Page 101 of Crown of Chaos

“It’s silver, not gray. And why shouldn’t women be forward? This isn’t the Middle Ages and life is way too short to play games about what we want.” Everything from my tone to my expression screamed that I was bored with the banter already.

His hands landed either side of my hips so he was caging me against the altar. Elias’s lips lowered, grazing my cheek. My heartbeat skyrocketed, and the enticing scent of spices and aged whisky slammed into me, making me tremble. The incubus chuckled, cupping my jaw to turn my face toward his.

“You smell nice,” he whispered. “What are you wearing?”

“Oh, my blood mixed with some of Hecate’s and mud thrown in for a little added earthy undertones.” I offered with a smile. My eyes slid to Knox, who was glaring at me with obsidian-colored eyes. “Do you intend to kiss me or stand here all day sniffing me?” I asked purely because I knew Knox was reading my lips.

His mouth crushed against mine, and I groaned as pleasure washed through me. Without breaking the kiss, he shoved the witch from the altar, gripped my hips roughly, and set me on it. My fingers glided through his hair, and I moaned loudly as he devoured my lips. My legs wrapped around his waist, and I gasped as he pulled his lips from mine.

“You don’t taste like a witch.”

“Try again. Maybe it’ll change?” I offered breathlessly, enjoying the anger burning in Knox’s dark scowl.

“You’re not strong enough to hold what I have, Little Mouse.”

“I’m not a fucking mouse, and that’sexactlywhat the last two said. I have lightning and water already within me. Give me yours and let me free you. I promise you I can handle it.”

“First, I must show you your paths.” He chuckled, clearly delighted that I was so willing to free him.

“Spare me, they all suck.”

He laughed louder and shook his head. “I can’t believe you have the blood of a goddess running through you and speak as you do. You must house her blood, though, because without it, the elements would have ended the keeper’s life before ever allowing you to take them,” he stated, cupping my waist and jerking me against the monster rising between us.

“That’s a penis.” I laughed nervously as Ember peeked through my eyes. Of course, she came alive at the mention of penis and nothing else. “Down girl.”

“I assure you, I am all male.” He’d assumed I was speaking to him, which told me he had no idea she was inside me. “Give me your hand, and I’ll show you the paths you may choose to follow.”

“Maybe I should embrace my inner monster, and we could stick with the penis? It’s probably more educational than the shit shows you’re about to offer me.”

“Mmm, it’s been a long time since I’ve fed. Are you sure you can handle it?” His eyes sparkled, and I suppressed the disappointment that slithered through me that they weren’t more . . . like Knox’s.

“Let’s see what’s behind curtain number one, shall we?”

I flicked my eyes to Knox, who clenched his hands at his sides. Clearly, he didn’t like the idea of a demon known for giving pleasure pressing against me naked, offering to fulfil my needs. Good, he could swallow his own damn children next time.

I hesitated, not because I didn’t want the freaky nature-walk but because I didn’t want to see more future versions of myself. I would not end up with what I wanted, which was made clear in every one they forced me to see. Resigning myself to the experience anyway because he wouldn’t allow me to receive the element without enduring it, I placed my hand into his.

Chapter Fifty

The entire world spun aroundus, and I closed my eyes to keep from passing out or vomiting on hisreallynice chest. A soft hand touched my cheek, and I almost groaned. I missed Knox’s rough hands, ones that had helped him earn his place in this world by working for it. Elias’s were soft, as if he’d never known a hard day of work over his lifetimes.

When I opened my eyes, there was nothing. Shadows filled the entire chamber, giving a doom-and-gloom feeling to the entire place. I stepped away from him, crunching something beneath my booted foot. When I looked to see what it was, there was nothing but bones. They covered every inch of the floor that I could see, and I grimaced, setting my foot back down. Something screeched in the darkness, and my eyes slid to glowing eyes.

“This one doesn’t seem great to me. Maybe we should head to the next quickly?” I requested hesitantly, feeling a pull toward those glowing eyes.

Against my better judgment, I strolled toward it, gently steeling my spine. It inhaled loudly, huffing into the air, and I paused. The acrid scent of fires and smoke burned my eyes and lungs as I forced myself to take shallow breaths. The creature hissed, sending a wealth of flames toward me, but they didn’t touch me. A soft chuffing sound forced me to turn toward it, discovering a darker, sinister version of myself sitting on a throne, bouncing a skull in my hand as if it were a bouncy ball.

The creature was inching closer, and I got my first real look at it.

Adragon!

My heartbeat thundered, and a smile played on my lips. He rattled and hissed loudly, moving out from the shadowy clove that had hidden him.

“Calm down, beast. They’re being good today.”Ichuckled, smiling before someone new entered the vision and knelt so the bones of the dead bit into their knees. “What do you want?”

“Your family is outside, My Queen.” He whimpered, which caused the beast to snarl. The man quivered visibly, bowing his head lower. “They stated that you’re needed to handle a situation that is developing in the village.”

“And what is happening in the village?” I countered in a cruel tone before lifting my hand, buffing my black nails on the top I wore.

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