Page 51 of The Stolen Bride

We remained just like that, close, so close, breathing in the other’s panting breaths. His intoxicating scent did its thing. Thoughts fragmented and blurred until a single urge lingered: Get another kiss.

What was wrong with me? How could I crave the male who hobnobbed with my greatest enemy?

Although… A teeny tiny sliver of hope flickered. As his firebrand, I wielded a considerable amount of influence. The most powerful ability any person could possess, in fact: the chance to change his heart, the only way to permanently change his mind.

If I took the time and applied myself, I could win him over. Make him see Valkara as his enemy too. She might be necessary to his existence, but I was, too. More so!

Calm him during a temper—check.

Wake him from a supernaturally induced sleep—check.

Snatch his allegiance from a supervillainess who whispered evil commands into his head—checkmate?

Of course, there was a good chance I was only deluding myself, rationalizing to obtain something a part of me had always desperately desired.

Viktor’s patience reached its limit. “Roland, tell Clover what I do to prisoners who attempt to escape,” he commanded without looking away from me.

“You disembowel them, Majesty.”

“Wow. Another threat. What a shocking development I never saw coming.” I notched my chin. “You need to getnew material, baby. I’m only attracted to men who bring their A game.”

Low growls rumbled in the king’s chest. “You are only attracted tome.” He lowered his head, putting his narrowed gaze level with mine. “Say it. SayI am only attracted to you, Tor.”

“Agree to cut Valkara from your life.”

“Viktor?” Bodi called, distress dripping from his voice.

Still, the king didn’t attention his attention from me. “Whatever it is can wait. I’m in the middle of reminding my captive how big, strong, and scary I am.”

With a flick of my wrist, I flipped my hair over one shoulder. “I’ve seen scarier.”

His nostrils flared as if I’d kneed him in his happy zone. “That is alie.”

“Viktor,” the prince repeated, all kinds of concern in his voice. “Something comes.”

Both Viktor and I whipped our focus to the right, where the soldiers stood statue still, fully alert, peering into the distance. When I spotted the object of their enthrallment, I blinked. A thick gray cloud rolled across the land, coming closer and closer. Pinpricks of crimson flashed within it.

A low buzzing sound reached my ears and foreboding crept over my spine. “What is it?”

“I am unsure,” Viktor replied, his tone as ominous as the cloud.

A herd of wild deer burst from a thicket just in front of the cloudy veil. The slowest of the bunch got swallowed by the haze, and its screams of agony pierced the air. My stomach bottomed out, the urge to sprint almost too strong to resist.

“Do I see…bees in the midst of the gloom?” Bodi asked.

Oh, no, no, no. The blood in my veins flash-froze.I’d bet my entire savings those “bees” were flesh-eaters.“Deco said he’d thought of everything,” I croaked. The shifter hadn’t just laid traps for us–he’d sent one. Had indeed planned for everything, as advertised.

“Go, go, go,” Viktor shouted, grabbing my hand and racing me through the camp. “You know what to do.”

We took the same path we’d used to get here, going in the opposite direction of the cloud. His men did the same and split off into groups of two, taking different routes.

“We need to get underground,” I said between huffing breaths. My heart pounded against my ribs with increasing fervor. “The trenches you dug. We can fit between the stakes and cover ourselves with dirt.”

“Nem,” Viktor growled as we sailed over the rugged terrain. “Grab any weapon you can.”

“Already did. I took yours,”I confessed. “There’s a dagger in my pocket.”

“Oh, yes. I remember.”

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