“You haven’t told me yours either, little vixen.” He arched a brow, his gaze heated, as if reading her filthy thoughts, shooting her a quick glance before looking away again. “But that’s alright, I haveother, more pleasurable ways of finding out.” Winking, his stupid grin was back, causing all sorts of sensations to shoot through Nyra.
Don’t let his pretty face fool you, he’s still your captor.“You won’t be touching me. The kiss was a mistake. One that will never repeat itself.” She just had to remain strong.
“We’ll see.” He smirked, the bastard. “I do not need to touch you to have you spilling your secrets for me.”
“Typical man, thinking he is a walking god amongst us mere humans.”
Two narrow slits stared back at her, his features suddenly stern. “What do you know about gods, wildling? Have you ever met one?”
Nyra’s thoughts flew to the ancient creature, the one that could be anywhere right now, maybe even above them while they bickered, flying on his powerful wings as he scanned the land below for any trace of her.
“Only one that haunts my dreams.”
He stared at her for a long moment, as if choosing his next words, “Perhaps you haunt his dreams as well, wildling.”
Perhaps, but not a day had passed that Raiden hadn’t occupied Nyra’s mind. Years of sleepless nights, the same scene playing over and over before her very eyes, of a magnificent silver dragon soaring straight at her while buildings burned around them. Her heartache, and the agonizing cry that had pierced through the smoke filled air as her spear lodged itself in his powerful chest. The sight of the majestic animal as it had plummeted to the ground, Nyra’s heart finally shattering to pieces as that final, earthquaking crash engulfed her.
It had been the last straw for Nyra, the breaking point of her iron firm resolve. Something inside of her had snapped when the dragon’s body had hit the earth. She had fled the scene in tears, without ever looking back, swearing an oath to herself that she would never again kill a dragon for as long as she lived. Her soul wouldn’t be able to take it.
Yet, here you are, thinking of breaking it just to save your sorry ass.
The realization that she had been the cause of death of the mighty beasts for years on end was too much of a burden to bear, her conscience and humanity demanding she rectify her wrongs. Pay for her sins. Who was she to rid the world of such glorious beings when the gods that had created them deemed them worthy enough to exist amongst man in their mortal world?
Pathetic. Worthless. You deserve the cruelest of punishments for what you are considering doing again.
Lost in her ponderings and self-loathing, Nyra had failed to realize that her captor had released her arm and was now walking a few feet in front of her, as if not at all concerned about her potentially running away.
He thinks I’m some weak damsel. A fucking coward.Her teeth clenched.I’ll show him.
Nyra’s steps slowed, eyes darting around as she took in her surroundings. They were on some type of a narrow dirt path between two rows of trees, a forest if she had to guess, but it was too dark out, only the Full Moon illuminating the space around them, making it very hard for Nyra to distinguish what lay ahead. The fact that she had never before ventured to this part of the kingdom was an added setback to her escape plan, but no matter. She would not let it deter her.
More than ten feet separated them now, the giant warrior not once having glanced back to see where his prisoner was. Heart pounding, she took a step to the side, eyes locked on the male in front of her, then another one, preparing to launch herself into the trees at the first opportunity.
“I dare you,” he said, voice low, menacing, as he slowly turned around to face her. “Give me a reason to chase you.”
She regarded him, all six foot five of solid muscle and lethal calm. Massive shoulders and thighs that bulged and tensed. A fucking giant with hands that were as big as her face. Hands that had gripped her hair and heldher tight to his impressive body while his mouth plundered her.
Heat rose in her once more.
For fuck’s sake, get it together.
There was something so unnerving about the way he stood there, observing her. His stare focused, unblinking. Like a goddamn predator that just caught sight of his next meal, his body still, as if not breathing at all.
“I’m smaller than you.” She swallowed, palms sweating from uncertainty as she backed up, fighting her instincts to stay put, to not move a fucking muscle. “Faster. You’d never catch me.”
He cracked his neck, a wicked smile spreading across his full lips. “Try me.”
It had to be some kind of a trick. Or maybe he just assumed his otherworldly presence would frighten her into compliance. There must have been something very wrong with her then, for no such feelings sprang forth as they faced off.
“I’m not scared of you,” she said, doubting her own sanity, heart threatening to explode as the mountain of a man stared at her as if he wanted to eat her alive. And she actually enjoyed it, reveled in seeing him on the verge of tipping over because of her.
Well, shit. I might just be deranged, after all.
He closed his eyes, nostrils spreading wide, inhaling the air like some opiate addict. Or perhaps he was scenting her rising fear. Except it wasn’t fear that she felt, butexcitement. Just the thought of this powerful male chasing after her sent a new kind of rush through Nyra, one that ignited her veins and sent her core clenching with anticipation.
His lids snapped open, revealing two shimmering blue orbs, the pupils elongated black slits that froze her to the spot.
Fuck.
