Daegel drags his palms down my thighs and then up. Once again, my body awakens at his touch, despite my mind not being on board.
His gaze is stuck on my mouth. “I love you and care about you. When I care so much about someone, my natural instinct is to protect them at all cost. Even if it drives them away.”
He looks sad. Defeated almost.
He’s a Caligos, born and raised. They’re trained in manipulation the moment they leave the mother’s womb. Vera’s voice rings in my mind.
“Keeping you safe means nothing if you’re not mine anymore.” His throat bobs. “I was wrong the way I went about it. I was wrong to try and make you see my point when I didn’t pause to see your reasoning.”
I blink, taken aback.
“Mmm,” I hum, and arch my back a little when he cups my ass in his huge palms.
Daegel’s gaze drops from my lips to the place between my breasts. He can’t see the tattoo, but he looks at the place as if he knows it’s there. Of course he knows. His spies must have told them everything about my experience during the second trial.
I brush my fingers through his hair.
Where is this change of heart coming from now? Has he realized he lost me last time, with the possessiveness and turning a blind eye to his family business?
Could he truly be able to change?
He looks up to meet my eyes. “The two of us are heading towards a tragic end. You, standing to honor the memory of yourfamily through whatever means you think are worthy. Me, trying to fulfill the desires of my family while I try to make them proud. Unless one of us relents, there won’t be a future.”
I snort. “If you’re about to once more suggest it’s me…”
Daegel chuckles and leans in to press a kiss on the side of my neck. I’m surprised how gentle his lips are. “I think I’m not making myself clear here. What I’m trying to say, Phoenix, is that I’m willing to be the one to stand down.”
I’m stunned to silence.No way.
While he nibbles on the sensitive skin of my neck, his hands work to undo the buttons of my leather top. I’m so torn. My breasts are aching to be freed, to be worshiped by him. But my mind is screaming at me to not give in.
I’ve been here before.
I’m better now.
I’m here to seduce him, and once he’s satiated and asleep, I’ll search his whole house until I find something that will bring his family down.
I hold on to his shoulders and arch my back. The words that come out of my mouth are breathy. “You’re willing to disobey your father and drop out? To let me win and be the next Ezkai General?”
Finally, my heavy breasts are free. Daegel rips the top off and tosses it aside. Slowly, he drags his tongue over the valley between my breasts where the snake tattoo is. A low purr echoes in my mind.
I close my eyes and ignore the awakening presence of the trickster god, all the sensations in my body.
I can’t give in to this, the familiarity.
I can’t forgive.
“Yes, princess. Fulfilling my father’s dream is not worth losing you,” Daegel murmurs against my skin. “I’ve thought about it. I’ve thought about what it would be to have the power,but not have you by my side. What a lonely and awful existence that would be.”
I’m tempted to believe him. I still love him after all.
The future I wanted feels so close.
I’m all his.
And he’s all mine.
Finally, he’s hearing me.
