Page 82 of His Darkest Desire

Her back hit the wall hard, knocking the breath from her, and Vex fell against her. His claws scraped the wall as he caught himself, his face stopping against her neck, his breath hot and heavy on her skin.

“Forgive me,” he rasped. “This…is not how I envisioned such intimacy between us.”

“Really?” Kinsley asked, unable to stop her cheeks from warming. “You’re joking about that now?”

He brushed the tip of his nose along her neck and up to her ear, making her shiver. “I’m quite serious, Kinsley.” With a pained grunt, he straightened his arm, easing the pressure of his body against hers. “Just a few more steps.”

She kept her arms around him until he was steady on his feet. Without relinquishing her hold on him, she moved deeper into the room, examining her new surroundings.

The place was part alchemist’s lab, part dungeon, and part wizard’s sanctum. Soft light came from at least a dozen different sources—crystals of various colors, yes, but also some of the jars and several of the more enigmatic items on display. There were shelves stocked with jars, pots, and bottles, many of them labeled in cryptic writing. Thankfully, there were no body parts floating in glass jars.

At least not that she could see, anyway.

Various vials, stands, and tools stood atop a large worktable, along with numerous loose parchments bearing scrawled notes and more leather-bound books. And everywhere she looked there sat another bauble or trinket, many of which emanated strange, subtle energy. She had no way of knowing if those objects were magical…

But she did know. Some part of her, buried deep within, recognized the feel of magic, even if she didn’t know what it meant.

To one side was a large metal door adorned with symmetrical, esoteric patterns and tiny runes.

But Vex called her attention away from it, pointing to the opposite side of the chamber. “Take me there.”

Kinsley followed his gesture with her eyes and frowned. He’d indicated an alcove on the far wall where several blankets had been piled atop a big cushion. Amidst the wonder and mystery of this chamber, that spot was so…mundane. So lonely.

She frowned as they neared it. “You’ve been sleeping here?”

“Yes.”

“While I sleep in your grand bed?”

Bracing a hand on the wall to steady himself, Vex stepped away from her. “Yes.”

With his back toward her, he finally relaxed the arm across his midsection. It trembled as he pulled it away. Movements stiff, he untied his sash and let it drop before undoing the fasteners of his tunic. He peeled the garment down, revealing several inflamed cuts and scratches on his arms and back, only to groan when the fabric over his belly, sticky with blood, clung to his skin.

Drawing in a hissing breath, he tore the tunic free and tossed it to the floor. He turned back toward her.

Kinsley gasped. “Oh God…”

The wounds on his stomach were deep, leaking fresh blood that trickled down his abdomen. But even more frightening were the black lines branching out from the wounds in weblike patterns.

“What is that?” she asked.

“The barghest’s claws. Poison the blood.” Claws scraping the stone wall, he slowly lowered himself onto the pallet. His movements coaxed out more crimson from his stomach. Expression contorting with pain, he lay on his back.

Kinsley stepped closer to him, reaching out to touch him. Her own fingers trembled. She pulled her hand back. “You need stitches.”

“I will heal. But the wounds…” He squeezed his eyes shut as a shiver wracked his body. “Already ill. Already tainted.”

“What can I do to help?”

Vex’s eyes opened. He lifted an unsteady hand, waving vaguely toward the rest of the room, as his eyelids fluttered shut again. “Tincture. Will ease…”

Panic rose within her, constricting her heart. “That’s not helpful, Vex! I don’t know what any of this is. What do you need?”

Shade brushed Kinsley’s shoulder, drawing her attention. “This one will show you.”

The wisp led her to a nearby shelf and indicated one of the bottles. Kinsley hurriedly plucked it from its place. White liquid swirled inside, shimmering in the soft light.

“A few drops upon his tongue,” said Shade.