The words echo through Malice’s head like a haze. The green monster roars, and Reikan blasts through doors, too close to the surface. In the blink of an eye, Malice is forced back, no longer in control of their shared body.
35
AERIN
Aerin was expecting to surprise Khortland in his little love den upon her arrival. Aerin was expecting Malice and Emrys to be upset to hear the news that she is Paramyr to a Prince of the Zeneith. She was even expecting theHumanin bed with her Paramyr, the one who is now trembling against the headboard.
Aerin did not expect Malice to snap. She didn’t expect him to half shift. And she certainly didn’t expect him to slam the naked Fae Prince against the wall so hard it crumbles.
And because she wasn’t expecting it, it takes her a moment. A blink really, to react. A blink too long.
Khortland blasts Malice in the chest with ice. Malice flies back, letting the Prince go. He roars in anger, fire flaring from his palms.
“Get your pet under control!” Khortland shouts at Aerin, a morsel of desperation in his eyes as he realizes Emrys has maneuvered himself between the fight and the Human on the bed.
Snapping into action, Aerin puts a wall of magic between Malice and Khortland seconds before Malice sends flamestowards the ice Fae, steam rising off his skin where ice once coated him.
“Em, do not let anything happen to the Human, and do not let them leave,” Aerin orders over Malice’s roar of frustration.
“She ismine!” It’s Reikan’s voice that roars out of Malice’s body, directed towards her Paramyr, who is now edging back towards the Human.
Fear and uncertainty rise within Aerin, but she squashes it. Now is not the time to be afraid of the Dragon.
Despite the danger, Aerin steps through the wall she put around Reikan and changes it to be opaque in color. No sight or sound passing through in either direction.
“Malice,” Aerin whispers, approaching him with her hands outstretched in surrender. He is still fuming, literally. Steam rises from his skin, his shirt melted away. His eyes blaze orange, trained on Aerin, looking downright predatory.
“My name is Reikan the Vanquisher, and you, Aerin Tolvare, Moonstone Dragon, and Princess of Valtara,you aremine.”
Aerin blinks at him.
“Reikan, I need Malice back. Now,” Aerin orders, trying to keep the tremble in her hands out of sight. Flames still flicker in his palms.
“You are mine,” he growls again.
Anger, disbelief, and indignation form in equal parts. Aerin hardly stops herself from blasting him with her own magic. Her caution switches to rage in a matter of moments, and she steps forward, chest to chest with Reikan.
His chest rises and falls rapidly but hers is even as she says, “What I give to you, I give to you by choice,Reikan. You think you can control me?” Venom laces her voice. “You think you are more powerful thanme?” Aerin lets her voice rise, lets the Dragon see just how furious his behavior has made her.
“I will do as I please.” Her voice hardens. “Who I please.” She pushes a finger into his chest. “When I please.” Reikan’s eyes flare. “Andyouwill be grateful for the parts of myself I give you!”
There is a long pause. Reikan seems to be considering this.
The flames in his hands sputters out as he gives her a slight nod. A show of submission, of acceptance.
“Now,” Aerin says, blowing out a breath, “Give me back Malice.” She lays a firm hand on his shoulder and shoves her magic into him. Reikan isn’t expecting it, so when Aerin grabs the essence of Malice and pulls him to the surface, there is little fight.
The scales and steam fade, but somehow Aerin is still caught by surprise when those blue eyes blink back to focus and Malice kisses her.
The stiffnessin Aerin’s body only lasts for a second, then everything in her gives.
Malice’s kiss is desperate and needy. One of his hands holds the back of her head, tangled in her hair. The other grasps her ass, pulling her whole body into his. She parts her lips, and his tongue pushes its way inside. There is nothing sweet, kind, or tender about this kiss. It’s violent, and domineering, andsodesperate. The blood-bond hums between them, thrumming in a way that brings everything to a fever pitch.
Malice is the one to break the kiss.
He pulls back, panting, while his eyes search hers. He looks apologetic, though Aerin isn’t sure what for: the outburst or the kiss itself.
His forehead falls onto hers. Breathing the same air as she is, he says, “I don’t care that you have a Paramyr. I don’t care thatyou sleep in the same bed as the Wolf. I don’t even care if you fuck the stupid Jaguar from the club—” Malice inhales harshly through his nose. “We are bonded-mates. I am a part of you. As you are a part of me. I can’t fight against it anymore. I need to have you, Aerin.” His voice cracks. “Fucking please,let me have you.”
