Page 49 of Blood of Two Crowns

Somnus was already there waiting for me, starry eyes and all. Though the cosmos whirling in his black eyes did nothing to soften his hardened features.

“Never, in all my years, have I met such a conniving?—

Fuck.

I willed myself calm. It was hard to keep mental barriers intact when you were half asleep. And if I let my impatience oranger get the best of me, I’d be swiftly returned to my physical body.

“Before you get all judgy,brother?—

“Would-be brother-in-law?—

I rolled my eyes, mentally taking deep breaths to remain calm. “Potato-tomato.”

Somnus’ eyes narrow. “I believe you mean,po-tay-tow, po-tah-tow.”

Deep breath in, deep breath out. Gooz-frah-bah-and-what-not.

“You know precisely what I fucking mean,”I snapped.

“What do you want, Azrael? You can’t possibly be daft enough to ask for my help when you’ve just?—

“I know where yoursoulboundis.”

Somnus’ eyes narrowed with suspicion before his features slackened in realization. Something sinister took hold of his expression, and he stepped toward me, holding my gaze and luring me into his realm via the twin portals of his eyes. His magic, carrying both the soothing calm and theweightof all the oceans in all the realms, pressed against the barriers of my mind.

“You would dare withhold my soulbound from me?”

Oh fuck. I’d forgotten how powerful he was.The male was calm and otherwise, so benevolent and kind that he could easily be underestimated. And if it weren’t for the thick muscular sinew of his tall body, perhaps even mistaken for weak. If I allowed him to continue, he would easily break through the barriers protecting my mind from him and steal my only bargaining tool.

Or discombobulate my psyche into mush. I imagined it would take exceedingly little effort for him to have me drooling on myself and babbling like an infant if he so wished.

Sweat trickled down my back as I gripped hold of the cord binding his soul to his corporeal form and gave it a firmyank.He stumbled forward, glaring up at me as he caught himself.

“You would do the same if it meant findingyoursoulbound.”

Somnus’ jaw feathered. Even he, one of the most morally upright beings I’d ever known, had a dark side that could be easily ensnared when using the right bait.

Whatwouldn’twe do for those we love?

“What favor do you ask of me?”

I heaved a sigh of relief. I hadn’t been entirely sure he’d be agreeable, being so… righteous and all.

“I need you to alter a few memories.”

“You’ve dosed them with the River Oblivion, I’m not a fucking miracle worker.”

“Just a drop! It’ll be easy for you to rearrange things and erase a few…people.”

Somnus remained silent for several moments, burning a hole through my face with his judgemental gaze that.

“You’re a sick fuck, you know that?”

“Mmmm, yes… And you’re going to do my bidding so you can unite with your ownsoulbound.What does that make you?”

“Guilty.”

I gave him a saccharine smile. “I’msohappy we’re on the same page, darling.”

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