Page 14 of Heart of the Raven Prince

“Maybe that’s because I wanted a few minutes alone,” I grin, flashing my fangs at her as a few errant strands of hair fall into my eyes. My voice drops low as I close the distance between us, her breast rising high over the low collar of her dress, threatening to burst free. “Care to be alone with me?”

A bright flush creeps up her chest, her neck, and blooms across her cheeks. Her ruby lips tip up in a triumphant grin, and revulsion rolls through me as I turn and stride out of the room, pulling her eagerly along after me. The remaining ladies are whispering hurriedly behind their fans, their eyes trained solely on us.

Exactly as I hoped.

We step into an unlit side room, and I plunge us into darkness when I kick the door shut, cutting off the only light source. She slams into me the next moment, and I have to remind myself to not recoil in disgust as she presses her body against mine. Her nails dig like claws into my hair, pricking my scalp as she all but drags my face to hers and presses her lips to mine.

Getting a grip on myself, I circle my arms around her waist as I walk us backward until we slam into some indistinguishable piece of furniture. She hops onto whatever it is we’ve collided with, grabbing the collar of my jacket and yanking me toward her, her legs wrapping around me like unrelenting chains. In the process we send something crashing to the ground based on the unmistakable sound of glass shattering.

“Be careful,” she chides, sniffing indignantly before fumbling around at the belt on my trousers. Gripping her wrists, I yank them away before she is able to fully undo my belt.

I lean forward and whisper against her ear, “Be patient.” She giggles in return—an infuriating noise. Freeing one of her wrists, she trails a long finger down my chest.

“Why so coy, Prince? Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

“I do,” I growl—and that has her stilling, the rational part of her mind realizes she is alone in a room with a monster. Gripping her chin forcefully, I draw her close. Now that my eyes have adjusted to the dark, I can make out the outline of her face. Her eyes are wide in fear, her pupils blown out with lust. She sucks in a shaky breath, tilting her head slightly to the side to expose her long slender neck. She thinks I’m going to bite her.

Which, I am, but not for the reasons she assumes.

Her other wrist is still snared in my hand and I bring it toward my mouth as I hold her gaze. I strike, sinking my fangs deep into the vein at her wrist. She hisses, a sharp swear escaping her lips when I make no move to do this lightly. I don’t particularly care if this hurts her or not. Because I remember who she was before the Raven Queen came to power.

I remember, and I will never forget.

“Dammit, Caden, I'm not your dinner,” she says, trying to tug her wrist free. I grin, her blood dripping down the side of my mouth. She's just given me exactly what I want.

Her blood and her voice mix inside of me, and the dark bud of her mind blooms before me. I snare it. She grows instantly limp in my arms as I remove my fangs from her wrist and take several steps out of her embrace. She remains seated, her head lolled to the side, her arms limp. Her mouth is slightly open, a drop of spit dribbling out of the side of her lips.

“Look at me,” I say, my voice darker than the shadows that blacken the room. Her head twists, her foggy eyes locking on mine. “You have been with me all evening. I returned hours ago.” She smiles, nodding, her eyes trained on something far off as the false memories take shape in her mind. “If the queen asks—”

Light floods the room as the door slams open, banging into the wall and breaking my concentration. Duvessa gasps, blinking rapidly as she seems to become aware of herself and jumps off what I can see is a side table. She’s quickly patting herself down, pressing out any perceived wrinkles, and fussing over her hair. She’s got lipstick smeared across her face, evidence of our dance in the dark. Her black eyes dart to mine, her brows creasing.

Fuck.

I don’t know if the vision held. If the false memory had enough time to stitch itself firmly in her mind before the connection was broken—another gift from my mother, one that is nowhere near as powerful as her own. To truly be able to possess someone, I would need to control their heart.

“What a delightful little homecoming,” Lochlan drawls behind me. I don’t even bother hiding the glare as I turn and lock eyes with him. He’s leaning against the doorframe; his arms crossed in front of him. So casual. So at ease. His posture screaming that he’s never had to work for a thing in his life, everything laid at his feet for the taking.

Spoiled, insufferable fucking goddamn prick.

He flicks his eyes to Duvessa as she rushes out of the room. His eyes trail after her as she continues to primp, and I can only hope the glamor holds in her mind. When she is out of his line of sight he darts that crimson gaze back to me, his grin growing. His ivory hair hangs loose around his shoulders. He’s dressed similarly to me, but his clothes are slightly more rumpled; his jacket looking as though it’s lived on his bedroom floor for several days. The queen would whip me if I ever deigned to appear before her in such a disheveled state.

“What do you want?” I ask flatly, hoping my clear agitation comes off as frustration over a ruined sexual conquest. He tsks, shaking his head as a look of mock sadness crosses his face.

“Brother, you wound me,” he says, and my entire body goes rigid at the word brother. He grins, sharp fangs poking out through his smile. “Always so suspicious.”

“I wonder where I learned that necessity from,” I snap, turning and shoving my hands in my pockets as I regard him, waiting for his next veiled threat. He doesn’t move from his spot in the doorway, continuing to study me with those burning red eyes.

“Where have you been?” he finally asks, always the one to break the silence first. I suspect it is because he adores the sound of his own voice.

“At war.” You idiot, I refrain from adding. Barely. He annoyingly shakes his head again, that wolfish grin never once leaving his face.

“Uh, uh, uh,” he croons, and the sound of his voice makes me want to plant my fist through his skull. “I mean where have you been since you got back?”

“I didn’t realize I am expected to report my every movement to you. Do I need to alert you the next time I take a piss?” I am done with this interrogation dressed up as a conversation. Storming past him, I step back into the now empty sitting room.

“Bring anything interesting from the mortal realm back with you, brother?”

I only falter for half a heartbeat before catching myself and walking into the hallway. Lochlan easily catches up to me, his strides in time with mine as we make our way toward the private dining room she will undoubtedly be waiting in.