He exhaled sharply, pressing his forehead against mine. I could see the faint threads of silver glinting in his blue eyes—the warmth hidden beneath the storm.
"It's terrifying, you know?" he whispered.
"What is?"
"How much I want you. How much I need you." His fingers brushed my cheek, his touch achingly gentle. "I never thought I'd have something like this. Someone like you."
I closed my eyes, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest, the warmth of his breath fanning across my lips.
I knew. Gods, I knew.
Because I felt it too—the way he pulled me in, the way I let him. The way my soul seemed to call for his.
I turned my head slightly, brushing my lips against his jaw, and felt him shudder against me.
"Then don't let go," I whispered.
His arms wrapped around me completely, holding me like a vow. "Never."
For the first time, I'd found something I never thought I would.
I'd found my home.
We landed softly on a snow-covered rooftop, the cold biting at my skin despite the warmth still lingering from Raiden's touch. With a flick of my fingers, I summoned a small burst of fire—just enough to melt a patch of snow so we could sit without freezing.
I pulled my knees to my chest, watching the bustle of the town fade into quiet light below. For a while, neither of us spoke. The silence was easy. Peaceful.
Raiden shifted beside me, his wing brushing against mine—a whisper of contact that sent heat coiling low in my stomach.
"Did you enjoy our date, little thief?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.
I turned to him. "It was perfect," I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips.
His gaze lingered on me for a long moment before he reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Good. You deserve perfect."
My heart did something strange at that—skipped, fluttered, burned all at once. I looked away before he could see the effect he had on me.
"We should probably head back," I murmured, standing.
Raiden sighed as he rose beside me. "Always so eager to return to reality."
By the time we reached the tavern, the world had returned to its ordinary rhythm—noise, warmth, and the scent of ale replacing snow and silence. The fire crackled, laughter filled the air, and for a moment it almost felt like the war didn't exist.
At a corner table, Muir and Revik sat together—but something was off. Muir had his head resting comfortably on Revik's shoulder, and the most shocking part? Revik was letting him.
The moment they noticed us, Muir straightened like nothing had happened, and Revik cleared his throat, shifting away with poorly disguised discomfort.
I arched a brow. "Oh, we are definitely talking about this later."
Muir smirked but said nothing, while Revik glared into his drink like it had personally offended him.
Raiden pulled out a chair and sat, his expression shifting back to business. "The merchant—we know he works for one of the Water Lords, but we need to catch him before he leaves the city."
I nodded. "Did you get a confirmed location?"
Muir stretched with a catlike grin. "My source says he'll be making a quiet stop at a particular ship down at the docks tomorrow night."
Revik leaned forward, all focus now. "Then that's where we hit him."
Raiden drummed his fingers against the table. "We don't need a bloodbath. We just need information."
I snorted. "You say that like things ever go according to plan."
Raiden smirked. "Then let's make sure they do."
The moment between us on that rooftop already felt like a distant dream, replaced by the weight of what lay ahead. But even as we strategized, I could still feel the ghost of his hands on my waist, the warmth of his breath against my ear, the way he held me like I was something precious.
And that thought gave me more strength than I cared to admit.
⸻
Later, I crept up the stairs as quietly as I could, careful to avoid the creaky boards I'd memorized over the past few days. Muir and Revik had left just before me, and something about their behavior had me far too curious.
No biting remarks, no sarcastic jabs—just… tension. And not the usual kind.
At the top of the stairs, I pressed into the shadows of the dim hallway and peeked around the corner. The two of them stood just outside their room, voices low. Revik's arms were crossed, his expression torn between exasperation and hesitation. Muir was grinning up at him, mischief practically radiating off him.
I couldn't make out the words—but I saw the moment everything changed.
Muir grabbed a fistful of Revik's shirt and yanked him forward, confidence blazing. Revik barely had time to react before Muir pulled him through the doorway, the door slamming shut behind them.
I blinked.
Then again.
Oh.
Oh.
Realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.
I pressed a hand over my mouth, stifling a laugh as the last few days replayed in my head—the snide remarks, the pointed looks, the unnecessary bickering. It all made sense now.
And apparently, I wasn't the only one paying attention.
A warm breath ghosted against my ear. "So that's what's been going on."
I nearly jumped out of my skin. Spinning around, I found Raiden standing right beside me, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his lips. Damn him and his silent, shadowy ways.
"You scared the hells out of me," I hissed, clutching my chest.
His smirk widened. "I tend to have that effect on people."
I glared, but he wasn't done.
"Can't say I'm surprised," he said, glancing toward the closed door. "There's always been a certain… tension between those two."
I bit my lip, remembering every insult, every glance. "Now that you mention it…"
Raiden's chuckle rumbled low and amused.
"You're really okay with this?" I arched a brow. "With it being Muir?"
His gaze met mine, steady. "Are you okay with it being Muir?"
He'd gotten me there. Of all people—Muir, the annoying prat who'd once tried to drown me the first time we met—somehow wormed his way into the fold. I still couldn't quite believe it, but… fine. I liked the annoying asshole.
I snorted. "Mmm. Fair point."
Raiden shrugged, leaning lazily against the wall. "Is that the best I'm gonna get?"
I rolled my eyes, grabbed his hand, and tugged him toward our room. "Come on. We've got an ambush to pull off tomorrow."
