Cyrus finally sighed, dropping into a chair and slouching low. My curiosity rose and I bit my lip, trying to stop my tongue from getting me into trouble. Like he sensed my curiosity, Cyrus’s eyes peeled open and punched right through my chest, knocking the breath from my lips with the intensity of them.
“Ask.” He commanded with a cocky tilt to his lips and lazily narrowed eyes like he knew I was dying to ask all of the many questions swirling through my mind.
My eyes widened and my mouth opened in surprise, but no words came out. He slowly lifted his lips into a smirk that revealed his amusement.
“You clearly have questions, so go ahead. Ask me.” He paused dramatically; his eyes locked on me. “I wish there to be nothing between us, my dear Asteria.”
“Is it—is it always like this?” I rasped out, then swallowed, my mouth far too dry. The overwhelming number of questions I wanted answers to were all bubbling away inside me, but for now, there was one that demanded an answer.
“Like what?” He narrowed his eyes, tilting his head to the side. I could see his genuine curiosity, and it staggered me. How could he find all of this so—so normal?
“The fighting between you and your family?” I finally managed to push the words past my lips, fearing his response, but myneed to understand was greater. “Your siblings trying to outdo each other and grasp for power?”
“Shalim, you are innocent, aren’t you?” Cyrus’s smirk turned into a real smile at my question, his amusement clear.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, which I absolutely hated. I didn’t like being out of control, having my own face betray me in such a way. Innocence had never been an accusation leveled at me before, but I felt it more in this moment than I could have anticipated. I didn’t know how to manage life in court, asking questions whose answers seemed obvious to everyone else. Cyrus’s brilliant smile had nothing to do with my blush—nothing;it was merely my own lack of understanding embarrassing me.
I narrowed my eyes at the prince and that damn smile lighting up his face. His eyes were like blue flames, burning brighter than I’d seen yet.
Cyrus began to chuckle, and I was taken aback by how open his face became. He truly was handsome when he unwound like this. It was a shame Cyrus felt he had to be so unyielding and arrogant all the time. He was so much more natural this way, and the corner of my lips ticked up involuntarily.
Cyrus reigned in his amusement at my expense, but the way he looked at me made my heart beat faster, until it was like a third person in the room. I may not be willing to give into him, but he certainly was making my resistance as difficult as possible. The way he gazed upon me was as much a weapon as the sword he normally wore at his hip.
“To answer your question, yes. It’s always this way.” Cyrus returned to the subject at hand, but his penetrating eyes didn’t leave mine. He leaned forward on his chair until his face was level with mine.
“Everyone wants power, Asteria. If someone says they don’t, they’re lying, either to you or to themselves. People alwayswant control. Especially you, I think.” My breath caught as he narrowed in on my own thoughts, and he nodded as if I had just confirmed it for him.
“I can only imagine how you feel.” Cyrus’s tone was low, seductive, and much too enticing—like he’d wrapped his words in velvet. “You had no choice but to come here, and your life is completely at my discretion.” I made a sound of protest, and Cyrus chuckled, the sound causing goosebumps to race across my arms.
“You hate that, don’t you? You want the power to control your own life?” He didn’t wait for me to respond, seeing the answer as clearly as if I spoke it.
“My brothers all want that power too.” Cyrus looked away, his gaze turning toward the large windows like the sky contained the answers to his thoughts.
“They all want the opportunity to not be stuck under the thumb of another. By Shalim, even my sisters want that. So, they plot and plan to dispose of me, and our other siblings. They’ll do anything to get themselves closer to the crown, to narrow the options down so the gods will pick them as heir. They risk themselves and choose to fight, just for the opportunity ofpossiblybeing selected—whether or not they’re the eldest, it’s the magic within our blood that’s favored, so the gods could choose any of them. So, I will fight them to prevent my death.” He gave me a wry look, his eyebrow peaked.
I blinked, trying to imagine living like that. Yes, I wanted power over my own life, but it wasn’t as Cyrus described. I didn’t want power for the sake of power. I wanted power so I never had to answer to people like him again—so I could fly free and far, towards some unknown refuge where the Fae would never bother me again. But I couldn’t imagine having to constantly fight just to keep my head, especially from my own family. No wonder he was so detached, he’d had to be to survive. I couldcertainly understand that. I’d forced myself to do something similar, after all.
“I’m giving you the opportunity to choose power for yourself, Asteria.” Cyrus stood, his long limbs stretching as he did so. I couldn’t help but notice his shirt riding up, exposing cut abdominals that should not be making my mouth so dry.
He slowly stalked over to me, prowling ever closer. I stood up as he moved in, stumbling slightly and backing up a step. His smirk merely grew, and he didn’t stop until he was so close that I could feel his breath on my face. I shuddered a bit as he leaned in, his lips brushing my ear.
How was it possible that he shifted into a pegasus? Surely, he should be some kind of jungle cat when he moved as gracefully as a panther slinking towards its prey.
“You will have power by my side. More than most humans could ever dream of. I offer you a life of luxury and power.” Cyrus whispered, his mouth hovering by my temple, brushing the wisps of hair away as he made a mockery of the gentle and unassuming action. He was surely a master of seduction, and I had to keep myself on guard.
“You can control a portion of your own life, Asteria, instead of letting it be controlled for you. I think we both know what you’d prefer.” Cyrus flicked his tongue over my earlobe as he finished speaking, then bit it delicately, scraping those teeth over my earlobe before letting it go and turning his attention to the side of my neck.
I shuddered at his touch. His teeth and tongue were a seductive invitation that worked in parallel to try to wash away my resistance. It had been two months since the last night Soren and I were together. I couldn’t deny that my body wanted Cyrus—badly. I could feel arousal gathering at the apex of my thighs as his tongue and teeth moved down my neck, licking and bitinglightly. Never enough to leave a mark, but enough to make my body quake with want.
Old Gods, help me—my neck has always been a weak point, rousing my desire quickly.Why did he have to go for the neck?
It had been too long, and I needed to find some attractive human man to slake some of this lust.Not Cyrus. I had to remind myself he was off limits. I refused to go down that road.
It was not only against every conviction I had, but it was risky. Fae owners were known for following their whims, and Cyrus could turn around and whip me for misbehaving if he felt so inclined. Tartarus, he’d already threatened metoday.
“You want power, Asteria.” He murmured into my skin. A silky promise, but his next words proved the lie of them. “Let me give it to you.”
I stiffened, his words reminding me why this was a horrendous idea. I had to shake myself and remember these were false promises—Cyrus wanted more power over me, not less. He wouldn’t relinquish any bit of that power and would instead attempt to make methinkhe was giving me power. In reality, however, he would maintain all the true control.
