Page 55 of The Daughters of Nyx

The latter, obviously. Of course, someone like Elias didn’t want to be seen likethatwithme.

I swallowed hard, trying to squash my own anger, but it threatened to explode from my chest. “You’rethe one who started getting a little close, Elias, and she noticed that. The moment you started getting protective, she saw her opportunity.” I sucked in a calming breath. “Look, just have dinner with us. Play the part of my boyfriend. And in a week, I’ll tell her we broke up. I’ve been trying to get her off this for a while. Just…work with me on this, okay?”

His eyes darkened and he leaned in, nostrils flaring as he breathed in.

I waited for him to say no; waited for the inevitable bark of laughter as he shook his head and looked at me like I was crazy. Because that’s what I was, wasn’t I? Crazy for thinking Elias could possibly pretend like he liked me long enough to get my mother off my back?

“You know what?” I said, pushing his chest. He stepped back in surprise, and I tried to ignore the tingling sensation that ran through me at the touch. “Don’t bother. I’ll call her in a couple of days and say we broke up. That’ll be easier than dealing with all of…this.” I waved my hands around, motioning to his general person. “Are we done? I’m tired and have a lot of work to do.”

Before I could push past him, Elias had his larger hand wrapped around my upper arm. In one quick movement, he had me shoved up against the wall again, but this time I wasn’t entirely sure if he was in control of himself.

His dark green eyes glowed, flecks of amber igniting like fire in his irises. I swallowed hard as he pushed himself against me, each hard line of his body fitting snugly against the soft planes of my own. I could feel his thickness harden against my stomach, something that sent a deep thrill through me.

Elias bared his teeth as his eyes dipped to my lips. My own danced down to his mouth; I caught the subtle lengthening of his canines.

Maybe I should have been afraid, but desire pooled in the pit of my stomach as he tensed against me. I wanted him, and maybe that made me crazy, because overall, he was kind of a grumpy dick. But there was a pull to him I didn’t understand; one that rushed through me and ignited a fire within me that wouldn’t be quenched.

Elias lowered his head, his nose brushing the soft skin of my neck. I held myself still as he breathed me in. “Ivy…” he growled, teeth nipping my earlobe.

A soft moan escaped my lips before I could stop it, and I felt his body harden even more—if that was possible.

“You should be running, Angel,” he said, lips brushing my cheek, breath fanning against my suddenly hot skin.

Fuck, I really should. This was insane.

And yet, I couldn’t make myself move.

Elias trailed a hand down my side, the warmth of his skin impossibly potent, despite my layers of clothing. When he stopped at the dip of my hip, I gasped as his fingers dug into the soft flesh, tight enough to leave a bruise, but I couldn’t bring myself to worry about that.

I wanted more of him, more of his touch.

I arched into him, seeking more. I wanted to feel his teeth against my neck. Lips on mine. Cock buried inside me.

His hands were ripped away, and suddenly he was across the alley, eyes wide. Elias’s chest heaved as he glared at me with so much rage, that I wanted to shrink back.

Bile rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Instead, I cast my gaze away from him and stared out at the quiet street. Humiliation burned its way up my neck to my cheeks.

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything to Elias as I stepped around him. But I could feel the burn of his anger against my back the entire walk home.

19

ADRIAN

COOL, autumn air burned my cheeksas Rowan and I ran through one of the small parks littering the city. The green oval was bare. The few trees that scattered the park were barren, save for a few brown leaves hanging on for dear life.

Rowan and I kept pace, our breaths shallow as we ran. Dark clouds hung over the city, a warning for rain, one that we both tried to ignore for as long as possible.

My mind kept replaying my last real conversation with Ivy.I did trust you, Adrian. With a lot. And now I’m questioning everything you’ve done.Had I potentially fucked everything up completely? Had I broken whatever fragile friendship I’d had with her?

The run was supposed to clear my head, and instead I found the anger only growing. How could I prove to her that I meant what I’d said? That what I’ddonewith her actually meant something to me?

Could it mean anything anyway?a dark voice whispered in my head.She’s going to find her mates soon, and you don’t want to ruin that for her, either.

I pushed myself harder, relishing in the burn that followed. Rowan swore somewhere behind me but picked up his pace so we could stay together. I could almost feel the burn of his questions as we ran, but I wasn’t sure what I could say. Not when I knew he was suffering too.

He didn’t want to admit it, but the more he pushed himself away from Ivy, the more he hurt. I wanted to tell him that I understood his pain, and yet, I didn’t want to admit just how fucking stupid I was when it came to her.

I didn’t want him to resent me, either.

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