Page 25

He blinked, but the vision remained: the tall elf stinking of rot, throat swollen with his cock, her lips teasing the head as she bobbed up and down.

Godsdamn her.

And yet, his blood still sang.

For one shameful breath, he willed the vision to remain. Around him, the soft music floating from the never-ending court faded. The elf’s pale gaze never strayed from his.

Defiant.

Furious.

Heartbreakingly alive.

She was probably coming for him right now. Honing her blade, oiling her boots. Gods, she hated him. And he fucking despised how much he needed her. How he only felt a glimmer of something—anything—besides numb nothingness in her presence.

No.

He would destroy her.

His body twitched. Nails bit into his stomach again. Fuck, she had a perfect mouth. The thought of his seed spilling down her wicked lips, the taste of him the last thing she remembered, pleased him more than he anticipated.

Something brushed against the scar across his lip.

Lucan shuddered, rage following so swiftly that it nearly stole his mounting pleasure.

The illusion vanished as quickly as it came. Anileta remained draped over his knees, dark hair pinned to the sides of her head. She pulled away, a satisfied smile spreading across her creamy lips.

“Careful, my prince,” she purred. “I still have much to offer.”

Anileta dipped her head to his inner thigh, fangs sinking into his flesh. The pain barely registered through his battling emotions. Shame flooded his face, the lips that had uttered that blasphemous name burning as if coated with poison. His hands shook, grip tight against Anileta’s scalp until she squeaked. Lucan had thrown Anileta off him with such force that the bed shook. Her wide eyes begged to understand her transgression. Instead, his shadows surged forth like a maelstrom.

A part of him—perhaps more of him than not—wished the elf would appear again as he coaxed scream after scream from Anileta until her mind melted. While the vampire might enjoy Lucan’s wicked touch, he knew the moon elf would not.

But she never returned.

Now, Lucan tired of bringing Anileta to her climax again. Waving his hands, the shadows dropped her shuddering form to the ground. She quickly rolled over, black hair spilling over her porcelain shoulders.

“Lucan,” she whimpered, “I was almost there!”

The pout spreading across her face infuriated him.

“Silence your wretched mouth before I stitch it shut,” he boomed, shadows writhing at his feet as he took a step forward. “I’m done with you.”

Anileta rose from the floor. The silks of her dress spilled around her feet like a pool of blood. She took a step forward but did not speak.

“Go, Anileta.”

“Have I done something, my prince?” Her voice wavered as she spoke.

“Not this time.”

Lucan ran one hand through his curls, long nails digging into his scalp as if he could somehow pry out all thoughts of the elf from within. It did nothing but raise his blood. Lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice Anileta had stepped closer until her fingers grazed the back of his shoulder.

Do you crave silver? Is that it, Lucan? Or do you seek to shame me, to prove why I had to end your pathetic father?

Jolted into action by Aurelion’s words, Lucan spun to the side. His skin crawled with shivers. Shadows formed into a hand, wrapping around Anileta’s throat and lifting her in the air. Lucan stepped away until his back pressed against the wall.

“Don’t fucking touch me there again.”