Page 138 of Black Sea

I didn’t hide how much that second thought had hurt me.

He swallowed, equally afflicted, then stated, “If I became the keeper of the Crystal, the risk would be greatly reduced. And I would be in no danger, for the enemy knows that if he killed me, the spell would turn unbreakable and everlasting.”

I widened my eyes, shocked by his naivety. “Do you know why I’m not in his clutches right now?” I hissed viciously, so everyone would understand how senseless the Queen of the Witches’ plan was. “Because he derives pleasure from playing with my feelings. Because he likes to use our bond to bring me to my knees—”

Mornon grabbed me by the hips, pressing his body against mine as he whispered, “And you love to kneel at my feet.”

I held back the moan that rose in my throat at the memory of my tongue running along its erection to its turgid, red tip, welcoming it into my mouth and sucking it.

“But if the Crystal is bound to you, Araton,” I continued more spitefully, “who are nothing to him, Mornon will take you and torture you. And you, at some point, will give up.”

His face twisted into a grimace of resentment.

I didn’t give him the chance to reply, and, addressing the others, I added emphatically, “I have power over him.”

Mornon let out a low chuckle, and the vibration of his chest against my back made me shiver imperceptibly.

“I am his mate,” I said with growing anger. “And he would never hurt me.”

“Really?” Mornon mocked me, beginning to circle me slowly. “I’ve already hurt you a lot. Every smile, every look, every touch was meant to hurt you here”—he touched my forehead with one finger, then moved to my heart—“and here.” His eyes, glittering with wickedness, never left mine. “Imagine how much more harm I could do you, in how many other ways . . .” He stopped at my side, facing away from me, and a perverse curve barely touched his lips. “Harm you willingly accepted. Harm you want.”

My breathing grew heavy.

Heavy with wrath. With lust.

Heavy from the urge to attack him. From the need to possess him.

Succubus of Mornon’s gaze, I only realized I had zoned out when Queen Aloiv spoke to me in a stern tone.

“Unfortunately, Princess, you’re just fooling yourself.” I glowered at her, and she stiffened further. “And the fact that you’re convinced you have a hold on that demonic creature makes you even more dangerous than I thought.”

Mornon tried to stroke my cheek with the back of his fingers, but I flinched away with a look of disgust and shot him a rancorous gaze. He responded with a hint of a smirk.

The next moment, he was no longer next to me.

I blinked convulsively and inhaled deeply, as if a boulder had just been lifted from my chest.

The Queen of the Witches glanced at me as if she were perfectly aware that the enemy had been by my side until that point. Nonetheless, she didn’t reveal it and turned to my father. “We will take the Crystal away and keep it hidden until you come to us for the two rituals.” She gave me a sharp look. “It is not safe with her.”

I looked down at the steps, feeling both dejected and as angry as ever.

“So be it,” the King of the Elves agreed after what felt like a century to me.

Sovereign Aloiv and the elders vanished into a swirling mist. Our druids took their leave, exiting the room amid worried murmurs.

I didn’t move. I wanted to do something. I wanted to say something. But the unfolding events had petrified me.

“It is the only way, my daughter,” Father said softly.

I snapped my eyes up to him, and he instinctively drew back against the throne’s backrest.

Another gesture that felt like a stab.

Unable to bear my family’s fear and disappointment any longer, I abruptly turned and hurried out of the room.

77

I spent the night pacing back and forth between my room and the terrace like an animal behind bars. Because, after all, that’s exactly what I was.