Page 106 of The Blood Crown

Ven’s thick arm wrapped around Aurelia’s waist, hauling her into the air.

Legs dangling, she tucked her knees up to her chest, using the momentum to kick down and fling both of them forward.

Planting her feet, she dug her hip into his, using the leverage to flip him over her back and throw him onto the cold, hard stone. Knee pinning his bare chest, her black blade was poised against his glistening skin before she shoved away from him.

He sat up, catching his breath with a grin. “Good—very good.”

But heat crept beneath her skin. “You think I can’t see when you hesitate just a heartbeat? Leaving gaps for me to find?” she spat, white heat sparking at her fingertips. Partly the lingering anger at the Triarchy’s dismissal—partly the fact that Ven was barely fighting back, and it was enough to make her see red.

He got back to his feet, dark brows knitting together at her sudden outburst.

“At least the others respect me enough to put me on my ass when I should be there.” She paced the floor in front of him,unable to stand still. “They don’t let me win. Because whenhecomes for me—he won’tletme win. He won’t let me walk away.” She stabbed a finger into his hard chest, immediately regretting it. “So don’t pull your fucking punches,” she bit out.

Anger scorched her senses—anger that Fate had deemed her cursed with this burden. Anger that the people she loved would suffer for it—would have to fight again because of it.

Something blazed behind Ven’s eyes, his expression unreadable as he braced his feet apart once more.

“Apologies,” he murmured, “My Queen.”

And those three words were enough of a provocation that her feet were moving before she could think.

Ven became wisps of smoke and night, only she knew his tricks now—and she whirled just as quickly, leaning into her own immortal speed.

Summoning shadows had become easy enough, but it was casting that was the true test.Becomingshadow and mist—becoming nothing—was the difficult part, and she hadn’t mastered that yet, much to her frustration.

But the powers this new body had equipped her with had become more instinctual with every hour she spent on the Ledge. She was no longer the powerless thing she’d once been.

No—she’d never been powerless, not truly.

She’d chosen to give up her power to others, and she would do that no longer.

Ven’s leg swept hers, his form corporeal once more as she fought to keep her footing. Crouching low, they circled each other, but there was no mockery to be found in his eyes. The deep pools of red darkening as they focused on her.

A predator—a Wraith.

The centuries of training were obvious in the fluid movements of his body. Graceful, despite his size.

Without warning, he lunged. Feinting toward her right, only to whirl to her exposed left, a muscled forearm under her chin, the other around her waist.

She fought like a shadecat, but she might as well have been a kitten for all the good it did.

“You have more at your disposal than that,” he whispered coldly against her neck. A sensuous caress meant to make her see red.

His forearm pressed into her throat, forcing her chin higher—another inch and he could snap her neck.

Her hands clawed against his thick biceps, every thought—all sense leaving her brain and screaming for survival.

Heat crept down her spine, flooding her veins as she flattened her palms against his arms, delighting in the growl of annoyance as he released her, red imprints on his skin where her hands had been.

Delight glimmered in his eyes as they circled each other once more. His mouth curved into a smirk, fingers crooked toward her in dark invitation.

Chapter 54

Bone-tired, Aurelia pulled herself from the stone tub, the water cold now.

Her nerves had been frayed raw, and even the stolen moments with Ven were not enough to keep her mind from straying to what awaited them.

It was the calm before the storm, and she didn’t trust a second of it.

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