Page 18 of Moon Cursed

Calloused fingers traced my palm, lacing through mine. I jumped again—shocked at the tender touch.

“I didn’t say you were crazy, and I don’t think it either. I’m stuck on how such a tiny, pretty, innocent-looking package can conceal so much homicidal, diabolical rage,” he dropped, matter-of-fact. “And I’m wondering what it says about me that I find that very,verysexy.”

What did he say?

“I mean, look at this semi.”

My gaze dropped unbidden, landing on the clear and impressive bulge straining against his zipper. Heat exploded in my cheeks, and my wolf.

“It probably doesn’t say anything good about me that I’m finding you irresistibly delicious right now. No wonder Paxton calls you yummy.” Nyx was mostly talking to himself and he was still wreaking havoc on my emotions. “Maybe this is why none of my other relationships worked out. Because I like a woman who could slit my throat as easily as she’d suck my dick.”

The door to the headmistress’s office loomed ahead, beckoning me to pick up the pace. My wolf liked where he was going with this. She liked ittoomuch. Therefore, it was time to go.

“All right, well, I’m glad you’re on board. As long as you don’t tell anyone—and I mean no one—what I’ve told you, you and I are good,” I said. “No more fighting. No more back and forth. We’re allies, just like you said.”

“Great,” he replied, shrugging. “So do we do it now, or tonight? If you want candles and shit, then tonight would be better, but if you’re not that bothered, we can head up now.”

I blinked. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Completing our bond. Mating. Fucking,” he replied when I still stared at him blankly. “I gotta say, I vote for now because damn, girl”—he licked his lips, giving me my third jump scare of the morning—“you are so fucking fine and I’m straight tired of pretending I think you’re not. I will have my scoop of cherry sundae now, please and thank you.”

“That’s not—! There isn’t—! No one is having any sundaes!” I shrieked, flushing down to my toes.

He cocked his head. “Why not? We’re allies, right?”

“Allies doesn’t mean we have sex! Since when does that mean sex!?”

“Because we’re not just allies. We’re also fated mates. Only mutual hatred got in our way before. Now that we’re cool, there’s no point waiting.” The man could’ve been talking about us going out for actual ice cream sundaes with how nonchalant he sounded.

“There is a point!” My wolf was banging against my chest, trying to leap out, tackle Nyx, and devour him whole. “I—I—I have a deal with Sunella and the council,” I blurted. “I told them I would mate with one of you guys at the end of each semester. It’s the only way to make them keep up their end.”

“Oh, please. That deal is a sham and we both know it.” Nyx’s brows suddenly popped. “Ooooh, wait. I see what this is. Edric said you were surprisingly prudish about sex. You want me to seduce you.”

“What!”

“Make you feel special and all that. I can do that, I think,” he mused, rubbing the back of his head. “I’ve never had to seduce anyone before. I mean, look at me.” The asshole actually did a little spin. “Everyone wants this.”

“Go away.”

“I’m gone,” he said easily, striding off. “But I’ll be back, and you’ll be on your knees.”

“Who says stuff like that out loud!”

Nyx looked back, golden wolf eyes shining their possession over that wicked, panty-melting smirk. “Game on, baby.”

***

NYX’S WORDS, AND THATsmirk, banged around in my head for the rest of the day that I spent chilling in my luxurious quarters. I was buried alive. I earned a day off classes. Not that any of it was relaxing. Edric’s frustration at his search for Badr turning up nothing kept bleeding into my head.

Did Badr take off after trying to kill me? He didn’t have any allies in the school, so it’s possible he didn’t see a reason to stick around. But if he did run, where did he run to?

Neither Edric nor I got an answer to that by the time he blundered into my room late that night.

“Get out,” I ordered, not looking up from my book.

Naturally, he ignored me. “Badr’s room has been cleared out and his scent is all over the place, so I can’t track it, but my guess is he’s long gone.” Edric toed off his shoes and peeled off his shirt, making himself comfortable inmyroom like the jerk he was. “After he left you in the grave, he would’ve known that he’d be screwed if you managed to get out, or if I woke up in time to save you. This place is crawling with your minions, so no enemy of yours is safe.”

“Minions is another harsh word,” I murmured. “I don’t like it any more than blackmail. It all makes me sound like a mustache-twirling madman.”

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