Page 545 of Flirting with Darkness

“I’m no one’s pet.” I kept my eyes on him, trying to predict his next move as I backed further away.

“What would you like me to call you, then?”

I opened my mouth, ready to snap, but didn’t get a chance to make a sound.

“How aboutYour Majesty?” A familiar voice sounded and my husband soared out of the black clouds of smoke on a flying board. “Showing every respect her title and status demand.”

“Kyllen!” I gasped, then immediately slapped both hands over my mouth, realizing I’d inadvertently given King Aigel a warning to close his eyes.

With his hood off, Kyllen had hissentiesspread out, a filigree torch with sparkling fire raised high in his hand. He was simply magnificent. My heart beat wildly in my chest at the sight of him.

He jumped off the board before it even landed and ran to me.

King Aigel jerked his wings up. With his eyes closed, he lost any advantage he might have one on one with Kyllen. His intention was clearly to flee now.

I was glad to let him go, but Kyllen jumped forward, waving his torch.

“Not so fast.”

The flames crackled. Licks of it leaped out like liquid tentacles, licking the lustrous feathers of the king’s wings. Clipping them. The king cried out in pain, frantically flapping his wings. With them clipped by fire, though, he couldn’t take off anymore, stumbling down to the ground instead.

Despite all the wrong the king had done to me, I felt no triumph seeing him at my feet, just pity.

“You took my wife.” Kyllen’s voice was sharp and ruthless like a blade. “You deserve to die.”

“Then kill me,” the king croaked. Deep disdain distorted his features. He clearly hated Kyllen, fiercely. Yet he loved life enough to keep his eyes closed.

“No.” Kyllen lowered his torch. “I’ll let you live. If you promise to never come down from the Sky Kingdom ever again.”

“You’re scared of a war with me,” the king scoffed.

“Not scared, but I prefer to avoid the hardships that a war with you would cause to my people. Promise me you’ll stay in the Sky Kingdom and keep your family, your High Lords, and your army above the clouds for as long as you live, and I will let you live past today.”

Kyllen brought the torch forward, allowing the king to feel the heat of the golden flames. The crackling sparks leaped onto his wings, searing the feathers.

The king jerked back. His ruined wings shrank to hide within his back. With them gone, he looked so much less imposing. His arrogance still simmered under the surface, ready to spring forth, but he made the effort to rein it in. He held still and silent, either calculating his next move or buying some time, maybe hoping for his people to come to his rescue.

“Give me your promise,” Kyllen urged. “Or I’ll kill you. You won’t escape this. No one will help you. They can’t see us through this smoke. And if theyseeme, they’ll die. When was the last time a gorgonian came to the Sky Kingdom, if ever? Your people have no idea who they’re dealing with when they see me. They practice no caution.” He tipped his chin at the pile of gray rocks in the distance.

The sky king couldn’t see it with his eyes closed. But I recognized the rocks for what they were. These were pieces of wings and people who had solidified into rock before crashing to the ground and breaking apart. One look into my husband’s eyes had killed them.

Kyllen was a terrifyingly dangerous creature. And I loved him with all my heart.

Still King Aigel lingered, backing away from Kyllen.

“I…”

“Promise!” Kyllen demanded, shoving the torch into the king’s chest.

The silk tunic smoldered. With a gasp, the king ripped it off over his head.

“I won’t come to the Below!” the king yelled with barely contained rage.

“Say it word for word like I told you.”

“For as long as I live, I will not descend below the clouds,” the king said with force, squeezing every syllable through his teeth. “I will keep my family, my High Lords, and my army from descending also. That is my promise.”

A swirl of magic curled from the king to Kyllen, blowing the sky fae’s dark, long hair and fluttering in the light fabric of Kyllen’s tunic. The golden-green glow shimmered in the air, descending upon the two men like light snow.

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