Page 33 of Hunt Me

“I’ve never failed at it before, and I don’t plan to start now.”

His expression tightens. “Ah, yes, you’ve killed before.”

“Many times.”

Something unsettled flashes in his gaze. He looks almost disappointed.

“What? Did you think you were the only one capable of it?” I snap.

He looks resolute. “I have to go.”

“Aww. Have I killed the mood?” I ask sweetly.

His hesitation is genuine, though, and I try to figure out how I’ve gotten to him. “You’re not what I expected.”

“I’m sorry. Did you want a mate who would fall at your feet and worship you?”

“I don’t want a mate at all.”

His words sting far more than they should, considering what a monster he is, but I shove that aside and snap, “That makes two of us.”

He takes a step toward me, and I throw up my hands. “If you come near me, I’ll touch you. And that will be that.”

His eyes glitter as he says, “I would destroy you long before you got close enough to harm me.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be.”

Before I can answer, he leaps into the air, his dragon form exploding from his flesh and his wings carrying him off into the night.

Chapter 8

Legion

Ifly south for an hour before touching down again. After five millennia in eternal darkness, having the open expanse of endless sunlit skies is a newfound freedom for my dark dragon. That freedom becomes more and more like a prison the farther I get from her.

My beast craves her. It’s more than her beauty though she is the most alluring creature I’ve ever seen. She is strong. A fighter. A killer.

I will not tie myself to another monster.

I refuse to be controlled.

There’s still the matter of her thinking I cursed her. It’s a baseless claim though it has me wondering: If not me, then who or what did? Tartarus’ dark magic has infected more than one citizen of the Crossroads already, but so far, that magic has been contained to the portal itself. And it hasn’t involved curses. Either way, it wasn’t my magic that did this.

Still, I can’t help but admire her bravery for facing me so fearlessly with her accusations. Then again, maybe it’s stupidity. Either way, beneath my obsession for her, and my determination to resist her, I worry.

The very idea of someone intentionally hurting her has a fire curling inside my beast. Before I know what’s happening, hellfire unleashes from my throat, raining out over the moonlit sky and falling to the Earth below.

Shocked at the way I just lost control, I stare out at the landscape beneath me, watching as the fire makes landfall. It scorches everything it touches. Farmland, mountains—thankfully, no homes that I can see.

Unfortunately, the fire I unleashed barely scratches the surface of the rage my beast feels, and I feel another burst forming. Half-mad from resisting the fury, I angle higher, determined to keep from razing the town below me.

The madness at not accepting the mate bond is a darkness driving me wild. Even if I wanted to give in, I couldn’t, not if she’s unable to touch another without killing them. The idea of another creature touching her in the way I want to blinds me with rage. I find myself relieved she cannot. But that also means I can’t touch her either.

With a snarl, I turn back and head for the portal back to Tartarus. Someone hurt her. I intend to find out who if only to soothe the beast inside me—to maintain control. But to do that, I need to be free of my restraints.

An hour later, my legs are heavy as I climb the steps to the palace. Pol, Caius’ closest advisor, stops me before I’ve made it to the door. I brace myself for a round of shit.

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