I will have my revenge.
Or I’ll have the sweet kiss of death.
You know the truth…
Moving so slowly the sheets barely rustle, I slide my hand under the pillow where I stashed my dagger.
The hilt of the dagger fits into my hand only too well.
But I’ve seen Bael move, know his reflexes…
I’ll only get one chance at this.
Easing one of the pillows out of the way, I crawl across the silk sheets toward him. Bael stirs, firelight gilding the exaggerated curve of his muscled shoulder. I didn’t notice last night, but there are glints of gold tattoos traced into the slab of his bare chest, as if someone used molten gold as ink. A long sinuous serpent of some description curves around another, with thicker, ritualistic runes I don’t recognize. The sight of the scales on the creature ignites the smoldering embers of my rage.
He’s been right here in front of me the whole time and I didn’t see it.
And worst still are those traitorous memories of his hands gliding through my hair. Just what sort of game is he playing?
Thick dark lashes create half-moon crescents against his cheeks, fluttering as if he senses me moving.
I freeze, heart pounding. Maybe Amara’s water has worn off.
I’ll never get close enough. Not with bared steel. Not unless he thinks my motives lie in another direction entirely.
“Zyla?” he murmurs, turning his face toward me.
“Shhh.” Sliding my hand across the softened line of his cheek in a caress, I close the gap between us.
His face turns into my palm, perfect lips grazing across the pad of my thumb. The rasp of his stubble stirs things deep inside me, even as I fight to keep my mission at the forefront.
He took Aylin.
It has to be him.
It all fits. The way he singled me out, the way I haven’t seen the Beast in the skies ever since, the tattoo, the fact this isn’t his first hunt, the drei warrior who wants to kill him, the way they all fear him…
I move like a snake, sinuous and graceful as I slide my thigh over his waist, seating myself firmly in his lap, one hand sliding up the smooth planes of his chest. His skin feels like it holds an inferno within it.
Bael blinks, coming awake swiftly, his hands gripping my thighs then easing as he realizes what I’m doing.
Fool.
Instantly, the steel of my blade kisses the pulsing throb of his carotid. “Who are you?”
The night becomes stillness.
Not a breath is consumed between us.
And then Bael bares his teeth in a slow smile as if he can’t even feel the press of the steel. Instead, his thumbs dig into my inner thighs, stroking along the muscle there. “Someone who is very surprised at this new development. I thought you weren’t interested in being a bride?”
The water has clearly worn off.
His touch ignites sensations within me that only my own fingers have ever wrought. It’s hard to ignore the thick press ofhis cock driving into my thigh, the gentle stroke of those thumbs. I have a mission. Amission… “You took her. I know you took her. You’re him, aren’t you? You’re that wretched, black-hearted beast?—”
Bael’s eyes narrowed. “Took who? And you’ll have to be a little bit more specific. There are numerous monsters in this maze, my little lioness. I’ve never denied being one of them, but you’ll need to clarify.”
“Don’t play fucking games! You think this is funny?” I curl my lip. “You think I haven’t been putting the pieces together? I know who you are. I knowwhatyou are. Tell me thetruth.Reveal yourself, you fucking coward.”
