River’s eyes widened before he covered my body with his, his fervent power slamming against me, looking for a way to join us in an unstoppable inferno.
His arms enveloped me, his fingers tracing gentle circles along my back as my hands hovered for a moment before settling around him. He lowered his head, breathing me in at the crook of my neck. His touch was so soft it made me feel like his treasure.
And as I breathed him in, the little dull ache, ever present in my chest since he betrayed me, eased for just a moment. A moment of reprieve.
The addictive citrus scent of his skin made my head spin. I had missed it. Dearly.
Not because he was my mate, or because I craved him—though both were true. Deep down, I missedhim—the one who had shown me what life could be. Not just pain and survival, but something more. A life where even the worst moments were eased by fleeting warmth like this, enough to make me believe there was light at the end of a long, winding tunnel.
And most of all, I missed his flames. Their warmth. Their protectiveness. The way they accepted mine with reverence… even when I was his enemy. Someone he should have hated.
All of it rushed back in a heartbreaking need to forgive all his wrongs. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. Because if I did, if I opened myself up again, what would stop him from breaking me once more when the greater good demanded it?
I understood him. But for once in my life I wanted to be somebody’s first choice. My heart couldn’t take another betrayal. I wouldn’t survive the next time.
Dropping my hands—reluctantly—and hoping he would take it as his cue to move away, I watched him linger a little too long and squeeze me a little tighter.
‘It feels like I can finally breathe,’ he whispered while stepping away. ‘I had something planned for you in a few days, but I think you need it today.’
For a second, so could I. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘You’ll see,’ he said with a smile.
Chapter Thirty
Miriam
The map looked like somebody had played darts with pins, choosing the spots at random. My eyes darted around so fast it nearly gave me whiplash, eventually making me cast a questioning look Michael’s way. He pretended not to notice.
‘What the hell am I looking at?’ I asked him, my tone slightly raised as he watched me analyse somebody’s artistic chaos with satisfaction.
Leaning over the wall that the map was displayed on, he attempted to look thoroughly unimpressed. ‘What’s confusing you, dear?’
‘First of all, I could make you die in your sleep. You know that, right?’
‘But you won’t,’ he said quickly, pretending to snarl.
He was right. Even when the idea almost made me salivate. I shouldn’t have had that taste of his blood either. ‘You’re awfully sure of yourself.’
‘Ask me how I know you won’t,’ he demanded, protruding his chin like the fact I hadn’t lost control over my power and made him piss himself in fear was related to anything other than my stellar discipline.
Arrogant. Narcissistic. And delusional. ‘Do indulge my morbid curiosity, oh handsome prince.’
Leaning down, something in his eyes told me this conversation was meant to bring me to the edge of losing my cool.
‘I like the way you think, darkling.’ He chuckled, licking his lips before the low tone of his voice shocked me more than his next words. ‘You won’t kill me because you would miss me.’
A laugh threatened to break free, but I kept my face serious and my posture straight. ‘Please... That’s what you think?’
He winked, standing too close. ‘That’s what I know, babes.’
I craved his fear. The thought of his petrified whimpers was so tempting that adrenaline surged through me, setting a faint tremor beneath my skin.
‘Babe?’ I snorted. ‘Were you dropped on your head as one by any chance?’
Getting closer to my ear, he whispered, ‘Tell me, precious. Do you get off by resisting me? Don’t get me wrong, I like the game; I just can’t wait for when you eventually beg me for more.’
Something about him intrigued me. Whether he was dumb, suicidal or a moron, the way he was so bold with me wasn’t what I was used to. ‘The only thing I’ll be begging for is time alone after working with you.’
