“Definitely,” Sylvia says as she sets a bottle and two glasses down.
Apollo grips his shoulder. “Trust me, brother, it’s delicious.”
“But what if she doesn’t likethis? The setup, the tablecloth? What if she doesn’t like what I’m wearing?”
He grumbles in frustration and my heart melts a little.
Sylvia hangs off Apollo’s arm and smiles up at Rhaz. “She’s going to love—”
He holds his hand up to quiet her as his nostrils flare. His gaze narrows, immediately falling on me. I don’t have time to back away from the glass before I’m pinned under his molten stare.
“Jade,” he growls and the tattoo on my arm flares.
He reaches into a cloud of black smoke and I feel a hand around my throat—myrealthroat. I’m ripped back into myplane, gasping as the heat of his palm fully encircles my neck. I grab his hand, trying to pry it off, but there’s no use.
The air around my body shivers, battering me with cold, hot, cold, hot. A deep vibration hits me to the core and the world around me melts away. The walls bleed up from the floor and I’m in the obsidian bar, standing in front of a very pissed Rhaz. His grip tightens and his eyes darken.
I should’ve waited.
I’ve ruined it.
Shame burns in my cheeks. I drop my gaze.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t wait,” I say. “I thought maybe you were in trouble with the skreet.”
The collective silence raises the hair on my arm. I glance up through my overly thick lashes to gauge his expression.
His coal eyes burn bright, but his face is stony. Muscles feather in his jaw as he peruses me. The lava-like scars below his shirt flare to life, thrumming with my pulse. We’re in sync.
“Leave,” he says, releasing my throat.
My ribs cinch together and I nod. “Sorry.”
“Not you,” he growls.
Sylvia grins broadly and elbows Apollo. “Yeah, we have things to do.”
Apollo pulls her close and gives me a little wink. “Enjoy the hot buns.”
Mist wraps around them and they disappear with abloop.
Rhazan stares at me, his fists clenched. I feel like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a dragon. Icy fear trickles down my neck,and it’s the first time I’ve felt afraid since we first met. I try to swallow the sensation, but it only grows in my gut. The longer he stares, the more I feel the need torun.
I take a single step back.
His lip twitches, revealing the tip of his fang.
“Don’t,” he warns in a husky whisper.
Fuck.The heat that warning sends to my core is unbearable. Iwanthim to hunt me like prey. Iwantto see him unleashed.
I take another step back, then bolt, turning for the fight room. I don’t hear him move, but I feel it. The fire behind me is immense and all-consuming. I don’t even make it to the door before his arms are around my middle. I yelp as he draws me back into him, pressing us together.
The heat that was once oppressive and painful is exciting, comforting, but still just on the edge of too much. Like I might combust in the best kind of way if I don’t keep myself in check. It makes me squirm.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“What areyoudoing?” he breaths against my neck and I shiver. “Leaving before having a meal? Coming before I’ve called? These arepunishableoffenses…”
