With a tender light in his eyes, he buried his hand in her braids so he could toy with them. “I’m so happy that I got to see you again. But how did you get in without being detected?”
“I have friends among the Charonte. You’d be amazed what they’ll do for a taste of honey cake.”
“I’ll have to remember that in the event I ever get locked out of here.”
She smiled. “Well, I should be going.”
The sadness returned to his eyes. “I’m sure your husband misses you.”
“I don’t have a husband.”
When he opened his mouth to speak, she caught his jaw to keep him from speaking. “I’ve already told you. There’s only one person I love, Uri, but as much as I love you, I can’t stand by and watch you feed on the blood of another woman, knowing you’ll be cheating on me.”
His eyes turned dark and stormy. “I hate my grandfather.”
“So do I.”
He hesitated. “But what if I could find a way to break the curse?”
For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Could it be so simple? “What do you mean?”
“We think we might have a way out from under the death sentence.”
“You know my answer. I want to be with you, Urian, I do. But I can’t share you. That’s not fair to me.”
She saw Urian’s happiness return. “Then I have twice the reason to end this curse, twice as fast.” And this time when he took her into his arms, his kiss was possessive and filled with a deep promise. His lips tasted of passion.
Wanting something she knew she might never have another shot at, Xyn unpinned his chalmys and let it fall to the ground. When he didn’t complain, she made sure his chiton followed it down to their feet, exposing his chest to her hands. He sucked his breath between his teeth as she touched his hard, hot body.
Gingerly, she traced a line over the healing wounds on his chest. “What happened?”
He smirked. “Apparently, you’re not the only one I annoy.”
“I don’t find you amusing at all.”
“That hand you have on my cock says differently.” His voice was deep as he cupped her fingers with his palm so that he could show her how to stroke him.
“You better be glad that I can’t harm you.”
Heat stung her cheeks as he cupped her face in his hand and looked at her fiercely. “At this moment, my lady, I’ll take your attention any way I can get it.”
Xyn smiled, until her gaze went to the Daimon mark over his heart. “When did this happen?”
“Does it matter?”
“My conscience says that it should.” Biting her lip, she wanted to pull away and leave him where he stood and not look back. If only it were so simple.
Or easy.
“You live by killing others. Obliterating their souls for all eternity.”
“I do what I have to.”
Her heart broke with those words. He didn’t even seem remorseful about the lives he took.
His eyes darkened. “What do you want from me, Xyn? To lie down and die, or to fight and live?”
She wanted him to be human. Whole. To live without preying on the souls of humanity.
