Page 46 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

A hand wrapped around my throat and my head landed on his shoulders. It was then that I caught my first glimpse of the creature inside Casimir. His face still had the same lines, but they were harsher, sharper, like you knew you’d lose a finger if you traced his jaw, but it’d be worth it because he was so goddamn beautiful.

Thick, dark runes, like the ones on his chest, ran in lines beneath his eyes and over the apples of his cheeks and his eyes were silver with streaks of red, almost like Casimir was trying to bleed through.

His fingers pinched my jaw, holding me in place. “I can’t wait to own you, little bird.” He swiped his rough tongue from my chin, over my mouth and all the way across my cheek to my ear. “But before then, I’m going to break you. I’m going to make you run. Will you run for me?”

My breath hitched in excitement and fear. “Who are you?”

His smile stretched against my cheek. “Your worst nightmare.”

Fear flooded my veins, and I had the urge to run. I wanted to escape, but I also wanted to stay. Just to see what he would do to me. I could feel a violence lingering in the air and I wanted to feel its bite against my skin. I shouldn’t. I knew it wasn’t a normal thing to crave, but, as he stood there, rocking his erection against me and ghosting his mouth over my exposed skin, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to give in to the darkness.

“What’s your name?” I asked again.

“Why? Do you want to scream it for me?”

Holy fuck.

My core clenched and dripped with pure need, his words sending a jolt of pure electricity sparking in my core.

“Yes,” I said on an exhale.

He moaned, deep and guttural. “So fucking perfect.”

Then he stepped away and I instantly felt his loss. But he only took one step. I could still feel the heat of his body behind me. There, just within reach. I could take a step back and I’d feel him against me again, but I didn’t. I stood there, knowing he was watching every breath I took, and I let him. I waited, the sensation of him watching me making my knees tremble.

“My name is Deimos. Now, run little bird. Run fast, because I’m coming for you.”

I didn’t need telling twice. I grabbed the handle and ripped the door open, stumbling across the threshold into the cool night beyond.

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the low light, but someone was shouting my name. Hands grabbed my arms, and I was suddenly looking at a very pissed off, very angry Moroi.

Chapter Twenty-One

Hawk

“What the fuck happened?” I asked, my words angry and harsh.

Raevyn was pale and her eyes were wild, darting everywhere as if she were looking for something.

“Where is he?” she asked.

I gripped her shoulders, dragging her attention to me. “Who?”

“Deimos.” Fear had blown her pupils wide and I knew why.

I thought he’d been lost. Vanished with some of the old Gods. How the fuck did he end up stuck inside Casimir?

“Fuck, no!” a woman yelled. “I’m not sticking around for that.”

I turned round to find Rook and Nox scrambling to keep hold of the woman whose soul we were here to collect.

“The vial!” Nox shouted. I grabbed it from Raevyn’s belt and shifted into my shadows to propel myself over Nox and Rook.

“No!” The witch screamed and magic flew from her fingers, a dark green collection of sparks that hit the Rook dead in the chest. He instantly dropped to the ground and started to spasm as if he were having a fit.

Raevyn screamed as Rook hit the floor, and she charged towards him. But I couldn’t worry about them now. Not when we had a soul to capture.

Nox lost the fight to contain her, suffering a nasty slice across his face for his troubles. It would heal quickly but it certainly added a roguish charm to his features. Not that I’d tell him that. His ego was big enough already.

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