Page 78 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

“He’s right,” Rook said as he walked next to me. “Stay close. The people in here are the worst sort.”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Casimir beat me to it.

“We know you can handle yourself, but they will outnumber you a hundred to one. Just be sensible. That’s all we ask.” I could tell Deimos was lurking near the surface, his red eyes bleeding silver streaks. I suddenly wondered what would happen to a room teeming with criminals who were all scared shitless. The thought intrigued more than it probably should have.

I nodded slowly, unable to shake the image from my mind. Casimir’s lip curled as if he knew what I was thinking. Or was it Deimos? I couldn’t tell.

He stepped closer, his smile widening. “See something, little bird?”

My heart lurched in my chest at the pet name, my mind taking me back to the moment he had me trapped against the door.

His gaze held me captive, the silver overtaking his irises. “Are you ready to run for me?”

“Come on,” Nox whined, breaking the hold Casimir had over me. “I want to see some bloodshed.”

I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the shadows, following the direction Hawk had gone, putting some distance between Casimir and me. I didn’t trust myself around him, or Deimos. It was like the adrenaline spiked with fear was increasing the buzz my desire gave me. I wanted more. Needed more but I didn’t know how to go about asking. Maybe I just needed to run and see if he’d chase me.

As soon as I stepped into the unnatural shadows, the outside world disappeared. It was like there was a giant sound bubble blocking everything apart from the booming bass I could hear thundering up through the floor.

“Name.”

A giant Minotaur holding a clipboard stood by the entrance to the door. Holy shit! They were legendary. Fuck I had so many questions, but I suddenly couldn’t think of a single one.

He looked up from his clipboard and scowled menacingly. “Name.”

Oh, shit. “Raevyn Raathmore.”

His eyes scanned the list, and he flipped the top sheet over. “Nope. You’re not on here.”

I turned on my megawatt smile. “Were friends of Hawks’s and if you could just let us—”

“Are you fucking serious?” He looked between me and the others. “If you’re not on the list, you don’t get in.”

“My friend literally just walked in,” I said with a snap.

He snorted and I had the sudden urge to wipe the smirk off his face. “Don’t care, sweet cheeks. No name, no entrance. Now piss off.”

“Hey,” Nox started, but I held out my hand out, cutting off his words.

I stepped towards the Minotaur, and he stood taller, straightening his back to try and intimidate me. Little did he know that I was done with being intimidated.

I pulled my power to the surface, revelling in the familiarity that was coming with it. I was finding it easier to access it, I just wasn’t confident in what I was actually capable of. But I was following advice and just going with the flow.

“We’ve been invited here to visit Ares. There must be a mistake on your form, and I’d appreciate it if you would check again.”

“Listen lady, I don’t know who the fuck you think you are—”

My hand shot out, power instantly flowing trough my fingertips. The Minotaur clutched at his chest, and I felt his beating heart like it was a visceral thing. I listened to the thud of it and willed it to slow.

I watched and waited, bringing his heart almost to a complete stop. Almost, but not quite.

“That’s enough, Raevyn,” Korbin said. “You’ve made your point.”

I instantly dropped my hand and a wave of guilt washed over me as the Minotaur sputtered and coughed. I’d been so wrapped up in the feeling of power that I’d almost held him under my spell too long.

Nox grabbed my plait and yanked my head back. The movement was so unexpected that I had to clutch onto him to maintain my balance.

“That was so hot,” he said and then slammed his lips to mine. His kiss was merciless, like the man himself. He invaded my mouth with the single goal of claiming it for his own. No part of it was left untouched. He licked, sucked, bit every part he could reach and forced me to take it. He owned me with that kiss, and I was a hundred percent on board with that.

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