Page 70 of Savage Crown

She’s lying.

And we both know it.

I tilt my head, studying her, letting the silence stretch just long enough for her discomfort to show.

Then I smirk. “Funny. That’s not what your eyes were saying.”

Her rage ignites.

“Oh, I’m sorry—should I have clapped for you? Should I have just stood there and applauded while you let her snake her hands all over you?”

“She was trying to manipulate me.”

“No shit.” She throws up her hands, stepping toward me, close enough that I can feel the heat rolling off her skin. “And you let her. What, was it fun? Did you enjoy watching her squirm? Or were you just seeing how long it would take me to crack?”

I don’t answer.

Because she’s right.

I did let her. I let Lartina play her game, let Seraphina watch because I wanted to see what she’d do.

Because I wanted to know if she’d care.

And she does.

She’s burning with it.

“I don’t give a damn who you choose to warm your bed,” she continues, voice lower now, more dangerous. “But if you’re going to stand here and act like you didn’t enjoy every second of that, then you can go straight to?—”

I move.

Fast.

My mouth crashes against hers.

Her breath catches, sharp and startled, but she doesn’t pull away.

Her fists hit my chest once, maybe to shove me, maybe because she doesn’t know what the hell to do with this—but then her fingers twist into my shirt, gripping, pulling.

A mistake.

Because now she’s closer.

Now she’s mine to ruin.

I press her back against the wall, my hands framing her face, my body caging hers in like she might run.

She should run.

But she doesn’t.

She kisses me back, fierce and furious, biting at my lower lip like she wants to punish me for this.

Good.

Because I want to punish her, too.

For getting under my skin.

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