Page 85 of Bound in Blood

He spins around when I walk into the room, and the guys look up from what they were doing.

“Holy fucking shit, Cupcake!” Xavier exclaims while Malachi wolf whistles and Axl groans loudly, biting on his lip and tipping his face to the ceiling. The three of them crowd me and run their hands over my leather-clad skin. Grunts and groans and declarations of approval wash over me.

I look down at my new outfit: black leather pants, a tank top, and a black leather jacket. Skintight but supple and surprisingly comfortable and practical. “So you like the new look?” I ask, unable to stop myself from blushing. “It’s not too… cliché?”

“Like it? Cupcake, I love it. You look hot as fuck.” His hand slides down to my ass and gives it a squeeze.

Axl kisses my forehead. “Like an avenging fucking angel. A sexy-as-hell avenging angel.”

Malachi twirls me around and then wraps me in a hug. “You look incredible, baby.”

I glance over Malachi’s shoulder at Alexandros, who has remained silent and stoic, which isn’t unusual, but I hoped for a little more of a reaction from him.

I catch his eye. “Do you approve?”

He strides across the room and reaches us in less than a second. With one hand, he grabs the back of my neck and drags me toward him, tilting my head back with his grip. “No, Ophelia, I do not approve.” His voice is low and dangerous, and it sends a shiver down my spine. “In fact, I disapprove so much that I have half a mind to march you back into that room where I will relieveyou of every scrap of these clothes.” He presses a kiss on my lips. “After which, I will fuck your mouth before I dress you in more appropriate attire.”

As hot as that sounds, is he serious? I’d be hurt, except I sense a wicked playfulness in his tone. “And what exactly would you deem appropriate, sir?”

He runs his nose across my jawline, inhaling deeply. “Something that does not make me instantly hard every time I look at you.” His lips twitch with the faintest hint of a smirk before he swats me hard on the ass. “But alas, we do not have time for such frivolity. We must leave before Anikêtos gets any more annoyed and burns down a small village.”

He stalks out of the room, and I glance between the three guys, trying to suppress my grin. “So you think he likes it, then?”

Xavier slips his arm around my waist. “Cupcake, he is going to fuck the brat out of you for wearing this as soon as he can. Yeah, he likes it.”

I like it too, and not only because the boys love it and it seems to do something in particular to Alexandros.

I like it because it feels very much like the new me. Ophelia Hart, the girl who is about to ride home on the back of the most powerful dragon that ever lived.

Chapter

Thirty-Nine

ALEXANDROS

“So, we’re on Elpis, yeah?” Malachi asks as he eyes the spectacular green dragon preening herself in front of us.

I nod.

“Seems unfair you get the bigger, faster dragonandOphelia,” Xavier grumbles. He stumbles back when Elpis scorches the patch of grass at his feet.

I clap him on the shoulder. “She says to tell you that you are welcome to walk if you would find it more tolerable.” I suppress a smirk at the contrite look on his usually cocky-to-the-point-of-annoying face.

He holds up his hands as he gazes up at her. “I meant no disrespect. You’re an epic fucking dragon, and you’re way prettier than the other guy.” Then he places one hand over his heart. “I am actually only pissed I don’t get to ride with my girl and that they’ll get there before us.” Elpis blows a plume of smoke at him, making him sputter.

“She and Ani will fly together, Xavier. I want to ensure we all stay together and arrive at the same time.”

He coughs, waving his hand in front of his face. “Good to know.”

I turn to face the house as the others lock up, and I sense him before I see him. He appears on the stone path between the house and where Xavier and I stand waiting for Ophelia, Axl, and Malachi.

“Giorgios.” I spit his name from my mouth like the poison it is.

Two warlocks shrouded in dark hooded cloaks appear immediately at his side, and the force field they conjure around my brother glows with a faint orange hue.

I run toward him, rage fueling every step I take.

Ophelia calls my name in warning, but I pay her no mind, too mired in my determination to tear my brother’s head from his body. But when I reach him, I am met with an immovable wall. Enraged, I slam my fists against it. The warlock to Giorgios’s right simply taps the barrier with his finger, and I am thrown back with the force of energy he releases.

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