Freya is gone.
Lanlin won.
He bloody won.
Except, not only his fight.
So much more.
Unexpectedly, there is sudden movement in front of me, a plume of incense smelling smoke, and gleaming red eyes, then Lanlin is ramming me back by his chest, until I am crushed into the wall.
The breath is knocked from me.
Startled, I stare into his glowing eyes.
I’ve miscalculated.
This is not Aurelius.
Lanlin is a true predator, and for the first time in my life, I am the true prey.
Caught in the depth of Lanlin’s eyes, I am trapped.
Outplayed.
The arsehole worked out what my heart’s deepest desire was: to be seen.
Respected.
Then he used it, before tearing me apart with claws and fangs.
Lanlin’s smile is darkly dangerous. “Why are you looking like I am about to feast on you, dear?”
“It is part of our deal.” I force myself to bare my neck, which is a hard thing to do for another Alpha, especially one with so many sharp teeth. “Don’t you enjoy the idea of sinking your teeth into my delicious throat? I’m meant to taste like ambrosia. They say fae blood will make you feel like you’re flying in the heavens with the Shadow Gods, even if you should be damned with the Shadow Devils.”
Lanlin leans close enough to lick my neck.
I force myself to stand still.
To my surprise, however, he doesn’t touch me.
Instead, his gaze flicks up to me, before he whispers, “I know what you’re doing.”
“And what’s that?”
“You tempt me to bite, but really, you’re terrified.” Lanlin reaches out to hover his gloved hand just above the pulsing artery in my neck and then down to my heaving chest. “Your mask can only hide your face, but the blood…the blood always reveals the truth. I can hear how fast your pulse is roaring, thethump thump thumpof your heart, and follow the flow of blood, down and down…”
When his hand lowers even further, I snarl. “Fuck yourself on an ash pole with splinters. It only flows down there for Freya.”
“How loyal and shameless. Do you wish me to fuckyouon such a pole? But I won’t keep an Alpha apart from their Omega forever. I respect your bond.” Lanlin raises his head, and his hair falls over his eyes. The moonlight catches on the diamonds in his hair like fallen stars. “Tell me, who are you really?”
My blood rushes in my ears, racing just as fast as he said it was.
I can’t control it.
He knows.
He must know.
