Page 24 of Given to the Black King

“Go ahead,” she tells him.

Perr goes reluctantly.

I dismount.

Iona walks toward me.

“Stop.”

She does.

Three paces between us.

“What happened?” she asks.

“I hunted.”

“What did you hunt?”

“A stag.”

“Did it win?”

“No.”

Her eyes go to my mouth again. “That is not stag blood.”

“It is mine.”

She takes another step.

“I said stop.”

This time the command comes out wrong.

Lower. Rougher.

Her body reacts at once. Her pupils widen. The scent between her thighs turns hot. Every claw on my right hand extends.

I close that hand into a fist. She looks at it, then back at me.

“You can smell me.” She does not make it a question.

“Yes.”

Her cheeks color, but she does not look away.

“How much?”

“Everything.”

The word leaves me before I decide to give it.

Her breath changes.

I hear Ghenn lead both horses away behind me. Sensible man.

Iona’s voice drops. “And right now?”