An ember throbs to life deep inside my core as I fight to erase the mental image of him charging around the table, taking chase.
Catchingme.
Clearing the food with a swift swipe of his arm and dashing me across the marble. Gripping me by the thighs—brutal, yet tender as he splits my legs apart and bares my flushed, naked core, humming at the evidence of my twisted arousal before he laves at it like he’s fuckingstarved.
I swallow.
Try not to squirm.
His gaze continues to punish me—hurting in a way that feels good.
Too fucking good.
“But by all means, Milaje. You wave that white flag, and I’ll choke the life out of the consequences in the blink of an eye.”
His savage words rip a hole through my composure, dousing the heat between my thighs.
War.
Cainon was right … Rhordynwants his land.
I stand fast.
He stands slow.
Our stares clash while I breathe hard and shallow, half tempted to flee. Half tempted to fight.
He garnishes me with a look that suggests he’d relish both options and plants his fists on the table, leaning forward, watching me from beneath that flop of sable hair as he cocks his head to the side. “So, what’s it to be?”
Cainon stalks into the room, pausing for a moment when he notices us both standing, then moves to his chair and flops down. “Apologies. Why don’t you fill me in on whatever riveting conversation you were having?”
Rhordyn opens his mouth and my heart riots, words erupting from my own lips. “I was just telling Rhordyn that I can’twaitto seal our coupling.”
His eyes flare like twin moons cast in a pall of black.
Eclipsed.
I almost feel bad for what I’m about to do.
“Is that so?” Cainon asks, and I look at him, heart beating so hard I swear it’s about to thump a hole in my ribs and thud onto my plate in a bloody, sloppy mess.
“Yes. And onthatnote—” I drop low, retrieving my reticule from beneath the chair and loosening the drawstring. “I have a gift for you, my promised.”
The air stiffens. The light pouring through the window dims, as if a cloud just blew over the sun.
Cainon lifts a brow, flashing Rhordyn a swift, gloating look. “Really?”
I nod, wrapping my hands around the small mug stashed inside, questioning myself for a split second before revealing the nest of thriving bluebells.
Drawing a deep, steadying breath, I extend the gift toward Cainon, feeling the pulse of Rhordyn’s attention like a pickaxe knocking around the edges of my fortified shield. As though he’sdesperateto pry me from this picture so I can thump into the palm of his hand like one of my blank whispers.
I’ve realized he likes gifting me precious, well-thought-out things. It’s his own illusive way of showing he cares.
So does he see the symbolism I’m shoving in his face?
This is a personalized attack meant to hurt usboth.Meant to bleed this twisted thing that isus.
I look at Cainon with love-glazed eyes and bare him a honey-suckle smile while I let the hurt douse me. Let my message blare loud and clear.
