“Aenor,” he said in a husky voice. “Planning an escape?”
“I wanted to see what would happen if you achieved your goals. So I did a little spell to see what you have planned. I saw it for myself. The world burning. The sea boiling until it evaporates. That’s what happens if we get to the driftwood cage.”
The flames rose around him. “Is that what you saw.” It sounded like more a statement than a question. Flat. Unimpressed.
“Is that what you want? Are you trying to raise an army of Fomorians to burn the world down?” I took a deep breath, my legs shaking a little. “I think I understand now. All your sophistication—the brandy, the palace, your expensive suits. You’re overcompensating, aren’t you? You use sophistication to hide what you really are. You just want to burn it all.”
Salem lowered his chin, staring at me. Cruel, cold beauty beamed from his face like a star. “I told you, Aenor.” Under his silky tone was a sharp blade, a warning. “Do not defy me again. Your mother died fast, but I can make your death a very unpleasant one if I must.”
Slowly, the horns and flames receded into the darkness.
The monster who’d killed Mama stood before me.
He might hide his monstrous side with elegance, but I knew what lurked underneath.
19
Salem
The crows swept over our head, screeching as we reached the house again. We walked in silence as I composed myself. I’d felt about to lose control back there, like I’d wanted to drag her back to the house and never let go of her.
But I hadn’t wanted to hurt her. No, I’d wanted to fold her into my wings and pull her close to me.
What a strange impulse.
And most perplexing of all, threatening to kill her had felt completely wrong. It was like the words were a toxin poisoning my blood as soon as I’d uttered them. I could feel the threat eating away at me.
Why?
I’d certainly done worse things in my time than kill someone for revenge.
The little vixen had gotten into my head completely, muddling and intoxicating my thoughts. Suddenly, I couldn’t make a simple death threat without feeling guilty about it.
Maybe it was that she seemed to understand me… The sophisticated exterior and the beast who lurked underneath it all. She’d seen right through me, and she found me repulsive. Any sane person would.
My gaze slid to her. Rain poured down her arms and slicked her clothes to her body. She walked hunched, hugging herself.
All I knew now was that I couldn’t let her out of my sight.
I could command her right now. Never leave my side. Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to. Worship me as a god, Aenor…
Except I didn’t want to invade her mind again, because I didn’t want to see her pierce her palms.
When I pushed through the door into the house, I found it silent and dark. The witch had gone to bed, no longer troubling me with her predictions. Aenor walked in silence behind me up the stairs. The urge to strip her wet clothes off her and pull her into my bed to warm her was overwhelming.
In the bedroom, she shot me a furious look, like she was reading my thoughts. “I’ll take the floor again.”
So she could escape again? Perhaps get a message to Lyr, that tedious, white-haired cock.
Lyr, the morose sea-fuck.
Her lover.
The thought of him touching her brought fire to my veins. I’d have to burn something to rid him from my mind. Preferably him.
But while I waited on that, I’d make her bend to my will.
“No, Aenor.” My voice sounded rough, desperate. “You have two options now. I can tie you down to sleep, or I can enchant you to stay in this room. Which will it be?”
Her beautiful mouth opened and closed, and she looked stunned for a moment. Then she composed her expression and nodded at the bed. “Fine. Tie me to the bed.”
A slow smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”
The look she gave me turned my chest to ice, and she crossed to the bed. She lay down on her back, her sea-damp hair and clothes dripping onto the sheets. Droplets of water beaded over goosebumps on her skin. I wanted to warm her.
She raised her arms above her head, wrists near the bedframe. As she did, the look in her eyes was as icy as the water dripping from her skin. Something twisted in my chest as I moved closer to her. I whispered an ancient spell.
I touched her wrists, and ropes of magic twined around them, binding them together.
She despised me for this, but I had to keep her close to me.
I was the one who’d led her into Lyr’s arms by ripping her magic from her. He was the allure of death, a promise of reprieve from a life of misery.
“I’m sticking close to you,” I barked. It came out sounding more like a threat than I’d meant it to.
I flicked my wrist, and all the lanterns in the room went out. I lay on the bed next to Aenor.
The cold rippled off her, and I let some heat radiate off my body to warm her.
“Don’t get anywhere near me,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Oh don’t worry, Aenor,” I murmured. “Not until you beg for it.”
“In your dreams.”
And wouldn’t that be a lovely dream. Unfortunately, I couldn’t dream anymore. Nothing but a void when I slept.
Really, though, there was nothing like seducing a woman who despised you. When she tried so hard to resist—then she’d find herself pulling up her skirts a little higher, cheeks flushing as I caressed her thighs. Her legs would open for me, and I’d tease her so slowly, so excruciatingly. As I skimmed my hand over her wet slit, she’d beg me to fuck her. I’d draw it out, waiting till she demanded it of me. I’d make her betray every single objection she had to me until she abandoned herself to pleasure.
That was victory.
It was only a few minutes before I heard Aenor’s breathing relax and her heart rate slow down again. I was surprised she’d fallen asleep so fast, close as she was to someone she desperately wanted to kill.
The sound of her breathing lulled me into my own sleep, and I let my body radiate more heat to warm her. I fell into a dreamless sleep, a void.
I woke to find a single light on, glowing over Aenor’s smooth, pale skin. She was awake. Still tied up, but staring at me.
“Were you watching me sleep?” I asked. “A bit creepy, don’t you think?”
Desire shone in her eyes, and she licked her lips. My pulse raced a little faster. Her pink cheeks were perfection.
She rolled toward me, her legs bent. Her skirt had ridden up high, giving me a view of her pale blue panties. They looked silky, delicate. I wanted to pull them off with my teeth.
My blood roared at the sight of her helpless before me. I could hear her heart beating faster. Her blue eyes were roaming over my body like she was drinking me in.
“Tell me what you want, Aenor,” I said quietly.
She met my gaze, a shy smile on her lips. “You.”
Oh yes. I pulled her body close to mine, and she wrapped her legs around me. I kissed her deeply. Slowly, I ran one of my hands up her thigh, caressing her. She moaned a little as it slid up further, over her ass. She moved her hips against me, demanding.
I swirled my tongue against hers and teased the hem of her panties. She gasped as I brushed my knuckles over the front of the silk. Hot little minx…