Page 93 of A Deal with the Shadow King

“Don’t be so sure?—”

He steals my breath with a kiss that’s both vicious and undeniable, his hands hard at the back of my head. I gasp, and his tongue takes advantage of my surprise to slip inside my mouth, as sharp and cruel as its owner.

The rough caress goes straight to my belly. Contrary to the one we shared when he was pretending to be One, Two’s kiss is a promise to cradle and love every dark desire I ever nurtured. It’s insidious, and I almost feel wretched enough to kiss him back, but I tear myself away instead.

“I don’t want you.” I rub off the forbidden taste of him with the back of my hand, the pulsing heat between my thighs catching me in a lie.

“Yeah, you do. However ugly you think it is, it’s the truth. Remember, pet. Three for the price of one…” His satisfied smile is heavy with promise, like he knows I’m bound to give in at some point. “Think about it. I know I will.”

Chapter 31

On Three

The green paint of Three’s bedroom door is weathered and worn, with patches of bare wood showing underneath. It brings back vivid memories. Whatever happened to Mara on Foghar, he was the instigator. He took her as a lover, and she disappeared. What if he’s planning to do the same to me?

After One’s rejection, and Two’s salacious proposal, I’m almost tempted to let him try.

I knock on the worn and peeling wood, feeling a bit run-down, too.

I should be in bed right now.

Three comes to the door wearing his full uniform and his iridescent mask. He cocks his head to the side and peers behind me like he’s wondering what’s going on.

“Hi. One said I should train with you today?” I say, suddenly feeling faint.

He opens the door wide with a loose grin on his face. Come in.

I dip my head under his outstretched arm and walk inside. But instead of a regular bedroom, I find an art studio on the other side. The bed I saw the other day is now tucked in a corner, and an easel towers in the center of the room.

A series of half-finished portraits are stacked against the wall on one side, and an array of painting supplies are scattered over the desk next to the easel. Three kicks off his boots and motions for me to sit on the green velvet chaise lounge in the middle of the room.

I obey and tap a mindless beat on my thighs to chase off the nerves.

The third brother’s silence has never been quite so unnerving as this. Our previous encounters have always been short—if memorable. He doesn’t look at all in a hurry to explain his intentions.

Instead, he shrugs off his black jacket and dumps it on the back of his desk chair. The white button-down shirt he’s wearing underneath softens his somber look. He peruses the brushes and tubes on his desk as he cuffs up his sleeves above his elbows.

“How am I supposed to learn if you can’t speak? According to everyone, fantasies are the hardest.”

He peels off his mask, and I hold my breath. I’ve kissed both of his twin brothers, but Three’s…different. He’s got iridescent irises, long lashes, and shadows flicker over his skin like a dark fire burns inside of him—barely contained.

While I gawk, speechless, he installs a fresh canvas on the easel between us and glances up at me.

I sink my nails into the velvety cushions. “Wait a minute. Do you want to paint me?”

Three bites his bottom lip in a sheepish manner. Yes.

He mixes the paint on his palette, his white shirt barely hiding the planes of his chest. He looks…younger, somehow, though I don’t know how that could be. Long strands of jet black hair fall haphazardly around his face.

“Is it really necessary?”

The corners of his mouth curl up, and warmth radiates through his colorful, shimmering gaze. Humor me.

“Don’t you need more light to paint? I mean, it’s awfully dark in here…”

Asking a shadow knight if he needs more light is probably in my top five dumbest questions, but I can’t help myself. I feel…defenseless in front of Three. How can I argue with someone who doesn’t speak? How can I hang on to my pride when words can’t come between us?

After a minute, he motions me forward. Come and see for yourself.

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