Daemon refilled his tumbler and downed the contents. Then he poured another and downed that one, too.
Davina watched with unveiled amusement, her feet crossed at the ankle as she sipped slowly from the crystal tumbler.
Hours passed, and Daemon continued to drink. He’d finished off the decanter of whiskey, all while Davina nursed her single glass and then moved on to a bottle of wine while they passed the time in relative silence.
Occasionally she would prod him for information about Auraelia, but it stopped when he’d begun peppering her with questions about Garnet.
After that, she’d sat comfortably on his couch while he nearly drank himself into a stupor.
Daemon’s arms were heavy as he attempted to pour himself yet another glass of wine.
He wasn’t sure when it had happened, but Davina was suddenly in front of him.
“I think you’ve had enough,” she whispered as she moved the bottle and glass out of reach and gently pushed him back until he sat upright.
Daemon slumped down into the chair. He tried to keep his gaze on Davina, but his eyes were heavy as exhaustion mixed with the alcohol in his system.
“Poor, poor, Daemon,” she cooed as she slowly ran her hands up his thighs.
Slate-blue eyes stared up through pale lashes, and through his inebriated state, he could almost pretend that they belonged to Auraelia…almost.
Daemon squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, trying to shake the fog from his mind.
“I could make you feel good, you know. Make you forget.” Davina’s whispers ghosted across his ear as she slowly slid intohis lap. His knuckles whitened as his grip tightened on the arms of the chair.
Get it together, Daemon.
Davina’s legs settled in on either side of his own.
“Why are you doing this? Surely you know about the treaty,” he whispered, surprised that he was able to make a coherent sentence.
The heat of her body pressed into him as she lowered her lips to his. But a moment before they touched, she replied, “The treaty was voided the moment your father sided with me.”
Daemon stood abruptly, toppling Davina to the floor.
Laughter filled the otherwise quiet space as he shoved away from the chair on surprisingly steady feet.
“You hadn’t figured that out yet, had you?” she asked through her laughter.
Daemon whipped around a little too quickly and staggered. “You’re lying.”
Davina stood and brushed off her pants. Her feline smile was firmly in place as she stared at him. “No, my sweet, I’m not. The moment your father sided with me; he was working againsther. Which broke the treaty.” Her smile twisted into a sneer at the mention of Auraelia.
Daemon stood wide-eyed as his thoughts spiraled.
We can be together.
The treaty doesn’t matter anymore.
I need to tell Auraelia.
“Now, before you get a stupid idea of running off to tell my cousin. Let me remind you of one…little…thing.”
His blood began to chill, and his heartbeat slowed as Davina took calculated steps toward him.
“I can and will demolish all that you love and care about if you cross me. Your people, family, friends. And even though Auraelia seems to have pushed you aside, the quickening of yourheart when you found out about the treaty tells me thatyou havenot. I will break her in front of you. Make you watch while I slow her heartbeat to a crawl and freeze her from the inside out.” She accentuated her threat by doing the same to him. “Do I make myself clear?” she asked when she was standing before him.
The once slate-blue eyes that stared back at him were now the color of garnets. The same color of the very blood that she was able to manipulate.
