Shattered: An Urban Romantic Fantasy by E.E. Everly

Author:E.E. Everly [Everly, E.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emrys Pumpkin Press
Published: 2020-09-30T05:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SEVEN

Three nights before Aria arrived, I burst into Cystenian’s room. I had been working up the courage while pacing his hallway and decided to go for it.

I froze, almost tripping over the soft area rug that met me a few feet from his doorway. Apparently, I should have knocked because Cystenian was standing near his bed, with his arm pulled through one hole of his shirt while the rest was around his neck and other arm.

That left his chest exposed.

I’ve died and gone to heaven.

My mouth dropped open as I took in his creamy skin. He was so fair. And contoured. Not overly muscled.

I liked it all just fine.

After catching my eye and my astonishment, Cystenian quickly pulled his arm through his sleeve and adjusted his shirt.

I groaned inside as he shook his curls out.

Why couldn’t he spend some time shirtless in my presence? I mean, come on. With all the times I’d been exposed in front of him, he could at least make things fair.

I wagged my head, coming back to my senses and my purpose. Things were awkward enough between us. So with nothing to lose, I blurted, “I want to come with you.”

Cystenian’s brow furrowed, making me want to smooth out the bumps. He took me in, his eyes never leaving my face, for a nerve-racking count of twenty, in which I attempted to understand the emotion I saw in his expression.

Look with your light, I told myself.

Soon his feelings hit me, mixing with my desperate yet hopeful ones.

He was grieved and sorrowful.

He stepped toward me as I stepped toward him. “We’ve been through this. As Trysten’s mother, naturally, you’re too close to her. Aria will find out, and then she will realize I’m Trysten’s father.”

“I refuse to believe that. If she loves you, won’t she trust what you tell her? We’ve concocted enough lies. Why can’t I just be Trysten’s nurse?”

Cystenian closed his eyes. His frustration swam around me. “You don’t understand. You can’t come with me to Rhamantis.”

I stepped closer to him while his eyes were closed. I lifted my chin toward his face and spoke with soft, breathy words. “Why not?”

He shocked me by looking right at me. The pain behind his eyes was scorching, breaking me as did his words when they left his mouth. “Because I’d see you all the time.”

“That’s a bad thing?” My fingertips grazed his bare bicep and fell away.

I didn’t have the strength to try. My touch wouldn’t be enough to persuade him.

I swallowed. Might as well give up.

In a swift move, Cystenian slid his hand along my jaw and swept it to the nape of my neck. I didn’t register what he’d done until I felt the heat from his fingers.

I nearly gasped.

“Anerah, I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t get you out of my mind.” His other hand met the first one, and he cradled me, captured me, so that I had to look at him, had to absorb his every expression as his words fell from his lips.

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