He followed without resistance, his fingers lacing easily through mine as we disappeared into the darkened hallway, leaving Revik and Muir to… whatever that was.
The door clicked shut behind us.
Before I could take more than a step inside, Raiden leaned against it, arms crossed, that infuriatingly confident smirk curving his lips.
"Tell me something, little thief," he drawled, voice rich with amusement. "Do you really want to go to sleep?"
I turned to face him, arching a brow. "What else would we be doing?"
His smirk deepened as he pushed off the door, each step deliberate. "Plenty of things," he murmured.
Heat bloomed in my cheeks, spreading all the way down to my chest. My breath hitched, but I didn't back away. I tilted my chin up, meeting his gaze. "Oh?" I managed. "Like what?"
He didn't answer—not with words.
Instead, he reached out, fingers brushing along my jaw before tilting my face up to his. His touch was light, teasing—but his eyes burned with something deeper. Something that made the air between us hum.
Then he kissed me.
Hard, deep, stealing the breath from my lungs and igniting a fire within me that threatened to consume us both. His lips were firm, demanding, and I melted against him instantly, my fingers gripping the front of his shirt as if it were a lifeline.
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me flush against him, and I could feel every hard plane of his body pressing into mine.
His lips moved against mine with a slow, deliberate intensity, as if he were savoring every second, every taste. I barely noticed when we started moving, one step, then another, until my knees hit the edge of the bed. Raiden didn't stop. He kept kissing me, his hands sliding down my back, fingers curling at my waist as we tumbled onto the mattress.
I gasped as he hovered over me, his weight pressing me into the blankets, his lips tracing along my jaw, down my throat. My fingers threaded into his hair, tugging him back up so I could capture his mouth again, pouring everything into the kiss—the longing, the need, the feeling of inevitability between us. The world outside didn't matter. Nothing existed but the two of us, lost in a dance of desire and passion.
Raiden's hands roamed my body with a confidence that sent fire licking through my veins. His mouth trailed down my neck, leaving open-mouthed kisses along my skin.
The heat of his breath sent a shiver racing through me, making me arch against him. My fingers curled around his biceps, feeling the strength coiled beneath his skin. His movements were rougher now—impatient—but still careful, as he torn my shirt open exposing myself fully.
A sharp gasp escaped me as his lips closed around my nipple, his tongue flicking and teasing, making my pulse race.
My body ached for him, a deep, throbbing need that had me pressing closer, desperate for more. Raiden growled low in his throat, his hands gripping my hips as he pressed his body against mine. I could feel him—hard, wanting—but holding himself back.
His restraint was maddening. I tangled my fingers in his hair and pulled him back up to my lips, kissing him with a hunger that made his control slip. His hands slid lower, gripping my thighs before pushing them apart. My breath hitched, anticipation coiling inside me as his fingers traced slow, teasing circles just below my stomach.
He gentle slid his hand into my pants
A sharp gasp left me as his fingers slid against my core, teasing me through the thin fabric of my undergarments. The sensation was electric, sending sparks of pleasure coursing through my veins. My hips bucked instinctively, chasing his touch, desperate for more. He smirked at my reaction, his own breathing uneven, a testament to the control he was exerting over himself.
"So eager," he murmured, his voice a low, husky whisper as he kissed me deeply. His lips captured mine in a searing kiss, his tongue exploring my mouth with a hunger that matched my own. As he finally slid beneath the fabric, his fingers finding the sensitive bundle of nerves aching for his touch, I felt a rush of heat pool in my core.
A broken moan slipped from my lips as he began to move, his fingers circling and teasing with a slow, deliberate rhythm. Each touch drew out every ounce of pleasure from my body, building the tension higher and higher.
"Raiden," I whispered, my voice unsteady. "Please," I begged
His lips brushing mine in a teasing caress, "I won't take your first time here. But that doesn't mean I won't ruin you in every other way."
I whimpered, my hips bucking against his hand, seeking more friction, more depth. He obliged, his fingers curling inside me, hitting a spot that made stars explode behind my eyes. I was losing myself in him, drowning in the fire we created.
He didn't stop—not when I trembled beneath him, not when my body arched in desperate need, not until I shattered completely, pleasure consuming me like wildfire. The intensity of it left me breathless, my body convulsing with wave after wave of ecstasy.
Raiden kissed me through it, his lips soft and grounding, anchoring me as I came undone in his arms. His touch was so tender that it made my heart ache. When I finally caught my breath, he pulled back just enough to look at me, his expression softer now, something dangerously close to adoration burning in his gaze.
"I could spend eternity worshiping you," he murmured, his voice low and husky, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "Every inch of you is perfection, and I want to explore every curve, every secret place."
I swallowed hard, my heart aching at the tenderness in his voice, a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the raw passion we had just shared.
"Then maybe you should," I whispered back, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw, feeling the rough stubble against my skin. "Show me how much you adore me, Raiden."
His lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes were serious, burning with a fierce intensity. "I intend to," he promised, his voice a low growl. "I will worship you, body and soul, until you can't remember a time when you weren't mine. Until you're so utterly consumed by me that you can't breathe without me."
His warmth blanketed me, pulling me into a blissful sleep.
I wasn't sure if I dreamed it or not, but somewhere in the haze, I heard Raiden's voice — low, rough, and close.
"You did it again… damn you, little thief."