Page 38 of Claimed In Darkness

A test.

A fucking game.

His mouth is too close, his scent too overpowering, and fury coils in my stomach like a living thing.

I should be afraid. But I am not afraid of him.

I am terrified of the way my body responds.

Afraid of the heat curling low, of the slow, dangerous pull tightening between us like a noose.

His red eyes flicker, tracking every shift in my breath, every tiny reaction.

"You want to kill me?" he muses, dragging his lips just over my jaw. "Then do it properly next time."

I snarl, my nails digging into his wrist. "I will."

He laughs. Low. Dark. Sinful.

"You’re cute when you lie."

I hate that he’s right. I had my chance. I hesitated.

His fingers loosen, just a fraction, his breath brushing over my lips.

"Try again tomorrow, little fox," he whispers.

Slowly, he releases me.

I roll away instantly, putting as much distance between us as possible.

I don’t look at him.

I don’t acknowledge the way my skin still tingles where he touched me.

I just breathe.

Shaking.

Lava rolling under my skin, burning me inside out.

I realize?—

Perhaps I’m not trying to kill him.

Maybe I’m trying to kill whatever this is.

14

ZEPHIRAN

The road stretches before us, a vein of stone cutting through the blackened wilderness of Protheka.

The Capital waits at the end of it, its towers of obsidian and bone piercing the sky like a god’s broken teeth.

Beside me, riding on horseback, is the most beautiful, infuriating creature I have ever owned.

Naira sits too straight, too tense, her hands tight on the reins, her jaw locked in silent rebellion.

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