“Where’s Fenn?” Lykor glanced around, as if only now noticing her guard’s absence.

Serenna shrugged, telling herself she couldn’t be bothered to care. Probably the Lagoon.

She rolled her eyes when Lykor ripped open the sitting room door with a burst of force. Two of Fenn’s sisters hesitantly peeked in from their post.

“Where’s the lieutenant?” Lykor barked, stomping his boots on as Essence vibrated off of him.

Fenn’s sisters shared a nervous glance at Lykor’s magic. Rank silently elected the one wearing more earrings to speak. “He’s typically at the Lagoon at this hour.”

Lykor rose and opened a portal. He gently petted Aiko a final time, the gesture so at odds with his acidic command. “Take the elf and tell that oaf to stop fucking around. He’s back on duty until they locate the Heart.”

Serenna scoffed, folding her arms. “And where are you running off to, dearly bonded?”

“I’m returning to that fucking jungle.” Lykor cinched his shoulders. “Find the Heart here. Swim through that lake of fire if you have to. As soon as we retrieve the relics, we’re crossing the Wastes and leaving this stars-forsaken place.”

CHAPTER 45

SERENNA

At the base of the fortress, not too far from the residential district, Fenn’s sisters shuffled Serenna into a tunnel. Swaying like curtains in a breeze, glowing vines dangled from the cave’s yawning mouth. Serenna ducked under a pair of low-hanging stalactites looming like fangs—fitting for the wraith. Dim teal light emanated from shimmering lichens anchored to the walls, illuminating the way.

Steady drumbeats pulsed through the rocks, nearly pounding in time with Serenna’s thudding heart. This absurd idea of Lykor’s could’ve waited until the morning. She hadn’t intended to ever visit the Lagoon. And that wasn’t curiosity creeping into her thoughts about what occurred here—she’d already gleaned enough from Fenn to know.

Wading through steam, wispy tendrils coiled up to Serenna’s waist. Fenn’s sisters herded her into a cavern, opening up like a gaping maw. Assaulted by activity, Serenna’s eyes couldn’t go any wider. Dragging her feet in protest was pointless—one of her guards hauled her steadily along by the arm.

Serenna began sweating, smothered by the trapped humidity. Brighter than Vaelyn’s turquoise beaches, chalky hot springs twisted around stalagmites, flowing as streams.

Nerves firing, Serenna’s attention ricocheted across the gathered wraith. Heat scorched her cheeks, and it had nothing to do with the stifling temperature.

She didn’t know where to look. No location was safe. Everywhere her eyes skipped, her gaze bounced off scantily clad or completely naked bodies, barely obscured by the cyan waters.

Some of the pools contained groups of raucous wraith, puffing and passing thin, smoking sticks. The sweet floral aromas twined with the cavern’s earthy moisture. Wobbling, Serenna’s pulse quickened as her breaths became erratic. She suddenly felt weightless—obviously addled by the fumes.

Most of the couples and clusters of wraith were engaged in mingling. The writhing bodies and animated moans of pleasure only burgeoned Serenna’s embarrassment into a flustered tangle.

Ripping her astonished stare away from a position that she didn’t even know was possible, Serenna felt the heat of Fenn’s gaze burning into her before her eyes landed on him in an adjacent pool. He had an arm thrown around a male wearing an eye patch, who could only be his partner Koln. Serenna spun to her escorts before she witnessed anything else.

“Can’t you bring Fenn to the entrance?” she squeaked. A pathetic plea. “I—I doubt I’m welcome here.” While no face-painted reavers were in sight, her presence would surely be unwanted—regardless of what Fenn had claimed.

Fenn’s elder sister tightened her claw on Serenna’s arm, denying her retreat. Her eyes glittered, reflecting light from the luminous plants dotted on the ceiling. “Lykor was very explicit about bringing you to our brother.” Neither of her guards had the right to look so pleased by following the order.

Serenna pulled against Fenn’s sister and said, “Well I’m here, so retrieve the lieutenant.” She staggered, not expecting to actually be released. “I’ll be in the tunnel.” Recovering herself, Serenna fled from the erotic chambers before they forced her to go any further.

Or rather, she tried.

Serenna slammed into a solid and wet shadow materializing in front of her. Stumbling back a step, she registered Fenn. Shock nearly punched all the air from Serenna’s lungs. He scarcely wore anything beyond her tether’s key, dangling between the gleaming rings pierced in his chest.

A pillar of carved muscle that could’ve been chiseled from midnight granite, Fenn’s sinewy form would’ve put a sculpted statue to shame. Serenna’s heart thrashed against her ribs like it was the first time she saw him without a shirt. Sharp muscles cut with an excessive number of dips and curves drew her traitorous eyes over the length of his stomach, sweeping over the proudly displayed network of scars.

Mind jumbling into a chaotic knot, Serenna inhaled sharply as the angles of his body yanked her awareness further down. His soaked undergarments were useless at concealing—

Ears on fire, Serenna whirled away before she even braved meeting Fenn’s gaze. She couldn’t decide if it was more distressing to witness the wraith in various stages of passion or to know that Fenn was essentially naked and aroused behind her. Well, what did I expect to see in an obscene environment like this?

