Moonlight highlighted his straight, finefeatures, elegant yet dangerous. Regal death. Dark, windswept hair draped the sides of his face before curling just under his jaw. In the back it was longer still, dusting his neckline. His dress shirt was stretched tight across his chest, showing defined pecs, but fell loose at his trim waist before tucking into black trousers.
His casual dress sneakers didn’t make a sound against the concrete and were an interesting choice for scaling buildings and breaking and entering. A very fashionable choice that she really wanted to adopt, damn him.
His eyes were lost to the darkness, but she knew their color all the same: vivid green leading into a burnished gold ring around the iris. Intimately expressive. Absolutely gorgeous, like him. Like he’d been the first time she’d seen him. And the second, when he set loose a chain of events that had nearly killed them all.
Words slithered through her mind like a lover’s caress.
Hello, little dove. Did you miss me?
4
Imagine finding you here…His voice was like a soft lick inside her head.
He slipped his hands into his pockets casually, devilishly, and took another step closer. He clearly wasn’t worried about pitching off the side, even though his shoulders were not making it easy for him to hug the wall. She took in his uncomfortable handsomeness and the play of muscle with each movement. Memories came rushing back: the crystalline beach and the delicious feeling of his proximity. The dreams and the waking pleasure-nightmares. She remembered the feeling then, similar to now, with hot and cold shivers running her length. Heat raced across her flesh. It was hard to think, hard to breathe.
Fuck, but he was startlingly attractive.
Her memories of being near him didn’t do thefeeling justice. Couldn’t compare to the sweet slide of pleasure lacing across her skin.
She struggled to get her mind back on track. Fought to remember what was actually important. His actions at that convention had burned a scar into her. Her family had barely escaped. Lexi had nearly died. All because this…creaturestanding in front of her had needed a distraction. Adistraction!
Now here he was, trying to help his king get across the fringe to a land they’d ultimately corrupt and tarnish. He didn’t deserve her fractured focus. He deserved death.
His full lips twisted into a smile.I see you remember me.
His eyes roamed her body slowly before resting on her face. “You’ve grown since I saw you last.” His voice was billowing black satin. He seemed equal parts seductive and dangerous. Teasing but with a hint of maliciousness.
He’d grown, too. He still looked only a couple of years older than her, but he’d shot up in height. Out in breadth. He carried robust strength now. Loose, supple muscle earned from years of fighting. Of killing. His was a terrifying beauty filled with dark secrets and violent deeds. She’d witnessed it those four years ago, and he was clearly still at his games in the human realm, hunting down prey for his ruler. Trading memories for death.
He stepped closer, only a few feet away, lookingdown into her hate-soaked eyes with a cocky, insufferable grin.
“You’ve changed.” A slight accent rode his words, the vowels somewhat softer. He tilted his head, studying her. “When I met you last, you didn’t have magic. It never mattered, though, did it? You always noticed me. No matter how tightly I wrapped my glamor around me, your gaze found me every time I was in your presence. In the halls. In the garden. There was no hiding from you. Your gaze and yours alone. I thought that curious, so I sought you out. Do you remember the first time we met face to face?”
Memories crowded in before Daisy could do damage control. The thrum of her body, the fire in her gut.
His lips curled devilishly. “Yes, exactly. I felt just like that. Ifeeljust like that, right now. Curious, isn’t it?”
Curious? Maybe. Frustrating? Absolutely.
His hand blurred when it moved. An artfully decorated, curved blade appeared in his palm.
Her trainingfinallykicked in and she reacted. Her hand swung forward, the throwing knife with it. Her fingers relaxed at the right moment, releasing the knife.
He realized it too late. His twist wasn’t fast enough, and the knife lodged into his side.
He hissed as he stepped forward.
She swiped her hand away and ducked into the fight, her dagger in her palm as if by magic. She slicedacross his chest and angled the blade, shoving up to get him under the jaw. His height made the move easy. His longer reach made his counter in such close proximity more difficult. She’d learned to use her smaller stature to her benefit.
Both of her hands were on the hilt. She’d need all her strength.
Right when the blade neared that incredibly handsome face—such a waste to slice it off—a shock of pressure stopped her limbs. Her hand was forced open, letting go of the dagger. Tingling air slammed into her body, but it didn’t feel like what Kieran could do with Poseidon’s magic, a wall of air. This felt wilder. Unruly. Uncontrolled, almost, like it was writhing and twisting over her skin.
Fae magic, obviously.
An earthy fragrance coincided with her slamming back against the wall. Her hands were glued to the hard surface, as were her feet. An invisible band of dark air, shimmering with golden hues, wrapped around her waist to ensure she stayed put.
Well, shit.This fight hadn’t gone well.
