Page 37 of House of Mages and Raven

Barbie could barely keep her eyes open within me now. She hadn’t slept well, always plagued by nightmares. I could pull her pain into me, but I couldn’t help her when she had night terrors. It was good that she could get some shuteye now, and I was handling her affairs like a badass. She could count on me.

I headed straight toward the closet, flung it open, and stooped to scoop up the shoebox. It was heavy. I grinned. Noone had gotten their claws in Barbie’s treasure. But I intended to double-check and count every piece first.

I carried the shoebox and slid onto the bed, crossing my long legs in a meditative pose, which I’d copied from Barbie. I opened the lid and smiled at all the shinies—not that I coveted them, since they could do nothing for me, but I pictured the beaming look of approval on Barbie’s face when she pawed at the trinkets that I was bringing back for her.

I started to count the pieces the house magic had obtained for Barbie. My fingers plucked out the pink diamond Rowan had given Barbie so he could be with me. It was small, but the color was so pure and lovely. Pink light glinted off it. I studied the diamond, pride brimming in my chest. I’d earned it fair and square. I’d fucked the fae prince good and hard, making him come three times.

Ever since I’d earned Barbie a diamond, her respect toward me had increased tenfold.

I lost count of the pieces of jewelry as my thoughts kept drifting to Rowan, lust humming in my blood. Then I re-counted them, using all my fingers and toes, going back and forth. Before I got to the next toe, the door flew open, and the roguishly good-looking heir of the House of Chaos stood in the doorway, barefoot.

Barbie surged up like a little shark smelling a drop of fresh blood, fully awake now.

I tilted my head to the side, regarding the heir who had broken Barbie’s heart and made her so jaded that she wasn’t even excited about getting to watch me fuck my sugar Rowan later tonight.

The chaos prince’s hair was tousled, as if he’d just rolled out of bed. Had he been fucking another female—his betrothed queen, probably? Rage engulfed me. I’d take down his bitch if she was here. I’d punch her to half-death in front of him, theneat half of her face and leave the other half for all to see. The chaos heir would regret fucking others instead of Barbie. He’d come crawling back to her and beg for her forgiveness. Only then would she fuck him again. And she’d thank me for removing the obstacle for her.

Barbie hissed, her eyes spitting fire. She lurked deeper, but I knew her better than anyone else. When my goddess soul sister was quiet, she was her most dangerous and vicious self. Didn’t they warn about the quiet ones? When Barbie pounced, there’d be a catastrophe.

I grinned at the prospect as I sniffed at the chaos princeling to single out another female’s stench on him. Confusion sparked in my eyes. There was no other woman’s scent on him. Then it dawned on me that he’d rushed here from his bed to catch me. I hadn’t heard him coming even with my superior hearing, because the prince had cloaked himself to sneak in here when he sensed that Barbie had returned.

Barbie was here, of course, but she hadn’t exactly manifested. The two of us had confused Rowan a great deal too, since he’d been in our proximity and intimate with me at the same time. Killian was now showing the same bewilderment. He narrowed his eyes, not liking it.

“Who the fuck are you?” he demanded, menace rolling off him.

I grinned, a bit flirtatiously, as I loved to fool around. I hadn’t had many chances to play, so whenever I was presented with an opportunity, I wasn’t going to pass it by.

Barbie growled.

Wooo, possessive,I purred.

“I’m Sy,” I said. “You must’ve heard of me.”

“No one has heard of you,” he said harshly, then a slow spark of recognition ignited in his storm-blue eyes. “You’re Rowan’sside dish. Wasn’t it you he screwed outside Underhill the other night?”

“So you paid attention and had your eyes on me, prince.” I beamed. “That was a good fuck, but I’m not his side dish. I’m the main dish.”

“Who gives a fuck?” he said, his gaze not even roaming over me, not viewing me as a catch, despite my delightful beauty and super-sexy outfit.

My leather breastplates barely covered my bosom. My waist was slim, which was the current fashion. Mortals and immortals were obsessed with hourglass figures, which I owned without apology. My short leather skirt showcased my supermodel long legs that many females would die for.

“Why are you in Barbie’s room?” he demanded again. “Why the fuck are you carrying Barbie’s scent? Where is she?”

I grinned at him, loving his undivided attention. He was an intense, powerful male, and I fed on such men’s attention.

“So many questions, prince,” I purred. “Where should I start? Which question should I answer first?”

Quit playing,Barbie ordered me.Just put the jewels back in the shoebox, grab the box close to your chest, and get the fuck out of here.

Chill your tits,I said with a shrug.The fun just started.

There’ll be no fun with Killian, dumbass!she said.He’s more brutal and ruthless than he appears. The more you expose yourself in front of him, the more danger you’ll put us in.

Don’t we love a bit of danger? It’s begun to get boring here,I said, offended at being called a dumbass.While you’ve gone soft, I have not. We will show the princeling who’s more dominant. He’ll grovel for all the heartache he dealt you, and he will regret dumping you like last week’s trash.

She bristled, then quieted immediately as she peered out and saw that Killian had become eerily quiet, as if he could hear her or feel her, even though she was hiding within me.

Run!she commanded.

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