I gasp as he wrenches off his helmet, pitching it so hard across the tunnel that it clangs on the far wall.
Wrapping his hand more firmly around the back of my head, he pins me far too easily against the wall, an aggressive move. Dominant. But he doesn’t crush me or break my bones, even though he easily could.
And now his face is opposite mine, completely uncovered, and I can see every flicker of fury in his eyes, every shadow behind the strands of his dark hair, the drawing of his lips back from his teeth.
“I didn’t bring you here for your pity,” he snarls. “I didn’t intend to tell you—” He snaps his mouth shut, and there he stays, his chest seething against mine, his silence heavy until it feels…unbreakable.
A wall builds itself between us, silent brick by silent brick.
I won’t allow it.
As carefully as I can, I engage my stomach muscles and use my legs to leverage myself upward, moving slowly, raising myself just enough to lean forward.
I don’t know what I’m going to do. Press my cheek to his. Brush my mouth against his. Anything to stop this invisible barrier from forming between us.
He sways forward before I can reach him, his head lowering, his forehead softly meeting mine.
A quiet connection.
The longer it extends, the more powerful it becomes, and the threatening wall is no more.
I close my eyes, my hand resting over his heart, my breathing smoothing out.
Just as my dread eases, he whispers against my lips, “You shouldn’t trust me, Thyra.”
Before I can answer him, his mouth presses to mine. Not a gentle touch. A crushing contact. For the briefest moment, his lips are savage and demanding, his kiss sending my senses into a spiral before he pulls back just as sharply.
“Iama monster,” he says. “You won’t survive me unless you treat me like one.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Antony
Iwas foolish to bring Thyra to the catacombs, where my darkest secret is hidden.
I wanted her to see these tunnels in case I ever needed to hide her here. Convincing myself it was a good idea to use them to reach the library without a possible incident.
But Thyra’s questions were my undoing.
All she had to do was whisper…
You aren’t such a monster as you claim to be.
I am a monster, and even if I don’t tell her how or why, I need her to remember it.
Now, my lips ache as I pull sharply back from her, releasing her from my crushing kiss, a bruising contact intended to remind her I could hurt her.
But…damn her…she isn’t afraid.
Her legs tighten around my hips, and she draws herself up closer to me, a feat that must require every muscle in her stomach. All while her blue eyes search mine.
Searching,searching…
I can’t give her answers. Only a warning. A truth she seemsdetermined to deny, and that’s my fault because ever since last night, I’ve convinced her she’s safe with me.
“I am a monster.” My voice carries the weight of my nightmares, dark and bloodied. “You won’t survive me unless you treat me like one.”
I prepare to let her slide back to her feet. I’ve carried her longer than the blood magic required. It’s fine for her to walk on her own until we reach the next flight of stairs.
