Roak’s room was luxurious, exactly like I’d imagine a psychopath tyrant’s room to be: candles, claws, and an enormous bed with gold silk. He lay in the center, semi-shifted, green scales rippling over his chest, and pupils slit.
Andmy girlstood at the foot of the bed, looking like she had him exactly where she wanted him. There was a burning hatred in her eyes I’d never seen before.
Yet, the bastard looked at Rune like she was his altar.
He had no fucking clue death awaited him.
I briefly wondered if the real Roak had been that dumb.
She had changed from the gown and now wore a short golden robe that displayed that fucking collar around her neck, and her green hair was coiled in a ceremonial twist.
She laughed at something he said. I couldn’t tell what because rage funneled through my chest as she strode around and touched his wineglass on the end table.
Dimitri let out a low, undeniable snarl at my shoulder. I’d never seen the vampire so stiff before. He didn’t breathe or blink. “She’s the last one of us who needs to complete their given mission. She’s inside his perimeter.”
“I want to be the one to kill him,” I said. It came out conversationally; my tail swished behind me.
“Not yet,” Dimitri said, but I knew he wanted to, too.
My magic crackled around my fingers, and the monitor flickered as Snakey came out and wrapped around my neck, hissing at the screen.
Koa’s hair started smoking at the ends as he took in the screen. Heat flared off him in a pulse. The metal casing of the terminal warmed under my palm.
“I hate this,” Koa said hoarsely. “Ihatethis.”
“Get in line,” Zuko replied, scales rippling over his arms as he glared at the screen.
On screen, Roak spoke with a horrible, superior tone. “Your bloodline will be the future of venom-drakes. You’re the only one worthy of birthing a God’s heir.”
I gagged. “Fuck that guy. Kill him, venom baby.”
“Say that again,” Zuko muttered, leaning closer to the screen on the other side of me.
“I knew the fucker was delusional,” Dimitri bit out.
Rune smiled as if she agreed with him. “I’m honored,” she said, but her voice was a pretty lie anyone should have heard.
“She’s doing great,” Aura noted.
“Especially for dealing with that creep,” Eleanor agreed.
“Undress,” Roak commanded her.
Dimitri, Koa, Zuko, and I let out instinctual growls.
I planted my hands on either side of the keyboard because if I didn’t, I’d put them through the screen, and we had to be her back-up.
The feed shook anyway. My magic wanted out. It always did, but this was different; this was personal.
She was mine.
The thought of his talons touching her made something in me try to rip out of my chest.
On-screen, Rune’s lips curved as if she were the one in control. She let the robe slide off one shoulder and lifted her chin as if offering her throat to a fucking predator, which hewas.
Every line of her body said surrender; but I knew it was her trap.
I forced my hands open.
