“Well.” Kolis chuckled, lifting his goblet. “I must be as transparent as glass, Penellaphe.”
I had no idea if him using my name was good or bad.
Kolis finished off what was likely something best not thought about and then leaned forward, drawing his leg from the arm of his throne. He set the goblet down and straightened. “Leave. Everyone but Penellaphe and Attes.”
I dared to take a deep breath as the vampry on the stage scurried off. Doors opened behind us, but I didn’t look. I kept my eyes on Kolis as he stood. His gaze didn’t leave mine as footsteps hurried across the stone. He didn’t speak until the doors had closed.
“Tell me something, Penellaphe.” He walked to the edge of the dais. “What if I don’t believe you?”
I’m not afraid, I told myself as an icy slicing motion cut through my chest.He does not scare me. “What can I do about that?”
“I have a few ideas.” He reached the edge of the dais.
“If it requires the death of the only person besides us in this Hall, we’re already going to have problems.”
He lifted a brow.
“I may be submitting, but that doesn’t mean I’m for senseless killing.” I held his stare. “You’re the true Primal of Death. Not a psychotic murderer.”
“Really?” he drawled. “You may be the first to think that in…gods.” He laughed. “How long, Attes?”
“A long fucking time,” the Primal muttered. “But as you can see, she still has some of her original…qualities.”
I stiffened, telling myself not to focus on that. I’d have to ask about it later.
“That she does.” Kolis’s voice dropped, and it took everything to suppress a shudder. “What if I wanteda littlesenseless killing?”
“Depends on the killing.”
“Like?”
“If it involved a Fate or two, I wouldn’t mind.” I said the first thing that came to mind.
Real surprise shot across his striking features. “Really?”
“I’m not exactly fond of them. For a multitude of reasons,” I said, then decided for some extra realness to add. “Especially Lirian.”
Kolis barked out a short laugh. “Interesting.”
I watched him as he moved along the edge of the dais. If he would just get down here…
“What if I needed proof of your willingness to…submit?” he said, stopping directly above me. “What if I wanted to fuck you in front of Attes?”
A low growl rumbled out of the Primal as I went numb. Completely, utterly numb. My heart thudded. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—let things get anywhere close to that happening. “If you want that, then I misjudged you. And you might as well prepare.”
“For what, Penellaphe?”
“For a fight.” I let the eather surface just enough that I knew he felt the heat of life and the coldness of death. “I may not win, but I know I will hurt you. Badly.”
He went still again, his gaze unflinching. “You haven’t misjudged me.” Without warning, he jumped down, making me jolt. “I would never do such a thing with a woman I loved.”
Something in the words chilled me straight to the bone.
It made me think of what Casteel had said.
“I don’t know, Penellaphe.” Kolis stood several feet from me, the closest he’d ever been in the flesh. “I’m not sure if you can fulfill the offer you’re making.”
His statement caught me off guard. “What do you mean?”
