His tongue darted out to lick the underside of my head, making me growl low in my throat.
“I think she would be very pretty between us, my lord,” he hummed before standing once more. Then he opened his hand to reveal the charm he’d taken from my pocket while disrobing me. “Which is why I’d very much like her to survive.”
I caught his wrist, bringing his hand up to my mouth to sharply nibble his palm. “You know how I feel about cheating, little prince.”
His irises smoldered in response, his own arousal tenting the towel around his hips. “You said gifts were allowed.”
“After the opening ceremony.”
He shook his head. “No, my lord. You said gifts were allowedduringthe opening ceremony. And so I gave her one to wearduringthe ceremony.”
With anyone else, I would have been irritated by his clever maneuvering around my rules.
But Melek wasn’t anyone else.
Melek wasmine.
“Then I suppose I will need to be clearer going forward,” I murmured, releasing his wrist to grab the back of his neck again. “No more gifts.”
He arched a brow. “No gifts at all?” He pouted a little, his full bottom lip a delectable distraction that called to my baser instincts. “That hardly seems fair, my lord. She’s already at a disadvantage now that you’ve put her in Ajax’s prison. Surely I should be allowed to show favor in some way. There is nothing in the rules that says I’m not allowed to court a captive.”
“I wasn’t aware you desired a bride.” And I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. While I was bonded to both Melek and Azazel, Melek was my only lover. Just as I was his only lover. “Have you grown tired of our arrangement?” It wasn’t a question voiced from jealousy so much as curiosity. We’d been together for thousands of years. Perhaps he yearned for change, even if temporary.
“Our arrangement will keep me satisfied for eternity,” he vowed, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious. “You will always be my king, Ty. I love you with every breath.”
“And I love you,” I replied, pressing my forehead to his. “Which is why I would give you anything you crave, including the captive.”
I would drag her up here right now if it meant satisfying my mate. But I knew he didn’t work like that. He would prefer a game. One she would either pass or fail, and only then would he decide how to proceed with her. The fact that he wanted to play with her, however, spoke volumes about her potential. Because Melek hadn’t shown interest in anyone in thousands of years.
Anyone other than me, anyway.
“I’m interested,” he confided softly. “But I don’t know how I want to proceed with her yet, only that I would prefer she remain alive.”
“I see.” I lessened my hold on his neck and lifted my forehead from his. “Then I won’t take away her right to gifts, but they should be within reason, Melek. She needs to be able to prove herself.”
“And didn’t she?” he countered. “That talisman is only a gift of minor power. Her ability to use it to break through your mind control tonight showcases a rare talent, one the diamond simply amplified. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
I took the charm from him and studied it, determining that he was right. Except for one minor detail. “To use this would require knowledge of ancient spells.”
His lips curled. “I have no idea where she would learn such things.”
“Oh, I think I have a good idea of who might have given her a nudge,” I drawled, narrowing my gaze at him.
He blinked innocent eyes at me. “I would never do that.”
“You absolutely would do that.” But I wasn’t going to press it. If he’d chosen a pet he wanted to toy with, I’d allow it within reason. “No more physical gifts.” It was purposefully worded. Because we both knew words could be just as powerful, if not more powerful, than items.
“No more physical gifts,” he repeated.
“From now through the Nightmare Fae Trials,” I clarified, knowing he’d find some way around my words if I wasn’t specific.
“All right,” he agreed. “Unless it’s food.”
My eyebrows lifted. “You’re negotiating with me? Over a captive?”
“I like her,” he replied, his palm circling around the base of my cock to give me a firm stroke. “And I’m willing to deal, Ty. In her favor.”
Fuck, those were intoxicating words to hear from his tongue, and the twinkle in his gaze told me he knew it, too.
