Or whether it just has a direct pipeline to hell.
“Here’s what’s going to happen, our little Haide,” he starts, and my fingers carve deeper into my flesh. “You have two hours to be dressed and ready.”
My arms cross over my chest, one brow lifting in challenge. “Really? Mmm, I don’t know?” I saunter around the room,ensuring to take my sweet time at the small desk with all the mysterious bottles. I slide open a drawer revealing a hairbrush and creams, before using my hip to slam it shut with satisfaction. “What if I don’t want to shower?”
I bat my lashes back at him with mock innocence.
His smirk is as wicked as it is threatening. “Then by all means, stay filthy.” His lip twitches with dark amusement. “Prefer mine that way anyway.”
“Again, should I be impressed?”
“What you should be is compliant, but river rats will do what river rats will do.”
There’s that smug look. It’s kind of pathetic, really, that he thinks he’s— What? Hurt my…
I can’t even say the word.
Feelings?
Does he think Ihavethose?
A laugh bubbles out of me and his stupid baby blues narrow. “Have you ever even seen a rat?” I ask. “Like a real one on the street? Not when feeding your little demon dogs or whatever people like you keep as pets, mister silk sheets?”
With his jaw clenched, he leans forward, eyes blaring into my soul while his lips part—blowing smoke into my face.
Fuck.I step back, covering my face from the assault and coughing until tears sting my eyes. It takes a moment before the haze clears and I can blink the blurriness from my vision.
Just to find Legendright there.
The surprise at his appearance is immediately followed by the desire to reach for him, drag him closer and…I don’t know. Lick him. Maybe.
I must really want to strangle him or something; and my subconscious knows it before I do. What was that saying the Huntress of Harrowgate used to recite before allowing fallen souls to ascend?If he made you wet, you won’t forget.Thefollow-on was cryptic, the book too water damaged to read further. I’m pretty sure it translated to something like: “Don’t take chances. Kill him just in case.”
And honestly, I love that.
Don’t love that his pretty smile might have just earned me a permanent spot in theDo Not Ascendpile of the damned, though. That won’t win me any brownie points with my ancestors. You know, assuming I have any.
Probably shouldn’t kill him, though. Him being one of the four crowned kings of Rathe. That would likely end in my execution, because they wouldn’t just exile me like they do with the rest of their unwanted trash. It would be a gift rather than a punishment to return me to Exile Island.
Unless Rathe’s newest royal edition could save me. London does owe me one.
Hmm…no, yeah, I think if I killed him I’d still be shaved of my skin and gutter, then put in a trophy case left to float in the center of Rathe as an example.
That’s what I would do if I were them.
“What is going on in that fucked-up head of yours?”
Blinking, I refocus on the man in front of me. “What?”
Legend shakes his head with a scoff, pulling his fire breath stick to his mouth again. The end burns a deep red as he fills his lungs, his wide chest expanding, and with every second that ticks by, his gaze hardens. “How are you so chill about this? You should be losing your mind. Begging by now.”
His blue-black hair falls over his forehead, making his fair skin look even whiter, just as silver as his glassy blue eyes.
I nod slowly. “Yeah…not following.”
“That’s the fucking point!” He gnashes his teeth at me like a rabid dog. “You’re a goddamn stray with no true training. I’ve been beaten and had my mind fried from the inside out repeatedly to manage to gain the slightest control over myselfand my gifts—and I’m fucking vibrating right now being this close to you. I want to shred your artery with my claws and hold you until you’re bled dry—just so I’m the first thing you see when you come back to me.”
I suck my lips between my teeth, nodding. “That’s…weird. But I’m not on the island, so if you bleed me dry, I’m not coming back to life out here.”
