’s sacrifice on the man he used to know. The old Julian had loved life. His vitality could light up the darkest room. Even if Julian had risen as himself and decided not to share Kara, Gavin could have endured it, because he would have known that Kara had chosen a man who would always treat her well and never leave her unfulfilled.
But everything was different now…and Gavin believed, deep in his being, that Kara deserved better than the risen, broken version of Julian Mercés.
“Are you having trouble flashing?” she asked, peeping up at him with expressionless eyes, as if to mask her pain.
“Just gathering my strength. Now you know the silver-wing’s most guarded secret of traveling in the Shadowland—it isn’t as easy as it looks.” He nuzzled closer. He would never get enough of his princess in his arms, and being there for her when she was suffering was like a gift straight from the Maker. “Almost ready.”
It wasn’t his imagination when Kara squeezed him tighter and pressed her cheek to his bare chest. As for
He’d swallowed and looked into the distance, not meeting her eyes. “Yes, you do. And I wish you the best.”
In a million years, she hadn’t seen it ending like that. It was true that she wasn’t content with what little time they’d spent together, but she couldn’t help the craving she always felt for Julian, like her body wasn’t complete until he was locked inside her.
“Are you still going to help Gavin?” she’d demanded.
His eyes had narrowed, like he was offended, but at least it brought his gaze back to her face. “Why wouldn’t I? I gave my word, and I’m not going back on it. Besides, I’m not planning on living in such a hovel of a kingdom forever. I will master my gifts and take my rightful place amongst these people.”
“Then I guess we really are done here. Have a good life.” As she’d turned, her throat had almost swollen closed with the strain of emotion building there. She’d put her hand to the sun pendant around her neck. “Gavin,” she’d called desperately in her mind.
“Kara!” Julian had said from behind her, and the strong bark of his voice almost had her turning back to look at him. “Have a good life.”
Gavin could feel the crushing sadness in Kara when he looked up from the map and saw her lost in thought. It didn’t take a wild guess to know what had her so upset. It was Julian. It was always Julian.
Despite the reason for Julian’s decision, noble or otherwise, Gavin felt as if a two-ton yoke had been lifted from his shoulders the day the shell of his oldest friend sent Kara away. Being Kara’s personal chauffeur so a virtual stranger could mount her was perhaps the most demoralizing activity he’d ever willingly engaged in—not counting mating Brakken’s females like a stud for hire.
Since the time he’d met Kara, he’d only wanted her. And after these past months of self-imposed celibacy—almost unheard of for his kind—he was starting to feel reckless. Cupping himself, imagining it was Kara, had long since lost its appeal. The desire to love and comfort her with his body was a gnawing need inside him—one he had to push away with every breath simply to be able to draw the next.
“Princess?”
“Yeah?” Kara pulled herself up taller. “I’m ready. Next stop: Raleon’s fawn—whatever that is.”
“I don’t remember exactly where the fawn is, but I can get us close.”
She shook her hair back. “Perfect. Then let’s get going. We have a feather to hunt down.”
When she stepped into the circle of his arms so he could transport her, Gavin pulled her close and rested his chin on the top of her head. He breathed in her scent and willed her courage, though she was nothing if not resilient.
Truth be told, he wouldn’t have wished Julian’s sacrifice on the man he used to know. The old Julian had loved life. His vitality could light up the darkest room. Even if Julian had risen as himself and decided not to share Kara, Gavin could have endured it, because he would have known that Kara had chosen a man who would always treat her well and never leave her unfulfilled.
But everything was different now…and Gavin believed, deep in his being, that Kara deserved better than the risen, broken version of Julian Mercés.
“Are you having trouble flashing?” she asked, peeping up at him with expressionless eyes, as if to mask her pain.
“Just gathering my strength. Now you know the silver-wing’s most guarded secret of traveling in the Shadowland—it isn’t as easy as it looks.” He nuzzled closer. He would never get enough of his princess in his arms, and being there for her when she was suffering was like a gift straight from the Maker. “Almost ready.”
It wasn’t his imagination when Kara squeezed him tighter and pressed her cheek to his bare chest. As for
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