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Warmth began to swarm in my core and I felt the powers that had been absent for so long, begin to return. The enclosed casket cut me off from my true self, somehow, but now … like this, I was returning. More hope. It had the anxieties easing. If I could be free of this enclosed space, I would eventually get better. I wasn’t doomed like I had assumed I might if I ever got free.
“Here. Drink.” Aetas cut into his wrist, placing it against my mouth. Ravishingly, I sunk my fangs into his skin. He winced, groaning as I greedily swallowed him down. The blood was like a breath of fresh air. The correction to my sight was almost immediate. And I was moving, drawing my knees toward my chest as I moaned through the simple pleasure of being able to do so.
“The queen is able to sleep, again,” Aetas said, smiling. “She’s starting to take to me. Her arms hold me at night and she sleeps with her face in my neck. Even though I tried, I could never imagine how that felt. The small things, they are so much greater than most know. Her bond is to Hunter, and he holds her from the other side, but she always turns to me. Me, Marko.”
I wanted to argue, to say something to wipe that expression off of his face, but I couldn’t. My hunger left me glued to his wrist.
“Her sadness is still present, but even it fades. Time has a way of doing that. Of changing things.” His eyes moved down to stare mindlessly at the ground as he continued. “I thought I had loved her before, but I knew nothing. It’s strange how fast the emotion grows. A little time passes and I look back now,” his head did a quick shake, “the difference is almost shocking. Love. It does things to us. Opens places inside, both good and bad.” His gaze returned to me. “I feel myself getting jealous of my creation. I thought myself incapable, yet Hunter’s presence is beginning to wear on me. I don’t understand it. I need him for my future plans, yet I plot ways to kill him anyway.”
All I could do was watch as I focused on the heat building within. I still wasn’t strong enough to overpower him and escape, and I wasn’t about to risk it. But if I could let it grow. If he came back to feed me more … maybe eventually …
“I was so sure of my plan. There were no questions, just actions. This love for Tessa, it’s starting to affect my judgement. The moment I gave myself to her mentally, something happened. And it grows. She’s all I can think about. I want her in ways I can’t even begin to describe.” He glared. “And that brings me back to Hunter. To his growing love of her.”
My eyebrows drew in and Aetas jerked him arm back. I took deep breaths, relishing in the burn that was no longer present in my throat.
“What will you do?”
He grabbed the heavy marble. Panic had my arm shooting out, but he easily pushed me back down. “What I always do—whatever I want.”
Chapter 19
Aetas
The bedroom appeared before me as I felt myself materialize. Hunter was wrapped around the back of Tessa, kissing her neck. Small sounds left her in her sleep and her hips arched as consciousness beckoned. Jealousy swept through my veins as I stared ahead, watching her lips part. The covers rose as Hunter’s hand slid up from her waist to stop chest-level. I could see his fingers moving, no doubt caressing her breasts. Teasing her nipples.
My energy flared and his head lifted. When his eyes met mine, he grew still.
“Leave us.”
The volume of my voice had Tessa’s eyes fluttering open. Hunter only paused for a moment before his features tightened and he threw back the covers, leaving the bed. He reached over, grabbing a pair of jeans and pushed his legs through angrily. He didn’t say a word as he left the button undone and stalked from the room. When the door slammed shut, I turned my attention back to Tessa. She was trying to get a read on me, but I didn’t allow her the chance as I began to remove my clothes.
For nearly a week, I let her adjust to this new me I was suddenly becoming. I took things slow, gave her attention and affection without crossing the line and rushing her. But I couldn’t wait anymore. I wanted her to the point that it was driving me crazy. Marko’s need of her was my own and I was impatient to sate this passion that was stronger than any amount of hate I currently harbored.
“I dreamt of you.” Her words were husky as I pulled back the satin and climbed in the bed with her.
“Was it a good dream?”
My hands were already pulling her closer, bringing her underneath me. She didn’t get a chance to speak as my lips massaged into hers.
I moaned, slipping my tongue in deep to taste her. Silk slid between my fingers while I gripped to her thick hair. Fuck, I was falling…falling for her hard. The tug I gave had her breaking away in a gasp.
“It was good. I found you. You were missing.”
“Missing? But I’m right here.” I kissed her again, sliding my hard cock against the wetness of her pussy. Tessa’s hands gripped into my back, squeezing my flesh as I continued a slow rhythm against her folds. “Don’t you feel me? Can you not see how far I have come after this last week?” I changed to French. It felt natural. Right, with us. “Do you not see my love for you? It grows so fast and strong.”
“I do,” she answered in our language. “I wasn’t sure it was still there, but it’s coming back. You’re returning to me just as Hunter said you would.”
“No more talk of him. Kiss me.”
Tightness met my cock as I nudged into her entrance. The warmth drove me deeper until I felt her stretch around me. Blood tinged my mouth. The pleasure was more than I was prepared for. I paused, withdrawing, only to plunge forward through my greed to have more.
Stinging sliced into my back as Tessa’s nails dug into my skin. My hips rotated and I thrust, moaning through the victory of finally being inside of her. Finally having her like I had longed for since she’d come to me, dead from Hunter’s dagger. Her powers and beauty had entranced me then, but as they grew, so did my obsession to include her in my plans. But I never saw this happening. How could I? I had never felt real love before.
“Marko.” She was moving against me faster, kissing along my neck as I relished in her scent and energy. They were peaking. Already, she was so close to an orgasm. From me.
I pushed into her deeper, testing her energy with my own. I wanted to make this good for her. Better than Marko ever had.
Cautiously, I merged our powers, easing mine into her as I continued to keep a leisurely pace. Deep breaths filled the room as she clutched to me and I felt her body throw off a wave of heat. I kept the pulses light, hoping she was too far gone to notice. It would resemble what I did the night of the coronation and if she caught on to that, I wasn’t sure how she would react.
