An odd question coming from an immortal royal. I would have expected him to take the liberty rather than request it. Maybe he was being courteous, or trying to give me the illusion of control, but I liked the way my name sounded.
I volleyed the question back to him, falsely abdicating my power. “Don’t I belong to you? You can call me whatever you want.”
“Well, in that case, I like Rey.” He’d helped himself to a refill from his separate decanter.
Rey. What Cova called me. The childhood nickname hit a nerve.
“Your heartbeat changed.” He pointed between sips.
“I actually do prefer Reyva.” I wiggled, shaking away the thought of my cold-hearted kin. “You can hear my heartbeat?”
“Mhmm. And more.”
Did Dommik hear how he affected me at the manor? I squinted at him, took a calculated sip, and surrendered to the courage and curiosity brought on by the cabernet. “What else?”
“I see…” He leaned back, accepting the game and unabashedly taking me in. “A river. Well, I can smell it on you. Among other things. The sweat of a man. And the sun. Birch bark. Healing wounds. One…no two horses you’ve ridden recently. And someone unafraid of embracing pleasure.”
It was like a map of my time on the road.
“You can see all of that?” I swallowed hard and blushed, suddenly feeling all too vulnerable.
“We can see the unseen, yes, but don’t be afraid. I haven’t seen too much. In fact, I want to see more.”
“There’s not much more.” Even though I dismissed his interest, I couldn’t help the wide smile spreading across my face.
“There’ssomuch more,” he interrupted. “And I look forward to unraveling your complicated layers, Reyva.”
The vowels of my name rode the gentle tide of his voice and floated in the limited air between us. A fog was settling into my mind, giving the predator in front of me softer edges. The purple fabric became more brilliant against the black embroidery. I followed the individual sparks within the lanterns illuminating the carriage. The crystal glass in my hand twinkled and sang. The cloak on my skin was suddenly softer than before. And the regent’s eyes looked like the entryway to a welcoming forest. The hues of greens wove together like a tapestry of foliage I wanted to explore.
This was not simply from a glass of wine. No, these exaggerated sensations had come on far too quickly and were unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. Impaired and trying not to slur, I leveled a glare at Rhazien and asked, "What did you give me?”
“A few drops of blood,” he said in a swift admission.
Warmth licked up my spine. The rocking carriage ignited my desire and I raised my hand to graze my cheek, leaving a sweet, smoldering sensation lingering on my skin.
“A few drops?” I breathed as my hand dropped lower, tracing my neck and collarbone.
“Yes, and I see its effects are in motion.” He observed me with ferocity, his heavy stare filled with need but the rest of him was the picture of restraint.
“How long—” I couldn’t finish the sentence as the carriage rolled over uneven ground and a wave of pleasure rolled through my body.
“How long will it last?” Rhazien clarified.
I bit my lip and nodded, mirroring his predatory stare.
Iwantedhim. I pressed my palms into the seat and curled my fingers over its edge.
“You had such a small amount, the feeling should wear off in a few hours. It’s not my favorite practice, but we find providing it to our new human guests makes the transition into the Hive more…amiable.”
I let out a swift exhale, repeating, “Amiable…” while riding the waves ofthe heightened senses and trying to remain tethered to a crumb of common sense.
“You drug them.” The regent drank from his goblet in response. “You said poison wasn’t your style, but even so, youdrugthem so they cooperate. And then what?”
The blood was in charge now and the blood commanded my hands all over my body. I unlatched the cloak and reached behind me to untie the corset of my dress.
Realization of my intentions flashed on Rhazien’s face and he was instantly upon me, his body nestled between my spread legs, chest pressed against mine. He buried his face into my hair. The weight of him pinned my hands behind my back and I gasped at his strength.
“Don’t.” The growl wasn’t a royal command. It was primal.
