She scowled, angry with herself, with Roc. With Erebus. Her emotions had been through the wringer, squeezed within an inch of their lives.
What she and Roc had done... The satisfaction she’d tasted in his arms warred with the uncertainty. She felt as though she’d finally stored the mysterious parts of her life in the same box. A puzzle she had only to complete in order to make herself whole.
What was she to do about this man? What was she to do about her starvation? Ignoring her hunger pains ceased being an option.
Five days was the longest she’d ever gone without a proper meal. At the time, she’d been trapped in a desolate realm devoid of life. By day four, she’d felt as if she were dying. By day five, she’d wanted to die.
No reason to panic. This was only day two, and she already had a banquet lined up. All will be well.
With daggers in hand, she rushed to the door. Roc appeared directly in front of her, blocking the exit. Too late to slow. She slammed into him. Only the hard clasp of his hand on her nape prevented her from ricocheting. He used his free hand to disarm her and lock her body against his.
The fingers on her nape inclined her face to the light.
She kept her lids low. Looking at him, even for a moment, made her mouth water and her stomach cramp. The hungrier she became, the more his skin glowed. The louder she heard his soul call. Soon, she’d see and hear nothing else. Remembering she couldn’t consume him, that he possessed some kind of mystical block—impossible. She would attack.
Even now, she yearned to attack. Standing in place required great effort. “If you’re wanting another go at me, you’ll have to wait.” She began to pant as though she jogged uphill. “The candy store is currently closed.”
“What I want is the key to the Realm of the Forgotten.” He wrapped his fingers around the little dagger necklace and yanked the cord from her neck. As he traced his thumb over the metal, he frowned. “This leads to Harpina.”
He could tell by touch alone? “Why didn’t you touch the key while we were making out?” Because he’d wanted to get her into bed, and he’d seized any excuse.
“Give me the other key, Taliyah.”
“I can’t.” If he fought her on this, she’d...what? In this state, what could she do?
He examined her before forcibly turning her around and sweeping her hair over her shoulder, baring her back to him. “The hourglass tattoo.”
How did he even know that? “Remove it, and I’ll—”
“What?” He traced a fingertip along the image, unerringly gentle. Shivers rained through her. “What can you do to me?”
She didn’t know! “Are we done here?” she demanded with enough vim and vigor to terrify anyone else.
With an unnecessary abundance of force, he turned her to face him. He actually recoiled.
“Stop manhandling me, and get out of my way,” she said, meeting his gaze. She gasped. Had she ever spied so much malice? Because of a tattoo key?
Cool air bit her bare skin, rousing apprehension. Before this, she’d never experienced a chill in his presence. Why did he no longer give off heat?
“Black lines branch from your eyes, Taliyah. Why?”
The question lashed like a whip, and her cramping stomach dropped. He suspected she was a phantom.
Drawing on centuries of battle calm, she delivered a flat statement. “I’m part snakeshifter, Roc. Why else?” If he knew little about the snakes, he might believe her very truthful claim.
“Snakeshifters do not develop black lines around their eyes. Try again.”
Okay, so he knew about snakes, but he might not know about Erebus. “You’re right. But how many snakeshifter–harpy hybrids do you know?” Such a combination was a rarity, snakes a difficult species to infiltrate. Their suspicion of others provided a tough hurdle for any female to jump.
He ran his tongue over his teeth, the barest tendril of heat escaping him, fueling her confidence. “You are the first,” he grudgingly admitted.
Confidence restored. I’ve got this! “Since we’ve got that cleared up, be my darling and get out of my way. If you hadn’t noticed, I’m naked. I seek clean clothes.”
His nostrils flared. “You won’t traipse the palace in this state.”
Oh, yeah. She totally had this. His possessiveness had just reared its big, beautiful head. Going for flirty, she batted her lashes. “Why don’t you do your duty as my spouse and provide for me? In case you’re wondering, I’m size perfect.” Like every woman who’d ever lived.
“Trust me, I noticed.” He maintained his hold, studying her face with renewed intent. “We captured a phantom today.”
Confidence plummeted yet again. Clearly, she hadn’t convinced him of anything. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be on the lookout. No big, bad phantom will overtake me.”
“You told me you’ve never fought a phantom. How do you know you can defeat one?”
Reveal nothing. “I can defeat anyone. Why else? One day I’ll even defeat you. So what, exactly, are you implying here, Roc?” Better to confront his suspicions head-on.
The light in his pores brightened, threatening to unravel her composure. Do not break his stare and lick your lips.
“Erebus sent me a message,” he said. He went quiet again.
Taliyah didn’t let herself panic. She knew better. Panic led to mistakes. As casually as she could manage, she arched a brow and braced a fist on a cocked hip. “And?”
“And he says you are a phantom.”
Shock and fury punched the air from her lungs. Her own father ratted on her? That...that... There was no insult great enough. The urge to kill vibrated in her bones. At least she didn’t have to wonder why. Erebus would rather make Roc miserable than protect his own flesh and blood.
“You believe your greatest foe?” She tsked. “Hey, would you like to buy an invisible best friend? I’m offering two for the price of one.”
His eyelids slitted. “You are my foe. The one who challenges me for the position of Commander.”
“Because you selected me, not the other way around!”
“You demanded I select you.” Lacking mercy, he returned to the interrogation. “Why did you refuse to eat dinner?”
She rolled her eyes. What else could she do? “Some snakes prefer to devour their mates whole.”
His eyelids slitted further. “The day you tracked me in the throne room—”
“You mean yesterday?” She tried for flippant. She might have sounded strained. Yesterday felt a million years away.