She’d beg Fenn’s sisters to return her to the Aerie. That’s what she’d do. Serenna didn’t spare any worry if that made her seem frantic. Looking up at the females, she winced, a petition of desperation. Caging her discomfort between them, Serenna’s unhelpful escorts provided her with wicked grins.

The older sister rolled a braid in between her talons. “You’re back on duty, Fenny.” She shot her brother a smirk over Serenna’s head. “Lykor’s orders are no rest until you find the Heart.”

“Wait!” Serenna pleaded, but her guards vanished, warping away. Eyes wildly searching, running around the steamy chamber like a mouse trapped in a grain bin, she found them shedding their armor, apparently intending to take Fenn’s place in the pools.

Serenna crunched her hands into fists, deciding she’d draw on the entire Lagoon and spout all the water into the air to stage her escape. She jerkily revolved in a turn, a marionette on a frayed string. Keep your eyes on his face, you stargazer. The exit was behind Fenn. She simply had to dodge around him. And past—

Fenn’s scarlet eyes shimmered in a firestorm of roguish delight. “This is an unexpected but welcome surprise.” His carnal stare extended through the space between them, clutching Serenna like a vice.

Her stomach swooped from that predatory look. Clever plans dissolving, Serenna battled the urge to run, shamefully wondering what would happen if she were caught.

Excruciatingly confused by what she wanted, Serenna’s voice cracked over a hoarse protest. “Lykor made me come.”

Grin spreading wider, Fenn tilted his head. His loose hair dripped at the ends, leaving droplets of water sparkling on his waist. He stepped closer, the smolder in his eyes pinning her in place. The room started to spin as he pulled Serenna into his gravity.

“And since you’re here…” Fenn grazed her wrist, skating his talons up her arm. “Perhaps you have an interest in coming again?”

Serenna sucked in a broken breath, her heart pounding significantly faster than the beating drums. She shuddered when Fenn’s claw curled around her shoulder, encompassing her with his unnatural warmth.

The flush from Serenna’s cheeks raced down her spine, kindling coals far too low in her belly to be unease. Her wandering eyes drank in the beads of water glistening on the rippled planes of Fenn’s abdomen like they were parched. And then lower.

Serenna gouged her nails into her palms, anchoring her stupid fingers to her hands so that she wouldn’t reach out. She swallowed, focus riveted on the scraps of clothing plastered to Fenn’s hardened body. The temptation to touch him had her clenching her thighs, a futile attempt to smother the heat stoking in her core. The outline of his arousal twitched, as if preening under her attention.

Head emptying faster than water discharging from an open dam, Serenna’s eyes flew back to Fenn’s face. “What?” she breathlessly asked, thinking he must’ve said something.

Fenn gave an amused chuckle, jutting his chin toward the cavern’s depths. “Do you want to take a dip in the pools?” He slid a claw across her shoulder, fingers wrapping around the base of her neck. “If you’d prefer privacy,” he said, his deep cadence strumming a wild chord in her chest, “I know a place.”

Serenna was nodding before even processing his words. Her heart nearly burst through her ribs when Fenn extended his fangs. She blinked. “No! I mean…” Serenna cleared her throat, the pause not providing enough time to recover her wits. “Lykor wants us to go to the Slag.”

“So…not a no.” Fenn’s palm swept down her back, a distracting pressure guiding her closer to him, a gentle ebb tugged by the sea. “I don’t think the lake of fire will be as pleasurable as the location I have in mind.”

Ignited by his blazing fingers, Serenna felt primed to combust. She forced herself to stare straight into the flames dancing in his eyes. “We’re supposed to search for the Heart,” she whispered, trembling under his touch.

They were having a perfectly normal conversation. That’s all they were doing. Her skin was so hot because of the proximity to the thermal pools. Not because Fenn had circled his claws around her waist. They were discussing their orders. Though Lykor could choke on his commands for all she cared.

For whatever reason, Serenna’s hand developed a mind of its own, planting against Fenn’s chest. Obviously, she couldn’t think clearly—the fumes from those smoking sticks were muddling her thoughts.

As his heart beat against her fingertips, Serenna’s attention tumbled down the length of Fenn’s body again, determined to catalog every inch. He was concerned about our height difference? I’d be more worried that he wouldn’t fit— Serenna ruthlessly sundered those dangerous thoughts. Something primal—something she refused to consider—sent the blood roaring in her veins.

It was just the atmosphere with everyone engaged in this lascivious activity. She interrupted Fenn and that’s why he was so worked up. And now she was too, but that wasn’t her fault.

It took more strength than she cared to admit, but Serenna forced herself to peel her hand away. Fenn’s fingers cinched tighter around her hips, drawing her gaze back to his. Her insufferable guard smirked, like he knew his exposed body was making her brainless.

Fenn leaned in, skimming his fangs along the shell of her ear. Serenna quivered, warring with every urge to grab him again. His voice rumbled through her, his breath fanning against her neck. “So, you want to go to the volcano’s core instead of…” he trailed off, allowing her to choose.