I scent her arousal immediately.
She may not be listening... but her body is.
She pretends to be unbothered and pushes past me again.
I’m already in front of her before she reaches the door.
“You’re not immune to me,” I murmur. “Thrae’virai ves lûr, saelûn.” (Your hunger betrays you, soulbond.)
She rolls her eyes.
I step forward, she backs up. Again and again until her back hits the wall with a soft thud.
I lean in, one hand braced over her head, the other curling beside her waist.
“I can smell it on you,” I whisper. “How badly you want me. How badly you want to stay.Veskae narh ves vaelissûn?” (You think I don’t feel it when you get wet for me?)
Her lips part, but no sound comes out.
“Let me show you just how un-caged you truly are, Thal’kisha,” I breathe against her neck. “Let’s see which one of us is begging to stay after this.”
A flick of my wrist, and ice rises like a vine from the floor, curling into a dagger that rests against her thigh. It hums with power against her warm skin.
Her breath hitches.
“Tell me you want to leave, Saelûn.Kaelorin ves kaemorin lûrth.”(You’re already mine. Even when you lie to yourself.)
She doesn't say anything. Her chest is rising and falling so fast it looks painful. The ice slices through the fabric. She’s rolling her body into mine before her pants even hit the ground. Her nails bite into my chest.
I bare my fangs, watching her tiny pulse jump beneath her skin. I curl the ice vine higher, a second tendril rises to caress her like a frozen whisper. Tracing her skin inch by inch.
“You wanted to be free, didn’t you?” I murmur against her neck, voice a low snarl. “You wanted to run away?”
She shudders.
“Then go, Lumi.” I release her entirely and step back. The ice flickers, tip still grazing her, right where she’s the softest.
“Leave,” I whisper. “But if you stay—” My eyes lock on hers, soft and savage all at once. “Lûven ael’morûn.”(Stay, and let me unmake you slowly.)
She stumbles back, breath heaving. She slaps the ice aside and shoves past me.
“Go on then. Prove you don’t need me. Walk away while your thighs are slick, and your knees are trembling for me.”
She makes it to the hallway, each step stuttering, leaving heat in her wake.
30
CARVE YOUR NAME INTO ME
Andrik-
“Keep walking, Lumi,” I call out as she moves forward. “One more step and I’ll shove you against that wall and lick the fight right out of you.Thrae’nai ves saelûn.”(Your body knows its mate.)
She pauses. Glances over her shoulder, then dares one more step as the corner of her lips lifts in a smirk.
Vines whip up from the stair banister—slick with frost. They slither like serpents, slow and sentient, binding her wrists before she can wiggle free.
One yanks her forward. She gasps.
