Page 8 of Into The Rift

“Is that phrase supposed to express doubt? You and your friend in there are spoils of war now…little Prince. You’re my bounty and my hostages. You belong to me, and I’ll do with both of you just as I please. You may as well get used to that.”

Chapter Three

Lord Dominiko of the Confederacy of the Pton

I stared down at the beautiful young man in front of me and he glared right back, his eyes flashing and his full lips pulling back in a snarl to reveal small, sharp, and very white incisor teeth like the little savage he was. It was downright intoxicating.

“Do you understand me, boy?” I asked him, making my voice sharp, because I was feeling a bit amused and oddly restless with his body still so close. I wanted to show him who was in charge. My hands tingled with the feel of him, and I wanted to keep exploring him. I shook him a little as he hesitated and the answer finally spilled out of him.

“I understand,” he said, using that sarcastic tone that made my hands itch to throttle him till he passed out and then wake him up to kiss him senseless again.

“Listen to me, princeling. Stop your lies and start to cooperate if you know what’s good for you.”

I actually thought I had intimidated him for a second. Then he opened that damn smart mouth of his again.

“If I know what’s good for me? Should I tell you what I know? I know that you should be prepared for a fight if you grope me again, and I know my grandfather will be sending his men after us. You should be very afraid of that. They’ll fix you!” He growled at me then, showing me his pretty teeth again. It was outrageous and I didn’t know whether to laugh at him or show him my own.

“Well, I’m suitably terrified. Listen to me, little boy. I imagine you’re used to getting your own way about things, but all that stops now. Do you understand? You take orders from me from this point on. How old are you anyway?”

“Old enough.”

I laughed out loud at his outrageousness, and he made a scoffing sound that almost made me smile. Almost. I noticed that he had his two first fingers crossed on each hand.

“What is that sign you’re making? Are you putting a curse on me?”

“No. I’m just crossing my fingers.”

“Why?”

“It’s a kind of a wish—that everything will turn out all right.”

I didn’t like it that he sounded like a little boy—one that I had frightened.

“I told you I won’t hurt you. Everything will turn out just fine.”

I decided to let go of him anyway, while I still could, stepping back and folding my arms across my chest. It was that or pick him up and bite him, and I really didn’t want to do that. At least not yet. I wasn’t totally ruling it out though.

“You are now a hostage of the Confederacy of the Pton, and you’re my bounty.”

He snorted at the word “hostage.” I leaned in farther toward him. “I’ve been teasing you but there’s no use in any more subterfuge.”

“Then why do you keep doing it?”

Once again, I forced down the almost overpowering urge to give him a good lesson on how to show proper respect to his betters. I had feelings inside me that were still stirring, still looking for a good place on his neck to give him a bite. Maybe I’d take just a little taste.

I sniffed the side of his throat, filling my nostrils with his scent. A perfect spot, though his long hair might hide it. Not showy enough. Perhaps in front, just under his jawline... When I showed him to his family on screen, they would be sure to see it.

I stroked a hand over it, imagining the taste of his sweet blood in my mouth.

“Just how do you think I’m being deceitful?” I purred to him, my lips close to his jaw.

“Why do you think I am?” he replied, and I pulled away, staring down at the impertinent little shit.

“Gods, you’re infuriating. Stop answering my questions with one of your own.”

I was dangerously close to losing control. It was his scent, I think, sweet yet oddly exotic. I knew his blood would be delicious.

“Let me tell you something,” the little boy said, daring me provocatively. If he knew how close I was to biting him, he might not be so bold.

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