“I don’t trust you, Camillia,” he told me, his statement far less surprising than everything else he’d said. “So you shouldn’t trustme either. But I think it’s time for us to determine a way forward, to perhaps learn to trust one another… for our mates.”
That last part was uttered as he moved me toward the floor again, his lips near my throat.
I could hardly breathe by the time he righted me, my body on fire yet cold at the same time.
It was such a juxtaposition of climate, my skin burning while my necklace resembled ice against my chest.Is the spell meant to make me feel submissive? To willingly agree with whatever deal he’s about to propose?
“What are you offering?” I hedged, trying to discern his true intentions, as well as test my theory.
“We’re not making a deal, Camillia,” he replied. “Not here. Not yet. I promised Az I only wanted to talk to you, and I’m not one to break promises.”
I stared at him. “But your entire world revolves around deals.”
“Not to sound repetitive, but you don’t know me very well. While, yes, deals are of significant value to me, there are some things in life that can’t be dictated by formal agreements. Sometimes, we have to put faith in others to test their true intentions.”
“Is that what this is?” I asked. “You putting faith in me to see if I’ll betray you?”
He considered me for a moment, our hips subtly swaying to the slow beat. “Honestly, Camillia, I suppose I’m trying to encourage you to have a little more faith in me and my intentions. And in return, I’m going to try to do the same with you.”
“Does that mean you don’t want to kill me?”
His lips twitched. “Oh, I still want to kill you, Camillia. Whether intentional or not, you’re a threat.” His palm moved against my lower back, his arm enveloping me. “But just becauseI want to do something doesn’t mean I will.” Those words were uttered against my ear, his tone shifting downward an octave.
“That doesn’t make me feel safe around you,” I admitted in a whisper.
“Then we’re even, Camillia De la Croix. Because I don’t feel safe around you either.” His lips ghosted across my pulse, causing my earrings to flare in time with my necklace.
It sent an ice cube down my spine, one that had my eyes going wide in response. It was so unexpected and bizarre, and contrasted deeply with the heat pouring off Lucifer’s muscular form.
Again I tried to decipher the magic imprisoning me in this dress.
Something was happening.
Something strange.
“I could never hurt you, Camillia,” Lucifer said, his voice whisper-soft. “You’re tied to my heart now, to my very soul. Which is why I’m going to confide in you.”
I gripped his shoulders, his nearness making me dizzy. Or maybe that was the bizarre temperature battle occurring over my skin.
Whatever he was about toconfidewas likely related and would hopefully explain these conflicting sensations.
“Melek loves his games,” he started, confirming what I suspected.
Melek enchanted this dress.
He lied about the figments.
The true punishment is about to begin.
I squeezed my thighs, hoping against all hope that the sensual torment wouldn’t begin between my legs. I couldn’t handle that embarrassment again, the chain having been too much.
But was it, though?I thought, recalling the Hell Fae nightclub experience. I’d been overwhelmed and humiliated, yes. However, I’d also been furious. I’d held my head up high. I’d battled that room with my confidence.
It was horrible of him to do that to me,another part of me thought, the voice coming from that strange, unrecognizable place again. A place of insecurity, one I hadn’t even realized I possessed.
“But something you need to understand is that my prince plays games with those he fancies,” Lucifer went on, drawing me back to his comments on Melek. “It’s his way of courting you.”
I frowned.What?
