“Three.” He flashed an all-too-bright smile, four teeth on each side, sharp fangs.
“Three?” I said. “And they’re all okay with sharing?”
They both looked at me. I didn’t realize I had asked that out loud. Three? I’d incinerate Samkiel until only his boots were left if he even suggested another wife. I was far too possessive and territorial.
“I assure you it’s mutually beneficial.” The man’s smile was pure, arrogant male. “Would you like to find out? I would not say no to a fourth. Especially one as beautiful and powerful as you.”
“No thanks,” I said. “And don’t flatter yourself. Multiple partners aren’t new to me.” I hope those words cut Kaden as they still did a part of me. “I’m just surprised Kaden would actually find anyone a partner.”
He chuckled at me before looking at Kaden. “I like her. That fire burns not only in her blood but her mouth too.”
Kaden ignored him and said, “I have come to ask for a favor. In hopes of settling the debt we share.”
The man turned slowly, the movement so predatory that I readied myself for his strike. “Ah, yes. Well, you see, there is only one problem with that.”
“Of course there is.” I huffed, crossing my arms. Why couldn’t anything be easy for us for once?
“How so?” Kaden asked.
“Well, you see, I can not grant any favors of the Otherworld. Only the king can, and that would be Umemri.”
Kaden seemed taken aback by that comment, and I wondered why. I assumed there would be one here. This realm was vast, and Samkiel had told me about the princes who ruled the Otherworld. It made sense that they would have a king they answered to.
Kaden’s throat bobbed. “Umemri?”
The strange man shrugged as if just saying the name hadn’t made Kaden’s eyes dilate a fraction. “Yes, he sits on the throne of Icnima now.”
Kaden sucked in a breath, and I was tired of being left out and talked around. I leaned forward, waving a hand in the stranger’s face. “Hi, yes, my name is Dianna, by the way. Not Ayla. You clearly lack basic manners, but what’s your name?”
They both looked at me again, and every skeleton turned my way. It was so eerie that a part of me wished I hadn’t spoken up. The man seemed almost surprised that I was speaking, but he smirked, clearly loving my verbal bite.
He pressed his hand to his chest, bowing slightly. “My apologies,” he said, before rising. “My name is Eryx, and I am a Prince of the Otherworld.”
“Oh,” was all I managed to say, my sarcasm dying along with every thought I had. Well fuck, that explained the copious amount of power surrounding him, and now suddenly I wished to be anywhere but here. Kaden hadn’t just dragged me to the Otherworld. He’d brought me right to one of its most dangerous rulers.
50
SAMKIEL
Pain seared around the base of my skull, and I groaned as I blinked back awake. Where the fuck did I fall asleep that I … I went rigid as memory rushed back in. That motherfucker broke my neck! I tried to sit up and seethed when my body refused to move. My eyes focused as I looked down and saw twisted vines wrapped around me from chest to toe.
“Oh, you’re awake,” Isaiah said as he picked at his nails, leaning against the warped bark of a broken tree. The dark, eerie forest did not so much as stir behind him. “You were out a lot longer than I thought you’d be. Did you need to catch up on some sleep?”
“Untie me, and I won’t beat you to death.”
Isaiah snickered. “How about … no?”
“Do you really think this is going to hold me?” I said, my jaw clenching.
He pushed off the tree and strode over. “You’re right. I think I should break your neck again until they come back, so you can’t use Oblivion to break out.”
Fear rippled through my veins, and my eyes darted toward the bridge a few feet away. Kaden had taken Dianna, stolen her from me, and dragged her to the Otherworld. I was going to kill them. As soon as she was free of that damned bond, I was going to kill them both.
“Let me go,” I said, twisting in my bindings. My thumb roamed over my finger and came up empty. Fuck. He had taken my damn rings. I couldn’t even summon a blade.
“Okay.” Isaiah stopped in front of me and gripped my head, grinning like the cocky bastard he was. “Just kidding.”
With another brutal twist, I was gone.
