“No more games,” I said. Then, staring at her lush mouth, I whispered, “Tell me what youreallywant from me, angel. You sure it’s just the kiss of doom?”
“You think you can give me what I want, demon?” she teased, her nipples hardening beneath me.
“Oh, IknowI can give it to you. But be warned—you might not like it once you’ve got it.”
She slid her hands behind my neck. Then, in a hot whisper against my mouth, “Why don’t you letmebe the judge of that?”
Fuck me. I’m done.
My resistance shattered, along with my instinct to protect her from my demon side, and any remaining shreds of loyalty I had for Saint.
I crashed into her lush mouth, stealing the offered kiss before she could change her mind.
The taste of her… It shot through me like a spark, igniting a fire inside that threatened to consume us both.
But after just a few seconds of pure bliss, she was already pushing against my chest, struggling to break free.
I pulled back. Tried to hide my frustration.
“Giving up already, angel?” I teased, though I knewrightwhere this was heading. I’d known it from the moment she’d said she wanted it.
One taste, and she’d be running for her life, just like everyone else.
“Oh my God,” she gasped, her eyes wide. “You’re… you’re afeardemon.”
“Finally figured that out, did you?”
She touched her fingertips to her mouth, a shiver racking her body. “It’s… so cold… I feel like… like I’m drowning and… Jax?” Panic filled her eyes. “What’s happening to me?”
“That’s the fear,” I said. “The closer I get to someone, the greater the effect. Intimate contact? Sorry, angel. You just got the highest dose possible, outside of me intentionally forcing it on you.”
“Were you… were you born like this or…?”
“Breathe, Haley. You need to breathe. You’re freaking out on me here.”
“Move.” She shoved against my chest. “Move!”
I rolled off, and she got to her feet. Took off running without another word, crashing through the field and into the wooded area just beyond.
A wicked grin slashed across my mouth, matching the wicked fire in my balls.
Sorry, angel. You’ve just signed your death warrant.
21
ELIAN
About a mile out from Amaranth City, atop the towering White Cliffs of Oshen, I looked out across a largely unobstructed view of the moat crossing and gatehouse at Vanderham’s Wall.
Flat on my belly, I crawled to the edge of the cliff and peered through my binoculars, trying to suss out the situation.
Clusterfuck.
The drawbridge was down, but the crossing was jammed up by a caravan that trailed back about a quarter-mile. By the light of their magick torches, I counted about a dozen shepherd wagons pulled by twice as many Mares of Night—massive, horselike beasts that looked more demonic than equine, with all-white hair and bright red eyes that glowed in the dim. Midnighters had figured out how to tame them with iron and magick centuries ago, but the wild ones were so feral they made the raven gryphons look like winged kittens.
All of them were waiting for entry into Amaranth City.
Had to be a trading party. I had no idea where they’d come from, but it was a miracle so many had survived the trek without a military escort.
