Page 59 of A Crown of Darkness

Finn’s head turned sharply, his dark gaze fixing on her. A reaction then. That was good, wasn’t it?

‘Come here,’ she said. ‘I want you to do something.’

He obeyed without questioning, because that was what he did now – obeyed her, worshipped her, killed for her – and came to a halt, towering over her. She reached out and touched his face, running her fingers along his jaw and feeling it tense beneath her touch. He let out a breath, a single, juddering breath that spoke of desire and fear and a thousand emotions all tangled together.

‘What would you do with me, Finn? Your will is your own, do you understand? I release you.’

For a moment she thought he wouldn’t move, wouldn’t answer. Everything was so still she was sure she could hear his heart thudding against his chest. Or maybe that was hers.

Then he pulled her into his arms and his mouth closed on hers, devouring her.

CHAPTER 33

FINN

The darkness was everywhere, within him, shrouding his mind and clogging his veins, crushing his heart. And Finn didn’t care. How could he care? He belonged here. He had always belonged here. The shadows of the Nox were all there was and his life with anything or anyone else was over. Any dreams he might have clung to, any hopes he might have cherished – they were nothing now. They had petrified and crumbled in that treasure-filled cave, where the Nox had showed him his lineage, and their past, and all the terrible things they had done.

The blood of the Nox’s child was on his hands as surely as it had stained those of his ancestors. That was how it worked. No generation was untainted by that action. It had bound them to power and they had all benefited, becoming stronger, faster, chosen and blessed by the shadows. But it was the revenge of the Nox as well. She was hungry, and determined, and oh so cunning, his goddess.

And now she had him. There was no choice, no free will. All that he lived for was to defend her. And…and Wren…somehow.

But she was still Wren. Or would be. Her soft, seductive voice told him that, promised him. Shadow kin whispered in his ears, keeping him still and quiet until the need for violence presenteditself again. He had only to obey. His body was theirs, his mind just a toy really, a plaything to torment. The armour enclosed him, locked him away, and made him stronger and faster, and so much more deadly. Nothing could harm her when he wore that armour and stood at her side. That was the key thing. He would allow nothing and no one to harm her.

Not even if they wore the face of a friend. Not even if they looked like Roland.

Or Anselm. Or Olivier…

Come back to yourself, my friend…

For a moment, that brief moment, a light had touched him. He’d seen it so far overhead that it was like a star in the night’s sky. But it was distant and unreachable. And he was lost.

He had to accept that, the shadow whispered and the Nox murmured sweet reassurances. This was right. This was his place, where he belonged, and he believed it.

He had failed in every other way. Here he could keep her safe. He owed her everything and had so much he needed to make amends for.

The Nox… Wren…

‘What would you do with me, Finn?’

It was her voice, reaching out to him. Her touch against his skin. He breathed in her scent and his mind spun. What would he do with her?

Whatever she wanted…

The Nox purred with the idea and part of him recoiled again.

‘Your will is your own, do you understand?’

No. That wasn’t right. It couldn’t be right. And yet, she was saying it. Wren was saying it, and whatever his lady said, that was his only desire. Except…except…

A growl rippled through him. It didn’t come from him, but from the Nox. It knew what she was trying to do and it didn’t like it.

‘I release you,’ Wren said.

What did he want? What would he do with her? Protect her, cherish her. Love her.

He would love her. That was what he wanted. That was all he wanted.

She was in his arms, her body pressed to his and he kissed her like a drowning man seeking air.

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