Page 24 of An Empress of Earth & Darkness

After she’d growled at him for a few seconds, she asked, “Artem, what the fuck was that?”

“What?” he asked as he placed his weapons back on his belt.

“Showing up here and going all hunter crazy on my new boyfriend.”

“He…is not your new boyfriend.” He placed his large hands on his hips. “I would know if you had a boyfriend. You’ve already played this trick on me.”

Oh shit, she had forgotten about that.

“If I wanted him as my boyfriend, I could have him.” She pursed her lips.

“You could have anyone you wanted.” His golden eyes softened to a warm liquid, and his hard features relaxed.

He was the kind of handsome that made your heart swim up your throat and your lungs punch into your chest.

He was the summer rain she so desperately needed right now.

Her heart stuttered, and she took a breath in.

“I am not doing this shit with you.” She turned before she could feel anything else and began running from what made her coldness melt. This wasn’t good for her.

“Wait, stop,” he commanded from behind her.

“Fuck off, Artem.” She flipped him off.

Before she knew it, his massive form was in front of her.

Well, she did have heels on. That was the only explanation for him being quicker.

“You need to hear me out,” he said, all jests gone from his face.

She halted with a sigh. “What part of off you fuck does your brain does not comprehend?”

He fought a small smile before collecting himself. “I am here on official business for the Empress of Air.”

She straightened.

“Emara?”

He nodded.

“But I just saw her.”

“Well maybe if you hadn’t been avoiding me, she could have told you the news herself.”

Breighly swallowed down a smile as she bit her lip. Maybe she wasn’t as sneaky as she thought. “She could have sent whatever she needed to me by fireletter. That’s what she normally does. Are you just making up excuses to see me now?”

He grinned a little. “She didn’t want to write to you, not for this.” His eyes dazzled in amusement.

Why would Emara not want to fireletter her?

“I am listening.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You have one minute to impress me before I shove my foot into your favourite area.”

“Your mouth?” His cheeky smile rode across his face like a wave.

She bit back a laugh. “Shut up. What is this official business, then?”

He crossed his arms too. “Excuse me, but I have had less than a minute to impress you before and succeed.” His nostrils flared as he grinned, and his tiny silver nose ring glinted under the moonlight. He quickly placed his hands over his crotch, knowing she was three seconds away from kicking him.

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