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Chapter fifteen
Runestalkeddownthehall, away from the mortal. The Ra’Voshnik thrashed, infuriated to be out of her company. Tension filled him, his body taut and aching. Betraying him for her. Darkness help the person who wove this spell. He would spend weeks drawing their death out.
He ignored the aching need gnawing at him. The desire to coax the fiery minx to bed and learn every inch of her. He wanted to blame his desires on the Ra’Voshnik he’d dragged into the depths of his subconscious. In truth, she affected him just as strongly.
Rune sat at his desk pouring through tome after tome long into the night. He closed the last book and rolled his neck, no closer to finding a race with her unique characteristics. He phased into his room, and his body went rigid.
Her clean, subtle scent intoxicated him. A night breeze through plum blossoms tempted him past reason. His fangs lengthened, sharpening for her. He closed his eyes and inhaled, resisting the urge to purr his contentment. He opened his eyes and exhaled, hating his body’s reaction to her.
Rune couldn’t help but wonder if he would miss it when she was gone? A foolish question. Her scent would be like every other after he freed himself of her. He stripped and got in bed. Tucking his hand behind his head, Rune stared up at the ceiling. He grew more restless and taut with each breath. Her scent lingered too near. Too familiar.
You long for her as I do.The Ra’Voshnik crept through his mind, prowling slowly, seemingly searching for the object of its lust.Give her the sister. Ask forgiveness.
You are too simple to see her for the death she is. This is artificial. A spell bound her to me. Rune closed his eyes, descending into himself. Meeting the Ra’Voshnik in his mind. Rune had not conversed with the creature in this manner since his youth. It unnerved him, now as it did then, to speak with the Ra’Voshnik separate from himself yet shaped and mirrored in his image. Their gazes were the only discernable difference. Where Rune’s eyes were a pale blue, the Ra’Voshnik peered at him with its veined, misted shadowy gaze.
The Ra’Voshnik prowled closer. “Your pride and jealousy turned her away from us. You squander our gift. I will ask her forgiveness if you’re too proud.”
“You will do nothing.” Rune would never surrender dominion over his body to it.
“You blame me, but at least admit the truth. We both grow hard, wanting our dark queen. I see your thoughts just as you see mine.”
“You are depraved.”
“I’m honest.” It shrugged. “If you returned her sister, we could have our mouths on her soft flesh. Bring her into our mind.” It smirked before continuing, “I would share her with you.”
Rune’s fangs sharpened. “You will not touch her.”
It parted its lips and leaned closer, inhaling. “You taste of jealousy. Hardly an emotion dignified of the great Shadow Prince.”
“Be silent,” Rune grated. It laughed as he returned to his physical body. Whispering even after he confined it to the recesses of his mind.
We are halves of the same whole. You will never be rid of me. It would be best if you learned to share, polished fool, because I will be taking our queen.
The thought of Faye beneath the Ra’Voshnik set him with a heated tension without an outlet. He may not be able to destroy the Ra’Voshnik living within him, but he caged it for thirty centuries and had no intention of allowing it near the young mortal.
He glanced to his side, remembering the dreams of how she curled to him in her sleep. Rune pulled his gaze from the empty place in his bed and closed his eyes. She could not be his. He couldn’t have such an ill-suited pairing.
Fate would not slight him so badly.
Chapter sixteen
TimebledtogetherduringFaye’s stay in Hell. For two days the table in her room changed her selection of freshly prepared meals every few hours— and for two days she didn’t eat a bite of it. Lightheaded and weak, she stayed in bed. Her heartbeat became a constant pulse driving a pounding headache that wouldn’t ease.
Sadi had come to see her this time. She pulled a chair beside Faye’s bed and set a tray over her. “You need to eat to regain your strength. Did you want something else? I can have anything brought in.”
Faye scooted from beneath the tray, sitting up. She would be tempted to eat if Morbid allowed her to attempt her ceremony in Chaos, but Morbid told Sadi he would think on the matter.
Which left her the Shadow Prince’s captive.
“What does he want? Why am I here?” Faye asked.
“I need you to eat something. Anything. Take a few bites.” Sadi moved the bowl of soup closer to her.
The creamy white broth smelled divine. Faye set her jaw, steeling herself for their same conversation to play out. They would ask her to eat, and she would refuse until they told her what they wanted. Caught in an endless stalemate, Faye was determined to win.
Two of the strongest people in the realms held her captive in a luxurious room. They needed her for something. Badly and apparently alive.
