Page 26 of Chosen By the Fae King

Nox clenched his jaw. His muscles rippled and for a moment I wondered if he was the kind of male who would strike a magicless female.

But then he exhaled slowly and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You push too far, Aeryn.”

“As do you,” I countered. “Now release me from the binding.”

“I can't do that.”

“Can't or won't?” It was my understanding that the one casting the spell could end it.

Nox dropped his hands to his side, regarding me with a strange mix of irritation and regret. “Can't. The magic binding you to the trials can only be broken by death or completion of the trials.”

I stared at him, stunned into silence. Death was the only way out of this madness? Bile rose in my throat at the thought.

Nox took a step toward me, his eyes searching my face. “Aeryn, I–”

I didn't hear anything that came out of his mouth. I only heard the swooshing of my erratic pulse, felt the lava inside destroy my control. With a cry of rage, I hurled myself at him with all my might.

Nox grunted in surprise as I tackled him to the floor. I snatched at the jeweled dagger strapped to his thigh, but he was faster and it tumbled from my grip.

Using the only weapons at my disposal, I pummeled him with my fists. “Damn you! Damn your soul right to hell!”

Nox rolled us, grabbed my wrists, and pinned them on either side of my head. I struggled against his grip, bucking and panting. Breathless and shaking with fury, I glared up at him.

A slow smile spreads across Nox's face, though his eyes remained wary. “Feisty little thing.”

“Go to hell,” I spat.

“Not without you, it seems.”

Nox's gaze drifted to my mouth, and a different kind of tension coiled in my belly. My heart slammed against my ribs as he leaned down, close enough for me to taste his breath.

“Release me,” I rasped, but there was no force behind the demand.

He did nothing more than search my face while gently stroking the pulse points on my wrists with his thumbs.

I was spent. Emotionally. Physically. What was happening to me? I was behaving like an animal, like the hellion he believed me to be.

I'd attacked the damned King of Falcondale! That alone should have been reason enough for him to remove my head.

Miraculously, my mind cleared, the chaotic energy having been expended on the male holding me down. Now that I could think, embarrassment warmed my cheeks.

“There she is,” he remarked cryptically.

I didn't move, didn't breathe, as Nox's lips brushed feather-light over mine. Gentle, like the first time. I couldn't handle gentle, not right now.

“Release me,” I tried again, my anger fading into a dangerous want.

“No,” he murmured, then kissed me in earnest.

A moan escaped my throat. I rose to his challenge and kissed him back, biting at his lower lip.

Nox growled and deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with mine. Heat exploded inside me, melting my bones and setting my blood aflame.

I'd never imagined wanting something so fiercely, wanting to be devoured like this. Nothing else mattered but the slide of our mouths and the unexpected pleasure I found when he rolled his hips.

Nox shifted slightly, a hand drifted to my breast. My back arched and he nipped at my jaw.

Lips at my ear, he whispered, “No one else feels like this in my arms.”

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