The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(93)

His mate was still as a statue, but when he turned her to begin the spells over the front of her body, he saw her tears.

“Kyra?”

“I hear you,” she whispered. “Your voice inside. When you’re writing your magic, Leo. I hear you, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”

She broke him. Leo leaned forward and kissed her gently, careful not to smudge the words he’d so carefully drawn.

“Ana sepora,” he whispered. “I will see you fly, Kyra.”

“As long as you’re flying with me.”

“Always.” He put his forehead to hers and drew in a breath, warmed by the magic in the air. It filled the room like the fire of a setting sun. It highlighted the ebony strands of her hair and made her skin glow. She was luminous, and her skin reflected the mingled gold and silver of the magic that tied them together.

Leo continued, carefully placing each spell. Strength in her arms. Speed in her legs. Health spells tracing from her collarbones to her belly. He marked her with every protection he could think of. He gave part of his armor to her.

The ink was nearly dry over her skin when he curled his personal vow over Kyra’s heart: Daughter of heaven

I will love you.

Though the night is dark

Our love is light.

Though the world is grim

Our union gives hope.

Father of Light

We are one in you.

When our path is hidden

We will fly.

We walk in faith.

We walk in hope.

We walk in love.

Leo pressed a kiss to the center of his vow and set down his brush. When he looked up at Kyra’s face, her eyes were a fierce gold.

I hear us.

He pressed his forehead to hers. And I hear you.

“It’s not just the voice of your soul I’m hearing,” Kyra whispered. “There’s another music. We make it when we’re together. A harmony between us.”

“Can you sing it?”

Tears came from her eyes. “No.”

“You mean not yet.”

“I’ll find a way to sing it to you someday, Leo. I promise. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”

“The only promise I need from you is to be my mate. To love me when I’m unlovable—”

“You’re always lovable.”

“—and to challenge me when I’m thickheaded.”

Kyra laughed. “I have more than a little experience with thickheaded men.”

Leo kissed the tears from her cheeks. “Then we’re perfect for each other.”

“We are.”

He smiled. “Say it again.”

“We’re perfect for each other.”

“Exactly as we are.”

They shared delicate kisses as the ink dried on her skin. Leo’s breath came in pants. He was thick with tension, trying to control his hunger for her, but every moment their magic lingered in the air, it seemed to grow more intense. It didn’t dissipate in the air like smoke but grew stronger. Heavier. More overwhelming.

“Leo?” Kyra’s pulse was pounding in her throat.

“Soon.” He scraped his teeth along her chin and reached for her shoulder, feeling the smudge of ink that wasn’t quite dry. “I’ll fix it later.”

“What?”

He tugged the pins from her hair and watched it tumble down her shoulders, thick waves of dark silk he fisted as he brought her mouth to his over and over. Her lips were swollen from his kisses.

“Now?”

He glanced down at her heart and saw the ink dry on her skin. “Yes.”

Without another word, he took her to the floor. Kyra wrapped ink-stained arms around his shoulders and long legs around his waist. They rolled across the wooden floor with their mouths fused together as dark red henna began to light with a gold fire. Kyra’s magic came alive before his eyes.

“Leo!” She let go of him, her back arching on the floor as her body lifted in a wave of power.

“Kyra?”

Her eyes flew open, and they were no longer gold. There was fire behind them, sparking and glowing in the dim room. Brighter than candle flames, they met Leo’s cool blue eyes.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

“I don’t know!”

Leo picked her up and put her on the bed, but the shocks to her body seemed to keep coming. She curled into herself. Every brushstroke illuminated with a vivid fiery light, as if it were burning itself into Kyra’s skin. The light raced over her body, and Leo heard the light bulb in the bedside lamp pop before it went dark.

The power rose. The spells burned. And then they went out.

Reshon, are you hurt?

No. I feel… more alive than I ever have.

Kyra sat up, and Leo realized the spells hadn’t stopped glowing, but they were no longer burning. They shone like a banked flame beneath her skin, streaking across her body in swirls and lines, following the curves and sinews as he’d drawn them.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.

She rose and pressed him back on the bed, removing the linen wrap around his waist. “Ana reshon.” Come to me.

There were no more words as she slid over him. Leo rose and kissed her breasts, hugging her to his chest. He arched his back so Kyra could reach down and guide him into her body. When they were joined, he lifted his hips, thrusting deep as Kyra arched back, her hair falling so long that it brushed the tops of his thighs as he sat beneath her. His vows glimmered on her skin, a visible reminder of his promise to her.