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“What does that mean?”
Maricha utters words I don’t understand. My body tenses, and I wait for the symbol carved into my body to reignite. But the pain never comes.
Legion grunts, gritting his teeth, and I realize he’s the one being affected by her words.
“What did you do to him?” I demand, taking a step toward him.
That’s when I notice his shirt is plastered to his chest with a wetness that sticks to his skin and stains the fabric from the inside out. Dark, almost black wetness.
Blood.
She’s carved into him too.
“Only what he agreed to,” Maricha says with obvious glee. She waits until Legion raises his tortured gaze to hers. Then she says, “Here is my command, death dragon. Kill her.”
I gasp, but the sound is drowned out by Legion’s snarl. He takes a step toward the bars, and Maricha flinches before catching herself.
“We had an agreement,” he roars.
“I agreed to let you spend the night with her,” Maricha says. “I never agreed that she’d be alive while you do it.” She flashes a smug smile. “You are so sure you’re able to defy my orders, prove it.”
“Legion,” I say as his gaze swings to me with a jerky motion. His gaze is darkening by the second, his eyes swirling with the storm that always comes before he attacks something.
“I am part of you,” I tell him softly. “Remember who I am to you. Your mate. Your heart.” I nearly choke on the last word, hoping like hell that it’s true. “You can’t kill your own heart.”
“Stop wasting time.” Maricha’s words are cold and cruel, but it’s the blank, obedient look in Legion’s eyes that sucks the air from my lungs. He comes toward me, and I back away, shrinking into the shadows of my cell. For all the good it will do.
If Legion carries out her vicious order, there’s nothing I can do to stop him.
“You kill her and you lose your leverage tomorrow.” Uziah’s voice comes from behind the wall that is Legion. I can’t see him or Maricha around the broad shoulders and large body of my mate, but Maricha makes a sound of frustration, followed by a long pause where all I hear is my own erratic heartbeat as Legion closes the distance with death in his eyes.
“On second thought,” Maricha says thoughtfully. “Don’t kill her yet.” Her command stops Legion in his tracks, and I exhale so heavily that my head swims.
I step aside, no longer cornered by him.
Maricha comes into view again in time for her to say, “Treat her as your enemy from now until dawn.” The smile she aims my way is full of victory.
Legion glares at me with hands clenched into fists. Every muscle in him remains coiled and ready to fight me, but he doesn’t move closer. Maricha’s words are a blow to my heart. She has preserved my life but only so she can dangle Legion in front of me without ever letting me have him.
“And rest,” Maricha adds, the word ringing out as a clear command. “Tomorrow, you fulfill your birthright.”
Satisfied, Maricha nods at the guards, and they retreat along with Uziah, who trails behind them. I listen as their footsteps disappear down the hall and the cavern doors clank closed. Then there is only silence. And Legion, assessing me as if I’m the snake coiled to strike.
“Legion,” I say quietly.
“Stop.” He pauses, ears trained and listening.
A beat passes then two.
The silence stretches between us.
Finally, he lets out a breath and says, “Come here, little assassin. I need to hold you.”
I’m too stunned to comply, but he closes the distance and pulls me into his arms. His warm breath is on my neck, my cheek—then his mouth finds mine, and I let out a sound of relief. Of need.
His tongue crashes against mine. His grip on my body tightens. There’s nothing gentle or reassuring about the way he touches me, but I don’t need either one.
I need Legion, exactly as he is. Exactly as he’s always been.
