“What?” I asked.
“That the Sayel bond can exist between species. And if that truth were accepted, then the foundation of their law—and the lie they have fed Haelen for generations—would collapse.”
I frowned. “We cannot leave him down there.”
“It is not as simple as that, little flame.”
“What if that was me down there? Alone in a dark cell?” Talon’s eyes darkened to the color of a midnight sea. “Do not give me that look. I almost ended up in his position, Talon.”
His voice dropped to a dangerous, protective register. “I would have never let you enter those chambers. I would have burnt the High Court to ash before I let them touch a single hair on your head.”
“You are not seeing the point, Talon!” I cried out, the frustration boiling over into a sob. “It does not matter who it is—it is the fact that you allow it! You have to help him. You cannot let him rot while we sit here in luxury.”
“Kaelia,” he said, shaking his head. “To free him is to ignite a war.”
“Then ignite it. If your people claim to be protectors of our bond, then prove it. Do something. Doanything.”
“This is something that takes time and strategy.” His eyes dropped for a moment in exhaustion. “If I move against them prematurely, we lose more than a war. We lose our people. Our future.”
“You are not powerless,” I gritted out, my fingers digging into the flesh above his knee.
His eyes lingered on my hand as he agreed. “I am not.”
“So?” I questioned, my hand sliding up his thick thigh and impatiently tapping a rhythm with my pointer finger.
“So, I will formulate a plan to execute this in a way that will not have the High Court blowing up my city,” he affirmed. “But I need time.”
A breath of relief passed my parted lips, my forehead coming down to rest on his knee. “Promise me.”
“I need you to trust me.”
“I want you to promise me, Talon,” I exhaled. “Please.”
“I promise.” His warm hand tangled in my unruly locs, grasping at a bunch of hair before yanking my head up so my eyes met his. “You are in a pretty talkative mood, little flame.”
Heat rolled through my body at the insinuation I knew hid behind his words. I squinted my eyes as I watched a flicker of heat shoot through his own.
With pursed lips and a sudden flare of determination, I lifted my hands slowly and brought them to the thick leather belt at his waist. My fingers brushed the worn strap and slid the band out of the loop.
I wanted his promise, but more than that, I wanted to remind him that while he ruled this city, he belonged to the flame. Thislittle flame.
I kept my eyes trained on his, searching for any hint of refusal, but only saw absolute want swimming in those oceanic depths.
My hand slid lower until my fingers grasped the zipper. The soft rasp of it parting cut through his heavy breathing and made my stomach turn with anticipation.
I wiggled the stiff fabric down his legs, but with his thick form spread wide, I could only move the trousers a few inches. My eyes darted to him for help but he just tilted his head and maintained his predatory stare.
I peered at him through my lashes and felt a rush of heat pass through my core. “Please.”
He let out a rough breath through his nose before his thick hands grasped the tops of mine. He shifted his hips slightly and shoved the cotton down until he sat in front of me in his signature black briefs.
I wrapped my fingers around him through the thin fabric and was shocked to feel how hard his length already was. I eased the fabric aside and freed him, my hand tightening just enough to feel the throb of heat beneath my palm.
I leaned down, my hair spilling over his thighs like a silk curtain, and closed my mouth around him.
Talon growled in response, his hips flexing in reflex.
The taste of him was warm and musky, filling my mouth as I moved slowly.