Sure enough,Salazarshakes his head.
“Alas,Ihave no need of a smith—Ido all my own metal work,” he says.“It’squite easy when you’re basically made of fire.”Hesmiles charmingly—the fucker.
“All right,”Isay, not even trying to keep the growl out of my voice.“Whatdo you want?”
Salazar replaces the coal, which integrates seamlessly into his hair again.Heleans forward, elbows on his knees and stares at us intently.
“What is it you’re most afraid of?”he asks.
Which is not a fucking answer.
“Why…why do you want to know that?”Elowenlooks worried andIdon’t fucking blame her.
“IfIgive you a piece of myself,Imust have something in kind to replace that piece,”Salazarexplains patiently.“AndsinceIam a demon,Iam made of flame, pain, and fear.Iassume you don’t want me to hurt you…”
I move to put myself between them and glare at him.
“You’re not laying a single fucking finger on her,”Igrowl.
“No, of course not.”Salazarsmiles at me and this timeIsee something cruel in his genial expression.“Iwon’t touch her at all, my dearDrake.Youwill.”
51
ELOWEN
“What are you talking about?”Iask, hearing the quiver in my voice.Idon’t know whatSalazarwants from me, butI’malmost afraid to find out.Hissmile doesn’t look quite so kind and friendly anymore and there’s a spark of something in his burning eyes that makes me extremely uncomfortable.
“I’ll tell you whatImean,” he says.“Butfirst, you haven’t answered my question yet.Whatis it you fear the most?”
“I…I…”I’mnot sure how to answer him.I’mtoo embarrassed to tell the truth.
However,Salazarseems to already know.
“Let me guess,” he purrs, staring at me intently.“You’rea priestess and aFae—at least half-Fae, anyway.”
“Well…yes,”Iadmit, wondering where he’s going with this.
“And your eyes are still blue…which means you’re still a virgin,” he continues.
Oh no—I’mbeginning to have a very bad feeling about this—a squirmy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“But you’re also under a lust curse,”Salazarsays.
“What?Howthe fuck do you know that?”Therondemands.
Salazar shrugs, his narrow shoulders rolling gracefully.
“Evil calls to evil.Besides,Ican smell her need from here.”Hesmiles atTheron.“AsI’msure you can as well, my dearDrake.”
Shame rolls over me andIfeel likeIwant to sink through the floor.OhGoddess, they can both smell how badlyI’min need?IwishIwas dead!
“Don’t be embarrassed, my dear,”Salazarsays smoothly.“It’sa lovely aroma—truly.Quiteenough to get any red-blooded male excited.”
And he shifts in his chair, as though adjusting himself.
Theron glares at him.
“I told you—you’re not touching her!”
