His chest heaved beneath me, as if he prepared to shift back to his humanoid shape he’d only gained this side of Yggdrasil.
“No,” I growled out. “You’re not allowed to shift without my permission.”
“But—”
“Am I your queen or not? Do you hold my bond? Do you carry my blood? My power?”
He swallowed hard, but kept his head turned, unable to look at me. “You know I do, my queen. But I’m unworthy?—”
I don’t want to hear it.
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, Darkness bubbled out of me, spilling into the room like thick ribbons of shadows. Some filled his mouth, immediately silencing him. While other snake-like shadows wound around his limbs.
A little shaken, I stared down at him, afraid I’d gone too far without thinking. He’d been traumatized in those fighting pits. Tormented by the things he’d done to survive. Dörr had saved him from that life. The last thing I wanted to do was trigger even darker memories.
Like my own. Trapped inside Jörmungandr. Pinned, unable to move, slowly devoured. I wouldn’t want to be helpless again, especially not during sex.
Though as soon as I thought it, I couldn’t help but glance over at Dörr, remembering his weight crushing me. Pinning me. Incredible—and not triggering in the slightest. Because I loved him. I trusted him.
Svar did not trust me the same way.
His head whipped around, his eyes narrowing into pink slits.:I absolutely do trust you, my queen. I love you deeperthan the Endless Slough could ever sink. Do as you will with me. Though perhaps you should call Myrk?—:
“Myrk has his orders from his alpha,” I cut in. “I will call him when I’m done with you.”
Svar shifted beneath me, rolling his head toward Dörr, checking to see if he’d recovered yet.:I’m not safe to use in this form.:
“I don’t need Dörr to protect myself from you. I only need you. I can certainly protect myself if need be, but there won’t be any danger.”
Svar’s gaze flickered back to my face.:Prove it.:
Then he bulged, straining against the shadows I’d wrapped around him. He thrashed, struggling to get his wings spread, as if he’d simply fly away or knock me off him. On his back, he was hampered by the bulk of the other men still lying on the bed. So he tried to flip himself upright.
Arms crossed over my breasts, I tightened my shadows flowing around him. I envisioned sinking heavier on his chest, my weight impossible to budge. A mountain sitting on him, ignoring the heaving rolls beneath me.
He stilled, his eyes blazing with pink fire.:Turn around and look at the cock you think you want inside of you. Then send me back to Niflhel where I belong.:
Fine. Great, actually. I’d been wanting a closer look anyway—but usually I was too involved in enjoying what they felt like inside me to ask them to pause and let me investigate.
Turning around, I stilled, holding my breath for a moment as I looked at him. His cock rose in a hard, vicious curve, pointed straight at me. At first glance, it looked more like a scorpion tail with a dripping obsidian hooked barb on the tip. He arched his back, thrusting his hips, and his cock made a strange metallic sound. Like blades clashing together. Black segments flared outin sharp flanges, spiraling toward the base. Each with glistening cutting edges like shards of glassy obsidian.
The more he arched his hips up off the bed, the wider the flanges spread. Until his cock looked more like a bristling fan of double-edged swords with a scorpion barb in the center.
Chilled—but also intrigued—I reached out and touched just the tip of my finger to the barbed hook. His breath wheezed out in a strangled cry, his body heaving beneath me. Black essence streamed from the tip, splattering my thighs and his stomach. I swiped my other hand over some of the fluid and lifted my fingers to my mouth.
It tasted a little like his essence but laced with a bitter, sharp edge like dark coffee roasted too long.
:Goddess below,:he panted.:Don’t taste it. I’m pure venomous hatred. If my cock doesn’t kill you, I’ll rot you from the inside out.:
My tongue tingled. I felt the burn down the back of my throat. It didn’t hurt me, though. If I could feed on their essence, why not his venom?:You came inside me before.:
:Not in this form. Goddess. Please, Helayna. Just send me back before I hurt you. I’d rather tear myself apart and sink into the Endless Slough than harm you.:
:You were inside Dörr without tearing him apart.:
:Only because I made myself wait. Anticipation makes killing all the sweeter, and I didn’t know how long I’d have to wait for another conquest.:
:Then make yourself wait now.:
