Hidden by Sophie Jordan Page B

solid and warm. I look up into his face and lose myself in the dark glitter of his eyes. His eyes are so clear, but the rest of his face is hazy, all shadowy lines and hollows.
    The deep velvet of his voice strokes me and I lean toward him. “I want you, Jacinda. With everything that I am. With my every breath. But you lost someone important to you today and you don’t have to do anything to convince me of your love.” His breath rattles a little, the warm air brushing my cheek.
    I sag against him then and release the tears I’ve been holding back in his presence. I clutch his shirt until my fingers are aching and bloodless. His arms tighten around me, holding me up.
    Will is a good person. Plain and simple. Otherwise he wouldn’t be here, holding me as I grieve for Cassian. He’d still be with his family of hunters. And I’d probably have died months ago.
    And suddenly the need to kiss him is everything. Everything right and real. The balm to my many wounds.
    My lips find his. Warm tears seep from my eyelids as our mouths fuse hotly. His hand slides through my hair. My own hands rove everywhere, touching, feeling, reveling in the strong, firm sensation of him. He makes a growling sound against my lips and my pulse skitters wildly at my throat.
    Tears slide down my cheeks, the salty taste of them mingling in our kiss. Emotions war inside me, hunger, desire for him—and a broken heart for Cassian. I never would have thought such feelings could exist simultaneously. But, somehow, being with Will, losing myself in the heat of our kiss … it eases the ache inside my chest.
    I press my mouth against his, focused on him, on the fusion of our lips, the sensation of his hand on the back of my head, his long fingers running through the snarls of my hair. I can’t remember the last time I brushed it. I must look a mess, but he still wants me.
    I lose myself to taste and sensation. To Will. I don’t notice the shift in wind, the lift of my hair off my shoulders, the rustle of leaves in the trees … or the scent of something else on the air until it’s too late.
    Miram’s scream cuts through the night, jolting me back to the present.



10
    A s I tear through the trees, my breath crashes from my lips and fear rides high in my chest at what I might find. Let Tamra be okay. And Miram, too. I can’t lose Cassian’s sister, not after he died to save her . Smoke gusts from my nose as Will and I explode back into the campsite at the same time.
    I spot my sister immediately, standing protectively in front of Miram. Already fully manifested, Tamra is swathed in a fine cloud of vapor. As a shader, it’s all she has. A great defense when dealing with humans, but it offers no protection or defense when confronting one of our own kind. She can’t shade another draki.
    And it’s a draki she faces.
    I shake my head, unable to reconcile what I see. The gray draki stands, all heaving muscle and rippling sinew, before my sister. The only thing reassuring about the sight of him is that his skin lies flat and smooth, not lifted into countless blades over his body. But I know it only takes him an instant to arm for attack. I remember this well, and fear for Tamra shudders through me, too strong to resist.
    I manifest, my wings surging, tearing through my shirt, my sister’s name a cry on my lips.
    The gray draki looks over his shoulder at me, but makes no move, even as his gaze narrows with recognition.
    Will stands beside me, his arm brushing mine.
    “Why are you here?” I demand. “You’re free.” He can go anywhere. Why is he stalking us?
    He looks back at Tamra. He stares at her as if he’s never seen anything like her before. My stomach quivers with unease. He looks at her like she’s a tasty snack he’d like to sample.
    “You’re free,” Tamra echoes. “You can go.”
    He finally looks away, but not at any of us. He looks up at the sky, stretching his throat.
    I follow his gaze. At first I see nothing but dark night,