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I brushed Leo’s hand away. “Oh, I will have my say, Your Majesty. I respect you. I truly do, and I’m one of your people—at least on my father’s side—so I will listen to you. But I won’t necessarily obey you on this. Grieve is my soul mate. He’s a prince in your realm. How can you just leave him in her web?”
Lainule stood and faced me, taking me by the shoulders. Her smile was a fading glimpse of summer. “Cicely, I’m telling you this one time and one time only, and I expect you to obey: Walk away. Leave Grieve behind. He was lost to us the day Myst drank from his throat and turned him. The prince of my court is dead, and in his place, a pale Shadow Hunter now follows the hem of Winter. There is no place for him should he return to my realm. I would reject him. Or kill him.”
And with that, she turned away. Stunned, I could only stare at her back as she motioned to Geoffrey. “Vampire, we must talk in private. We have much to discuss.” Over her shoulder, she said, “Cicely, go home. Work your magic and tend your business for the townsfolk. They need the help. Do as Geoffrey and Regina command you, since you’ve seen fit to indenture yourself to them. And leave Grieve in the dust. We will conclude matters later.”
In silence, she passed out of the room. Geoffrey motioned to his servant. “Ensure that Her Majesty is comfortable and tell her I’ll be there shortly.”
He turned to me. “Lainule is right. You will only come to despair if you seek out Grieve. Meanwhile, you will continue to report anything you notice. Lannan will see you out. Good evening.” Opening the door, he escorted Regina out.
I didn’t want them to leave. Even with Leo and Rhiannon in the room, I didn’t feel safe around Lannan. And I was right to be nervous. As soon as Geoffrey and Regina disappeared down the hall, Lannan turned to Leo.
“Cicely will meet you in a few moments. Go and wait for her at the front door.” He waved them off. Though I could see by their faces that they wanted to protest, they were smart enough to keep quiet.
As they passed out of the room, I closed my eyes, steeling myself. Knowing Lannan, anything could be coming my way. He closed the door softly and turned toward me. The golden man, Apollo incarnate, with shimmering hair and obsidian eyes, and oh-so-breathtaking looks. But looks were deceptive.
He circled me.
I stood still, silent. Stifle the feelings, turn on the numbness, barricade the emotions. Let him do what he wants and then get on with life.
He stopped by my side. “Cicely?” He reached out and cupped my chin. His voice was so soft I could barely catch what he was saying. “My lovely, beautiful, breathing woman. Your face is so warm, so vibrant. You’re blushing.” A smile, feral and predatory, crept into the corners of his lips. He held my chin so I couldn’t look away and leaned forward, mere inches from my lips.
I swallowed my fear, forcing myself to remain steady. Lannan had the bite to back up his actions, and he was all about humiliating others.
With breathless lips close to mine, he slid his hand from my chin down my throat, his fingers trailing around the side of my neck, making me shiver despite myself.
“Cicely, listen to me,” he whispered. “You do not belong to Geoffrey. You will never belong to Geoffrey, even if I have to kill you and turn you myself, so don’t bother considering his offer. If I find out he’s touched you, I’ll drain you dry. You’re my toy, and I don’t share my favorites.”
I thought of protesting but stopped. I’d seen this side of Lannan, and I knew what he was capable of when he flew into a rage.
His lips almost on mine, he said, “And Lainule is right. Forget your Fae Prince. You’ve lost him. Join my stable. While Regina is my Queen, you will be the first among my bloodwhores.”
“I am no bloodwhore.” I didn’t try to break free—that would spur him on—but slowly, I tried to ease my head away.
But Lannan had other ideas. His arm was suddenly around my waist and his lips were on mine. I could feel him rigid and hard against me. He slid his tongue inside my mouth.
A warm sensation began to rise through my body as the euphoria of his kiss filtered through every cell. I realized that I had melted; I was pressing against him, wet and warm and aching for release. Furious, I pulled back, pushed his mouth away from mine.
Lannan arched his eyebrows. Grabbing my wrist, he twisted until I was gritting my teeth. “Don’t ever push me away again, girl. Not if you value what life you have left.” Once again, he fastened his lips on mine and ravished me with his tongue, his hands gripping my butt, wandering over my body, stirring heat. I let out a moan, angry and fearful, as my hunger for him grew.
As he broke away, holding me by the back of the head, forcing me to look him in the eye, my cheeks grew hot as I tried to stanch the tears aching to flow.
“Damn you . . . damn you. I hate you. I hate your touch and your icy hands. If I could, I’d stake you right here.” I knew I was playing on dangerous ground, but I couldn’t help it.
But Lannan merely laughed. “I like it when you resist. I want you even more when you try to squirm away. It thrills me to know you’ve creamed your panties when you don’t want to come. Anticipation is so good for the soul. I promise you this, Cicely: Next bloodletting, I’m going to fuck you so hard and long with my fangs that you’ll beg for my cock. I’m going to have you down on your knees begging me to ream your wet little pussy.”
And then, he shoved me back. I stumbled against the sofa as he turned away. “You can go now. Sleep well, and have sweet dreams, my pet.”
I ran out of the house to find Rhia and Leo waiting for me. They took one look at my face and led me back to the car where Leo climbed behind the wheel. Rhia held me in the backseat as I cried all the way back home.
Chapter 3
I was standing in the pale light of twilight, at the edge of the Golden Wood, naked, but I couldn’t seem to feel the cold. I ran my fingers lightly over my wolf, closing my eyes. The tattoo was complex: a vine that wound itself up my left thigh, then crossed my lower stomach, ending near my ribs beneath my right arm. Silver roses and violet skulls dappled the vine, and right above my navel, a wolf gazed into the world through brilliant emerald eyes. Grieve . . . my wolf was connected to Grieve, and through it, I could feel my Fae Prince, when he was hurting or angry.
“Where are you? What are you thinking? Are you missing me?” I whispered, closing my eyes. I didn’t consciously send the message down the slipstream, but the words swept out of my mouth and caught themselves lightly on a hook of wind, gusting along the currents of air playing past me.
As I slowly brought my left hand up, my fingers lightly brushing my breast, I caught my breath. And then, I felt hands on me and gasped, but as my eyes flew open, it was not Lannan touching me—but my perilous Grieve.
His gleaming black eyes sparkled with stars, stark against the platinum shag that fell to his shoulders. He gazed into my soul, the scents of cinnamon and freshly turned earth enveloping him. His white kimono with delicate indigo patterns embroidered on the silken material rustled as he touched me.
