“She, uh, had an eyelash,” he announced.
The excuse was absolutely, completely, magnificently stupid, Yet somehow, it worked.
Jasila’s expression softened into mild amusement, her shoulders relaxing.
Theo straightened to his full height, puffing out his chest with completely unearned pride.
“Smooth,” Tavrik muttered.
We moved as one toward the door.The walls closing in with every heartbeat—the air growing thicker, more suffocating.
There was no turning back.
The drums began.
Their deep, relentless pounding mirrored the erratic beat of my heart.As Dalkhan entered the hall, an undeniable force swallowed the room whole.The temperature spiked, the scent of burning embers curling around me.
All bowed as one, their heads lowering in reverence.
I couldn’t.I refused to tear my eyes away from him.
He moved through the hall, his steps weighted with fire and shadow.Fire danced along his skin, and golden light illuminated the brutal beauty of his face.
He was breathtaking.
He was lethal.
And tonight, I was going to end him.
As he neared, his eyes locked onto mine with a slow, burning intensity.
I shuddered down to the bone.
“I should punish you,” he murmured, reaching for me.“Standing there, defying me.”
He grabbed my wrist, pulling me forward until I crashed against him.One finger hooked beneath my chin, lifting my face up while his other hand rested on my waist.
I wanted to melt into him.
“I missed you, little flame.”
His words were a silken noose tightening around my neck.
My heart pounded, but I forced myself to smile.“I missed you too.”
Wicked satisfaction flashed across his features before he bent down to claim my mouth with savage hunger.His kiss poured fire into my veins, searing pathways that would never heal.
I grabbed onto him, even as my mind screamed at me to let go.
When he tore his mouth away, flames sparked between his fingers, his power curling around us.
Each movement toward his throne commanded the room’s attention.
Soon, I would take all of this from him.
We took our seats, rich aromas heavy in the air, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat.I hardly noticed the low hum of conversation, the clatter of plates, the guttering torches that cast restless shadows against the walls.None of it mattered.
I could only watch him.
