And a stupendously strong one at that.
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” I snapped.
“I don’t see why you’re so delusional.” His grip tightened. “You’renotleaving.”
I grunted, instantly irritated. I slammed my foot into the male’s knee.
He cracked a laugh so loud my ears rang.
“Spicy.” A low chuckle. “You’re not Vainyen, are you?”
I didn’t answer. I felt trapped, and I hated it. I started wriggling to break free when?—
Did he just sniff me?
I froze.
The tip of his nose brushed the nape of my neck. A sliver of heat down my spine aroused my senses. My skin flushed. Shocks of flame burned up my arms and coiled around my neck. My stomach clenched at his hypnotizing fragrance as he breathed me in.
Burning stars.
He smelledgood.
His grip lowered from my waist to my hips.
“You’re definitely not Vainyen.”
Another sniff at my neck. My braids.
“Mortevainyen females never smell so...intoxicating.”
I sucked in a breath.
Waited for his grip to slacken.
It didn’t.
“So my Gargorètti spoke true. You carry the flame that drew the greed of the Empyrean to Edenael’s shores. All of those Farasees, the might of the Ivory Rain, even the Dyabèssa herself. All unleashed to findyou.”
I took advantage of this stranger’s musings to escape his clutches. I threw my head back, smashing it into the male’s forehead. He released me instantly, grunting in surprise. I whisked around, turning to look at him in the darkness. A trickle of sunlight seeped into the foyer, highlighting a strong jawline and glittering jewels of steel for eyes.
“This is inappropriate behavior, King Tazzias.” I glowered at the muted darkness. If this were his manor, then he was the king. And I wasn’t about to be treated like some Bloodthorn in a Farasee’s harem. “Release me from your manor at once.”
The male grew disturbingly still. He remained frozen so long that I thought I’d spoken a curse.
Then he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
My cheeks burned.
Around me, the foyer quaked. So did the manor, too. Both had tumbled into an uncontrollable, literal fit of laughter. Shadows danced. Drapes swayed back and forth. Sunlight twinkled in and out. Souls giggled while their ghostly frames twitched from one place to another.
I wrapped my arms around myself, completely frustrated.
The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
“What in the everburning stars is so funny?”
King Everthorn ignored me.
