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“And I took them,” the would-be royal responded, his archers nocking their bows tighter.
The pissing contest had just escalated into a DEFCON 2 situation, stage critical. Unless...
Cookie flattened her palm over Kaysar’s thumping heart. “Put me in the game, coach. Give me the elderseed, and let’s see what I can do. Create enough vines to get us over the canyon? Maybe. Block any attacks? Surely.” A power boost couldn’t hurt. “Getting to safety and regrouping will be a piece of cake when we don’t have hundreds of weapons trained on us.”
“I am weary of waiting,” Micah called.
Kaysar ignored him. Sporting an indulgent smile, he anchored a finger under her chin and tilted her face higher. “You wish to fight as my teammate?”
Her fluttering stomach flip-flopped. Her first real-life battle. With a pro, no less. “I do.”
“Very well. We’ll do this your way. At the moment, I find I can deny you nothing.” Amid Jareth’s protests, her dark king pressed his lips to hers...
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MOUTH-TO-MOUTH CONTACT with Kaysar, in front of their enemies? A doubt surfaced: What if he did this for Jareth’s benefit?
Cookie should care, right? But a ragged moan burst from her. The feel of this man.
Her sexy king took full advantage of her surprise and thrust his tongue against hers. One second her thoughts raced, reminding her of cars on a highway. Just zoom, zoom, zoom. The next her mind quieted, fixated on the most amazing sensations. His taste was a rich dessert wine, intoxicating and addictive, and she had no defense against it.
To her disappointment, the kiss ended far too quickly. He brushed the tip of his nose against hers, as if he wanted to apologize for the brevity, and rasped, “You are the most glorious female in existence, and I must have you.”
Man, when he decided he wanted something, he went all out to obtain it. His ferocity attenuated her doubts, and she peered up at him, a little too dazed for her liking and a lot too vulnerable.
Noticing something strange on her tongue, she frowned. What—the exotic flavor exploded at first crunch. Mmm. Delicious.
“I hope you enjoy the rush, sweetling.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I know I will.”
Rush? Wait. The morsel on her tongue. He’d used their kiss to pass her a slither of elderseed? Uh, when had he reached into the satchel?
Oh, who cared? She swallowed and prayed the minute portion of elderseed worked fast. In the game, results were instantaneous. But...
She waited.
And waited.
“Do you think I will hesitate to slay you?” Micah demanded. “I assure you, I’ll do what I must.”
“Give her to me.” The second Jareth freed himself from the wall, he lunged for Cookie, attempting a grab-and-nab. As if she wouldn’t poisonvine him again. “You will come with me, wife. We tried this your way. Now we’ll do it mine.”
Gone was the loving husband intent on protecting his bride. This man expected absolute compliance.
With graceful, catlike reflexes she’d rarely never displayed, she danced out of reach. Well, well. Perhaps the elderseed had kicked in, after all.
“You think to touch her?” With awe-inspiring speed, Kaysar swiped his claws at Jareth’s outstretched arm. “You dare to touch what’s mine?”
He did think of Cookie as his. How did she feel about that, after everything that had happened?
The prince’s hand flew into the chasm, severed from his wrist. A gruesome sight she found oddly satisfying.
As if he’d known such pain before, Jareth clutched the bloody stump to his chest and wheezed. “I’ll rejoice the day I kill you, Kaysar.”
Protective urges pitched and swelled. Harm her teammate? No. Oh, no. She’d end Jareth first, despite her companion’s protests.
“The female may stay. The king and the prince have thirty seconds to take their feud elsewhere,” the one named Micah shouted, his voice a lash of anger.
Another threat to her teammate. She saw red. Here was the thing about Cookie. She valued her partners, whoever they were. At game time, any bad blood between them got benched.
In a flash, the burn returned to her arms. Hotter and hotter and oh! Her blood fizzled and sizzled in her hands, the tips of her fingers on fire. Shockingly, she saw no flames.
The elderseed had really kicked in.
When leaves budded from her pores, their tips vibrated, eagerly awaiting her command. She sensed their desire to obey. To conquer.
Power filled her head and flowed through her veins. As promised, she had charged like a battery—a ginormous battery with stores and stores of strength.
Her thoughts realigned and smoothed out, the chaos that had lived in her mind for so long suddenly eased. For the first time, she knew who she was. What she was. She knew what she wanted and how to get it.
Nothing could stop her.
“Your time is up. We attack on three.” Micah raised an arm. Aggression and malice pulsed from his army, the soldiers shifting. “One.”
