Page 50 of Into The Rift

“Jago, behave yourself,” Niko said in Tygerian. “Melanius is a friend of mine.”

“Oh, I can see that.”

He took her hand and led her over to where I sat. He reached for my hand too, so that now he had both of us. “Let me introduce you. Melanius, this is Prince Jago of the kingdom of Tygeria. Jago, this is Lady Melanius, one of the consorts of the emperor.”

We looked each other up and down, and I think neither of us were overly impressed. My nostrils were flaring, and she had a look of deep disgust.

“Come and let us sit down,” Niko said, leading us back to a long, cushioned thing by the window, where the two of them sat down. I pulled my arm away.

“I’ve not finished eating yet.” Though I’d just told him I’d had enough. Well, I’d changed my mind. I stalked back over toward the table and sat down where I’d been before, though still shamelessly eavesdropping.

“Can it be true what I’ve heard, tatalus? Have you truly claimed this little boy or were you only taunting Linnius?”

He took her hand in his. “No, Melanius, it’s true. I’ve claimed Prince Jago.”

She yanked her hand from his. “He’s a boy!”

“He’s male. That much is true, but not a boy, as you call him. I have never claimed not to like men, Melanius. This is not a new development.”

“You’re seriously choosing a boy over me?”

Niko gave a long sigh. “You’re married to the emperor, and I might remind you, you’re not available. Besides, we both agreed there was nothing serious between us, except for friendship. I’d like to retain that if we can, but it won’t be possible if you continue to insult Prince Jago. Besides all that, you know that no one can control the blood lust.”

“Did you even try?” she shouted, jumping to her feet and giving first Niko and then me a poisonous look.

She stalked over toward me and stared down at me, jabbering at me in Pton. “And you—whatever your name is... You should watch what you eat and drink in Pton, you-you little blue-haired, alien freak. People have been known to find our food disagreeable. Take care you don’t do the same.”

I sprang to my feet and faced her. “Are you seriously threatening me to my face?”

I snatched up a knife from the table and with a flick of my wrist, I held it to a spot just below her eye, pressing in the tip just the slightest bit on that white skin. I applied the tiniest bit of pressure to cause a tiny trickle of blood to fall. As she felt the blood falling down her cheek, she gasped in horror.

“Dominiko, he’s scarring me!”

I knew Niko was on his feet and rushing toward us, but I got in one more remark.

“Wouldn’t you like a little something to remember me by, since you seem to be so forgetful of my name?”

“Jago, stop it this instant!” Niko shouted from right beside me, and I reluctantly let her go. She stumbled away and gave me a horrified look before turning to Niko. “I can’t believe you’d let him do this after all we’ve been to each other.”

Without waiting for an answer, she swept past me and out of the room, leaving a cloud of too-sweet perfume behind her.

It was completely silent once she left, except for the gagging sound I pretended to make. I She slammed the door behind her, and I waved my hand in the air. “What kind of scent is she wearing? It’s truly awful. Just like she is.”

Chapter Sixteen

Dominiko

Jago was quickly reminding me of what a little brat he could be. I hadn’t seen this kind of behavior since that first day on the ship when we met, and I’d almost forgotten how much it had irritated me.

I wanted badly to show him my own strength. I wanted to teach him not to do things to defy me. I wanted to turn him over my knee and spank his shapely little ass. To strip his clothes off him right there in that room and take him to the floor. To fall on top of him, bury my cock deeply inside him and fuck him until he begged me for mercy. I wanted to bite him until his blood ran down his neck and then lick it all up.

I actually took a quick, angry step toward him to do just that, when I realized I could hurt him very easily if I released my full passions on him. And I’d never hurt him.

I couldn’t.

I dropped the hand I already had raised and turned away, appalled at my anger and vowing to get a better grip on it. My passions for this boy ran too high, and I was having trouble controlling them. I clenched my hands until the fingernails bit into my palms.

When I thought I might have myself under control again, I turned back to him and he was standing just behind me, staring up at me, still with a pouty look on those pretty lips, and I was strongly tempted to kiss that right off his sweet mouth—but I restrained myself, with great difficulty. If I took him now, I might lose control and bite him. And drain him more than I meant to.

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