“Do you realize I haven’t had a SINGLE moment's peace since I met you? And the SHIT I’ve had to go through to keep you safe? More than I’ve ever had to do for any one person in my two hundred years.”
The calm, cool, collected commander was unraveling before me as he recounted the memories. “The—the—the fucking shade in the Moon Garden would have stripped your soul from your body!”
Dommik’s eyes darted, unsure where to aim his next complaint. I folded my arms over my middle, embarrassment creeping over me and chilling my skin.
“Let’s not forget when you were nearly dined on publicly by the court of the Northern Hive.” His voice crescendoed, “That same night I whored myself out to a woman Idespise, and now, just tonight, had to track you down TWICE and save you from this latest…attempt.”
Dommik spat the last word like it was poisonous.
I tilted my chin up to him. “I remember that night not being entirely horrible for you.”
That gave him pause.
“Do not misunderstand me.” My words were steady. A calm in his chaos. “I appreciate all you’ve done, but those were all scenarios born of duty. Your duty to your regent as you’ve described before.”
His gaze darkened and he placed his hands on the stone, framing my face.
“Yes,” he growled, bringing his mouth lower to mine. “My duty. My dutyand…” Dommik ran the tip of his nose down the length of my neck “…this insatiable craving.”
Chills raced over me and my heart stopped. As if my fear controlled the room, a lantern faltered.
He is going to bite me. Feed on me.
I was certain.
My mind recalled tapping into Talia’s memory and the elation she’d felt as Eryx fed on her. It was possible Dommik could feed and not kill me. He’d tasted me before. He’d stopped before. He could stop again.
Breath returned to me after he pressed off the wall and paced away. I watched his form through fluttering lashes. Dommik was tense, as if battling himself. His rigid, heavy steps carried him until he turned and leaned on the wall across the room.
I clutched the fabric of his shirt like a child would a stuffed toy.
Dommik stood, leg propped on the wall, examining me. His next words were covered by the hand that rubbed his mouth and chin. “I thought tasting you was the worst mistake of my life.”
My face scrunched in silent question. “It wasn’t?”
“No.”
The cellar air was thick like the weight that hangs just before a destructive storm. I swallowed hard and had to look away as he continued studying me.
Agonizing seconds passed before he finally said, “No, I realized there hasn’t been any singular moment. You’ve been tormenting me since I met you and every moment after.”
He pushed off the wall and began pacing again.
“Tormenting you?” I whispered.
The accusation felt entirely unfair. It was go with him, or death. Heal his wounds, or death. Help Rhazien ascend, or allow a cruel ruler to pillage and plunder and inflict death across all of Atoris. My choices, what few I was given, were barely choices at all.
“Yes, Reyva.” Dommik aimed his body at me and I tensed again. He waved in my direction. “It’s everything about you. Everything you do.”
I hugged my body tighter. “If I’m so insufferable, why don’t you just…stay away?” I knew the suggestion was preposterous given his position.
“I’ve tried,” he stated plainly. “I asked for reassignment. Many times.”
A slap in the face would have hurt less. He had tried. Really tried.
“What happened?”
“Rhazien claimed the timing wasn’t right. He needed me. For hisgreat matter.” He let out a strained laugh as he ran a hand through his hair. “Hisgreat matter. A matter that had also been great to me until I fell in love with his prospect.”
