“Then we give them something to watch.” He leaned forward, nuzzling into her hair, grasping her hips now with both hands. “We play to their expectations. Let them think they’re controlling the situation while we position ourselves for the real strike.”
“When do we move?” It was hard to focus with him digging his fingers into her skin, gripping her like that.
“Just after the ceremony. Everyone will be focused on Lana and Zabriel. No one will care about Mael, or you, or me. The moment Mael steps off stage, the moment after Lana and Zabriel kiss as husband and wife, we will take him in the shadows while everyone is distracted by the applause and music.”
It was audacious, striking at the heart of the celebration when defenses would be at their most complex but potentially most distracted. “And if the faedoattack?”
“Even better. Chaos has always been my preferred operating environment.” He slid one of his hands slowly up her back, tracing the line of her spine. “But there’s something we need to discuss.”
The direness in his tone made her look up. “What?” And that was the trap she fell into.
His hand fisted in her hair. He pulled her head back hard enough that it sent a sting through her that had her gasping. “You. And whether or not I can trust younotto go rogue tomorrow, little murderer.”
“I—” She was already moving. He dragged her to the bed, and before she could react, she was face-down on the plush, velvet surface, bent over with her feet on the ground.
His hand stroked her ass. It was the only warning she had before his palm fell against her skin with a hardcrack.
She hissed, baring her teeth, her hands digging into the comforter. “Raziel, what’re you?—”
“I know you. And I know what you’re going to do, my little fae.” His voice was deep, already husky and thick from lust. His hand fell against her ass with a second hard strike.
She gasped, but when she went to struggle, he grabbed a handful of her skin and squeezed hard enough that it brought tears to her eyes.
“Ah-ah. Stay still, beautiful…accept your punishment.”
“But I haven’t done anythingwrong.”
“Oh, but I know you will.” He chuckled, still pinning her head to the bed with her hair, his hand pressing to the sheets beside her. His hand stroked the burning skin on her ass. “Tomorrow will be abject chaos and Iknowyou will misbehave.”
His hand left her to deliver another hardcrack!
This time, she bit her lip to keep from moaning. Why did this do such terrible things to her?Why?She should be screaming, fighting, tearing his face off. But here she was, submitting to the Serpent—her enemy—and desperate for more.
“Fuck you, Raziel, you—ahnh!”
She hadn’t heard him undo his pants. And he barely paused at her core before he rammed himself into her body, filling her in one smooth, brutal movement.
The pace he set was as unforgiving as how he began it. And it wasexactlywhat she needed. What they both needed. She snarled, swearing at him in fae as he pinned her shoulders down with one hand, the other grasping her hips as he pounded into her like a machine.
And all he did was laugh. “That’s it, my—nnh—little wild beast…fight me. I want to feel the moment you remember you’remine.”
Moons, it felt so damnperfect.Everything about it.
“Say it,” he growled at her, lifting her torso from the bed. His thrusts became violent impacts into her, sending blinding flashes of ecstasy crashing through her. “Say you’remine.Nowand always. And say you’resorryfor what you’re going to do. Beg me.Beg mefor forgiveness.”
At first, she resisted, swearing at him with every obscenity she knew, and there were plenty. But it only spurred him on, and she could only take so much.
Finally, with a half-sob, half-wail, she surrendered. “Please?—”
Her cheek met the sheets again.
His tempo slowed, but it only seemed to allow him to bury himself harder, deeper into her body. Pausing only to speak. “Pleasewhat?”
Each thrust felt like it was going to drive her mind out of her body. “F—ah—forgive me?—”
“Mm…not good enough…I want to hear you say it all at once, fae…” He leaned back to caress her ass again before slapping his palm down on the sensitive skin hard enough that she had to bite the sheets to muffle her moan. “Look at you. Look at how much you love this. What a perfect little thing you are. Nowsay it.Say you’re mine, andbeg for forgiveness for whatever you’re going to do tomorrow.”
She couldn’t take it anymore. She just couldn’t. Her body was on the edge of release, and it was making her head spin. “Please—Raziel—I-I’m sorry, please forgive me—I-I’m yours, now and forever,please?—”
