“Lydia…” Scarlett says.
I hold up a hand. “Whatever you all think of Deus, I’ve seen a different side.” I see Rosalie purse up her lips. “I know you all think I’m bonkers, but I’m not. He can be a good Sarkarnii, and he isn’t a danger to anyone, not anymore.”
I want to believe what I’m saying, putting as much force into the words as I can, even though deep down I’m quaking. Not at the thought Deus might not succeed, or that we’d both be banished, but because I’m still not sure I amhisfemale.
There’s a specter at this feast. She stands behind me. She is what Deus sees when he’s not looking at me.
Dylia.
LYDIA
Maggie tells me not to do anything she wouldn’t do as Dalox stalks out of the clan hall and the other warlords come over to where we are, collecting their females, and as usual, looking like a set of excited puppies. The guards leave, and the entire hall is empty, save for Deus and me.
Deus approaches, rather like one would approach an unexploded bomb.
“They didn’t put you back in the cell then?” I raise my eyebrows.
“One small mercy.” Deus glares at the door where Dalox exited. “He was always one for the small mercies,” he growls under his breath.
“Can he really banish you?” I ask. “After all, you have your own sector.”
“He can if all the warlords agree,” Deus grumbles. “And I doubt any of them would put up much of a fight on my behalf.”
“What if you refuse to go?”
“They’ll take you away,” Deus says, huffing out a great cloud of smoke. “And burn my sector to ash.” He wrinkles up his nose and does one of his long blinks. “I do not want to lose you.”
“Do you still think you’re in rut for me?” I say, as casually as if I’m asking about the weather.
Underneath, my heart thumps against my chest so hard I feel like it’s going to batter its way out of my rib cage.
“I know I’m in rut for you,” Dalox rasps, moving right into my personal space.
He slides a finger under my chin and tilts my face up to him, his other hand gently gripping my upper arm.
“I didn’t want to believe it myself, but I have been reminded that no Sarkarnii ever takes the same path with mating, and no one way is right or wrong.”
I want to say her name, to see what he does, to find out if there is a reaction, but when I open my mouth, no sound comes out.
Instead Deus dips his head and kisses me. I’m so shocked for a moment I’m completely passive. His hand curls around the back of my head, his tongue…hisforkedtongue…sweeping over my lips, pushing through them, plundering my mouth.
My body is on fire, pressed against him wantonly, taking everything from this huge Sarkarnii, my mouth active once more, kissing him back. Kissing him like I will never kiss anyone ever again in my life. As if this is my one chance, and once it has gone, I have nothing at all.
Deus releases me and I am a complete mess. Soaked in all the wrong places.
“How did you know to kiss?” I ask him. “My friends said none of their mates knew about it.”
“I saw Dalox mate his mouth with his female. I wanted to try it,” Deus rasps, smacking his lips. “I like it very much.”
His gaze darkens as he looks down at me.
“But there is something I would like to do more, little ember.” His voice curls around me like the smoke he exudes. “I would like to kiss your cunt and make you come.”
My legs go to jelly. It’s a good thing Deus has hold of me.
“Here?”
I don’t know why I ask the question. It seems to be the only word my addled brain can get out.
