Something flickered across Merri’s face too fast for me to name it. She straightened her spine, determination radiating from her stance. “But you won’t. Because you might not need my consent, but you want it.”
I raised a brow. “An expert on me now, are you?”
“I’ve gotten pretty good at reading people. And this whole time, in every iteration you’ve taken, you’ve always tried to win me over. You want me to choose you.”
I covered the distance between us in three long strides, moving forward until she was pressed against the door and our faces were inches apart. Anger and frustration burned inside me because she was right. Slamming one palm on the wood next to her pretty face, I released a snarl.
“And why shouldn’t you? I’m God’s favorite. The most beautiful angel ever created. Powerful beyond measure. A king in my own right. You would be so lucky to be my consort.”
“Would I?” she whispered through gritted teeth. “Or would I be your whore?”
“Technically you’d be my baby mama, though I personally hate that phrase. It lacks a certainje ne sais quoi. Consort sounds far more classy. Has the proper gravitas for the position.Though I suppose if titles really matter to you, we could go with...wife.”
Merri bared her teeth. “Fuck you.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying. Finally, we’re on the same page.”
I must’ve gotten soft in my old age, because I absolutely didn’t see her slap coming. The crack of her palm across my cheek filled the room a moment before the sting registered. Eyes wide, I took her in. Oh, she was beautiful in her rage. Cheeks flushed, eyes bright, lips just a little swollen, as she shook from the adrenaline of our play.
“Was that supposed to put me off you? Because joke’s on you. I like it rough.” My words were a sensual hiss against her lips.
She brought her hand up again, but I was ready this time. I easily caught her wrist and let out a disappointed sigh. “Merri, Merri, Merri. The sooner you accept your situation, the more pleasurable it will be for all of us.”
Without waiting for a reply, I scooped her up into my arms. She struggled like the delicious little wildcat she was.
“Put me down,” she insisted as I strode into the bathroom.
“My pleasure.” I deposited her in the shower, once again using my power to turn on the cold water and douse her.
“What are you doing, asshole?” she screeched. “It’s freezing!”
“You should have thought about that before you got so heated. Actions have consequences, darling. I know that better than anyone. Perhaps it's time you learned the lesson.” I spun on my heel, prepared to let her... cool off.
“You’re leaving? Just like that?”
I paused in the doorway and looked over my shoulder at her dripping wet and shivering in the shower. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like you have anywhere else you can go.”
And with that, I tossed her a wink and left, locking the door to her bedroom behind me. It wouldn’t stop her for long, but it would make a point.
Merri was mine, and now that I had her, I would never let her go.
Chapter
Thirteen
MALICE
“Bloody useless,” I muttered as I screwed the front panel on the radio I’d been attempting to fix for the last six hours.
The sky was still dark, but a soft glow tinged the horizon, somehow signaling my abject failure. I was at a loss, unwilling to sit around and do nothing while we worked out our next steps, so I’d had the bright idea of using the radio to seek out news of the state of the world. It was better than inaction.
Even if I got it working and found no one on the other end, it gave me something todo. Knowing Merri was out there somewhere without the four of us to protect her had me twisted up in so many knots it was a damned miracle I could function.
As I dropped the fiddly piece of metal in my hand for the seventh time, I let out a frustrated growl.
“See! This is why I didn’t want to have feelings. Now I’m bloody useless.”
I slammed my palm on top of the radio, my heart lurching when static blasted from the speakers. That was progress. Hope ignited faster than a wildfire within me. I twisted the knob, on tenterhooks as I sought a live signal. Seconds passed, my palmsgrowing sweaty with each turn, but all that awaited me was more static.
