His brilliant green eyes shone brightly, even in the gloom. The gold within had bled away to jet black, increasing the size of his pupils. None of his Celestial magic was present, giving way to pure unseelie magic.
In response to her observations, he said,I am forced to use their obsidian magic and dance with the corrosion forever tugging at me. It tries to steal all sense of goodness and toss me up to the court to relish in their torment. My thoughts are dark when in this court. Carnal. You are an allure I can barely withstand. That I wish to twist and corrupt, to fuck and ruin. I have never wanted anything so badly in my life.
His eyes roamed her face, and part of her wondered why she wasn’t terrified of this change in him. Of this new creature that visited her in the dungeon and was pushing ever closer in his want.
But the other part knew why—she’d always been terrified of him…and not. Afraid of his kind but not really of him. This creature before her seemed dark and depraved, volatile and wicked, but she had the same depravity lurking within her. It was what Zorn had always seen, it matching his. She realized that with Tarian, she was comfortable dancing in the flames. Let him show her his worst, and she’d laugh as she matched his stride.
His smile was slow, and his breath fell across her lips, so close his heat chased away all the gaps between them. A punch of magic made her eyes water, the smell acidic, not like when he’d used it before. Her damp and dirty clothing from a moment ago was gone, replaced by a servant’s attire, fresh and clean and dull black. She breathed out gratefully. Things had gotten pretty gross, but as far as she could tell, her body was just as clean as her clothes. She didn’t understand this magic, but she was grateful for it.
His hands curled around the chains securing her. He lifted, raising her hands up above her head before using a thick black band of magic to secure them there.
“You look good enough to eat,” he said, his fingers drifting down her arms.I remember your taste, sweet and tangy.
She closed her eyes as he leaned closer, not sure if anyone could hear them. Not sure how much she should give in.
Yes, they can hear us,he murmured, his lips drawing near her cheek.And they are listening hard to glean any scrap of information they can to take back to the king and his minions. They do so love to damn me for my follies.
He pulled back, his gaze washing across her face. Gold now fought the black in his eyes, turning and twisting around the pupil and flaring into the iris. Two magics at war. Two sides of him equally so.
And desiring a human to this magnitude,he went on,is an enormous folly, one they must not uncover lest you become a target long before you’ve earned it.
“If you touch me, I’ll kill you,” she said in as hard a voice as she could muster.
His laugh was rich and dark. “Hmm. That sounds like consent…with strings. I imagine you’ll wait until after you orgasm, yes? But remember, little human—you are mine. My toy. To do with as I please. To break at my leisure.”
His lips tracked across the side of her neck, and her eyes fluttered. She yanked at the manacles, shaking the chains as though trying to get free to push him away.
“Tell me, my treasure,” he said. “Do you feel vulnerable? Or do you succumb to my allure like the fragile-minded human you are and feel only lust?”
His hand ran over her breast, his thumb swiping across the peak. She moaned despite herself—despite the game she was supposed to be playing in this twisted, fucked-up scenario. Then again, maybe that was perfect. Let them think she was lost to this fae’s touch. That he controlled her mind. And maybe he did. Maybe he always had.
“That’s right,” he whispered, his lips grazing hers. “Give in to your tormenter. Soak in your depravity like a good little human.”
His lips pressed down, and the taste of him swept her away. She pulled against the chains, wanting to free her hands and grab him. To yank him closer. She opened her mouth, and he filled it. His hand glided up her shirt, against her skin. His hard length rocked against her.
Her groan was tortured.
“Tell me, little human. Would you be disgusted if I fucked you in a prison cell?” He continued to rock against her. Her eyes fluttered as he did.
Her rebuttal was sultry and wanton. “If you try, you won’t make it to sunrise.”
“Hmm, delicious threats. Should we see if tonight will be my last?” He hiked her legs up to his hips to increase the friction.
The pleasure sizzled within her core. “Only someone deranged would consider fucking her jailor.”
“Yes, and that is why you are so very fun, don’t you see? You can’t help but want me, your superior in every way. Your better. Try as you might, but you are unable to resist me. Now be a good pet and unravel for your jailor.”
He rubbed against her harder. His fingers lightly pinched her nipple the way she liked, and his magic delved into her. All at once, the sensations were overwhelming. Incredible. She blasted apart, shuddering against him, loud in her climax. Supposed to hate him but unable to resist him, she would absolutely look weak and pitiful for this. The result was perfect, and thank the gods, because she didn’t have much of a choice. Not with him. Not ever.
Same,he murmured, shaking against her, his breathing fractured. He’d been consumed by the game.Now, quickly—mutter curses at me so I can check the mark on your neck.
She did as he said, leaning forward and twisting. He pushed her hair away, paused for a moment, and thought,Fuck!
When he leaned back, his eyes were searching hers. The image flashed into her mind: four pretty, intertwining symbols at the top of her neck that shimmered like a sea of tiny diamonds. They caught and threw the light into a gorgeous halo. A very noticeable halo. This was the wrong time to think of all the outfits it would work best with.
Fuck,he said again, his gaze filling with regret and remorse. He let go a breath.I might have no choice but to fully claim you in front of the court. I had hoped a mark would make a big enough statement, but diamond dust speaks of prophecy. What prophecy? I don’t know. I doubt anyone does. They have somewhat insane myths in this court based mostly on doom and destruction. Diamond dust is just one of many.
He shook his head and stepped back, his physical words taunting and drifting into the background, because his mental words were something entirely different. Something that sounded distinctly like him and not the creature produced by this court.
