“You’re not sending me to go straight back to Dagon? To pretend I’ll honor our deal?” Ember questions.
“Of course not.” Cain leans forward. “He must know you despise him, no? And he’s lost his leverage over you. If you go back to him, he’llknowit’s a trap. No, this needs to look organic.”
Ember inhales a deep breath. Shifts a little on my lap, which immediately makes my cock spring to attention. I didn’t end up fucking her this morning, and I’m feeling the deprivation. But I’ll rectify that soon. Tonight, I plan on fucking her until she passes out again, and praying to God that’s what it takes to jog another memory of me. Even if not, she needs to develop a more regular sleep cycle—and if orgasms are the way to put her to sleep, I will happily supply them every night for the rest of our lives together.
“Do you agree to playing your part?” Cain asks.
“Would it matter if I didn’t?”
He pauses for a beat. “No, not particularly. I have some respect for you, Viper, so I’d prefer not to have to resort to force, but I will if I deem it necessary.” The underlying message to his words is clear; he’ll threaten Alina just as Dagon did if Ember doesn’t play ball.
“Naturally.” I can almost hear Ember roll her eyes. “Yes, I agree. When?”
“Soon—in the next few weeks,” Cain says. “There are a few wrinkles I need to iron out and a few pieces that need to be moved around the board. Once everything’s set, I’ll let you know the final plan.” He jerks his chin at all of us. “Thank you for your time. You’re dismissed.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Ember
I’m in a shitty mood for the rest of the day. After a workout with Max, where he busies himself being an idiot and gawking at me, I head back to the apartment, where I settle in the living room to stew. Creature makes his bed beneath me, resting his head on my feet. Since he’s warming them, I let him stay in place. Occasionally, I even lean down to scratch his head.
Max seems to sense I need the space, because he leaves me be. He works in his office for a few hours, orders up lunch for us, then tells me he’s going to be making rounds and leaves for a few more hours.
I sit in place, trying to think through everything. There is no part of me that has any desire to see Dagon again for any purposebutto kill him… and even then, part of me wishes I could stay out of it.
I’m not docile by nature—I never have been, not from the memories I have of my youth. I’ve been quiet and timid at times in my life, but never docile. When something needed to be done, I rolled up my sleeves and did it.
And yet… the mere thought of letting Dagon get his hands on me makes me want to curl up in a ball and disappear. Letting him get near me, after Alina’s been saved, makes me sick with nerves.
In the hours that trickle by, I don’t just think about Dagon. I also think abouther.My sister. The only pure human being I’ve ever met. She is sunshine in human form—of course I’d have gone toanylengths to protect her. Perfection like her must be preserved.
I also think about Tobias’s protectiveness of her. It’s plausible that they knew each other in foster care—I know she was fostered for a while before her parents officially adopted her. But she never mentioned Tobias to me, and in the short time we knew each other, we’d grown very close. I think we both grew up yearning for a sibling, and neither of us ultimately got the chance, so when it presented itself, we leaped on it.
The front door swings open late in the evening, close to 10P.M. Max steps in, his usual, infuriating grin stamped on his features. He looks pleased to see me, whereas I’m still irritated with the world at large, and as a byproduct, him. I’mespeciallyirritated with him because I’m beginning to get snippets of memories with him, and he wants to promote that whereas I’d much prefer to suppress it.
He's holding a tray with two covered silver platters on it. “Food, shower, sex, and bed. Sound good?”
“Yes to the first two; go fuck yourself on the latter options,” I snarl.
“Sounds good, Max,” he says, making a poor attempt to mimic my voice. Then, in his usual tone, he replies, “That’s what I like to hear.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“And you like me more than you’re letting on. Come on, Flame.”
“Your ego is stunningly out of proportion.”
“With what? You can’t be referring to my cock; you’re the one who commented on it being monster-sized yesterday. Can’t be my personality, either, since it’s spectacular. Or—”
“For the love ofGod, shut the hell up,” I plead, rubbing my temple with two fingers. “You’reimpossible.”
“I prefer the term,hot as fuck. In any case, sit your ass down and eat.”
After the meal, Maximusinsistson showering together, not taking no for an answer. And then, his bedtime rolls around.
“Kneel,” he says.
“No,” I reply. “I’m not doing this tonight. I have thinking to do.”
