“Three, two?—”
Anger swelled within me and I snapped my fingers once more, willing my magic to respond to my intention this time. He would not take her away from me. Not when I hadn’t had a chance to play with her yet.
Her jaw dropped as his movements and words suddenly halted, frozen in place by my magic, along with the wyvern touching him. As her chin lifted and her gaze swung back to me, I felt something stir within my chest at the challenge I saw there.
“Let them go,” she growled, taking a menacing step forward.
Did she not realize that her step forward was exactly what I wanted? I wanted nothing separating us as I learned every little thing that made her tick. My body practically vibrated in excitement at the thought of opening her heart up and finding all of her fears and scars. I learned I wasn’t capable of love when I was placed in prison at thirteen and forced to come to terms with the knowledge that my parents let me rot there. But the morbid curiosity Kieran piqued in me? It was the closest thing to a spark I’d experienced in fourteen years.
“You know, I’ve had a quick think,” I murmured, dropping my hands to clasp in front of me. “And I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t quite like his intentions or thoughts of me. So I willnotbe letting him go for now.”
She took another step forward, and my need for her presence only increased. I was practically salivating to keep her within mygrasp, and she had no idea the danger I posed to her. While there was a piece of me intrinsically that knew she held a great deal of power in her, my magic told me that she hadn’t unlocked it. The power oozed out of her like a golden light brimming from a cracked treasure chest, and I was excited to open it further.
“You think using brute force is the best way to get what you want from us?” she questioned, taking another step, but this time toward her bag. “Why would we ever bring along a criminal that won’t hesitate to use his powers to get exactly what he wants?”
She quickly darted to the bag and unzipped it, her hands digging until she found what she wanted. I let her, curious about what my little muse thought could be so important right now, while attempting to scold me like a petulant child. I crossed my arms over my chest as she whirled to point a dagger my way, eyes wild and chest rising and falling faster now, alerting me to her fear.
I let out atsk, disappointed that she thought a dagger would help her after seeing my display of power. Honestly, it was insulting.
She ran at me, a feral scream ripping from her. The sound was truly impressive coming from such a small frame. I let her come within a foot of me, dagger pointed at my heart before I snapped, holding her in place. Unlike the man and his wyvern, I allowed her eyes and lips the ability to move, knowing there was an important conversation to still be had.
Lifting my hand to her cheek, I smiled at the softness of her skin against my own scarred, rough fingers.
“Don’t touch me!” she spat, holding onto her fire despite being completely at my whim. I could only respect that, but she needed to learn a few things. Quickly.
According to my magic, there were about one hundred thirty-eight army members heading our way. I estimated we had about five minutes until they were upon us.
“Darling,” I tutted, “do give me a moment to speak and clarify some important topics before the army is upon us.”
Her eyes widened, and her silence was a relief. I preferred her cooperation at present, given the circumstances. Any other time, I’d welcome her fight. I’d even let her dagger slash into my skin a few times, just to see the feral glint of bloodlust and satisfaction in those golden pools of light reflecting back at me.
I stepped back, removing my hand from her cheek as I let my hand curl, save for my pointer finger aimed at the ceiling. Giving it a twirl as I glanced at the dagger, it quickly spun to point at her, eliciting a gasp that made my toes curl and my cock twitch.
“I didn’t use brute force until you left me no choice. I tried to play nice at first. Both of you took steps to get us all to this point.” I let out a sigh as the anger in her eyes simmered. “We could have been out of Alfemir and to wherever the rebellion you’re going to is, Kitten.”
“Fuck off,” she spat.
My lips thinned. “Still no winner for a nickname, then? I quite liked that one, considering your claws. I’m trying here.”
Her eye roll made me chuckle as I flicked my finger toward Ronan, watching the dagger soar until it was an inch from his eye. “I know you can’t see it right now, but your dagger is now an inch away from piercing your friend’s eye.Thatis how helpless you both are to my magic.”
The fight instantly drained from her, fear permeating the air around her as I took in a deep breath, sensing it.
“Please don’t hurt him.”
It was the softest I’d heard her voice yet, and it fucking pissed me off. For him? He was nothing special.
“I’m not a murderer, Doll,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Unless you’re attempting to operate on my brain and my magic kills you on its own accord while I’m incapacitated. I suppose I’m guilty by association in that case.”
She didn’t have anything to say to that, surprisingly. Her mouth closed, and confusion swirled in her eyes.
“To answer your earlier question, maybe I am fucked in the head. I absolutely do have a few screws missing, but one could argue that can’t be held against me, seeing as it was torture that led to it.” Tapping the tip of her nose with my finger, I chided, “You didn’t ask the right questions.”
Her words dripped with sarcasm as she quipped, “And what might those be?”
“Well, the most important would be askingwhyI’d be willing to use my powers to force my way into going with you to the rebellion I overheard you talking about.”
She snapped back, “And are you going to enlighten me to these questions or just continue to tell me the ways I messed up in your mind, Fuck Face?” As my lips turned down at the corner, she tacked on with mock worry, “Oh, do you not like my pet name for you either? Sucks, doesn’t it?”
