Page 57 of Of Rime and Ruin
The sensitive skin blooms beneath his touch, sending shocks of sensation through my body. I grit my teeth and obey. I know when I’m defeated.
Good girl.
I quiver in his grasp. And, fuck me, maybe it’s the deep rumble of his voice. Or the pressure of his hand on my neck, his thumb stroking as I sing softly to maintain our connection. His body pressed against me, swallowing mine whole. Or the sheer joy that swims in his mind at the thought of me, like he’s seeing the sun for the first time. But my insides turn to mush, and the hidden slit in my tail softens and swells.
I wave my hand, trying to clear the scent from the water.
He inhales. Recognition dawns, and his thoughts darken.Sunfish is—he searches for the right word—hungry?
There’s an edge of humor to his inner voice. At the sound of it, my arousal strengthens.
Shit.
This is out of hand. I try to retreat, sucking my mind out of his grip. But as I withdraw, the shadows in his mind rear and take hold, pinning me with freezing tendrils. Sucking me back in.
No, he says. His thumb strokes my gills, tracing the soft ruffles.Stay.
The Rime sprawls before us, drowning in the hues of midnight. I strain to see into the darkness.
A sour taste fills my mouth. Where is he taking me, if not out of the Rime? His lair? I imagine a cave full of squirming hatchings, mouths gasping for the feed, and I shiver.
No. I will not go down like live bait. Even if he’s friendly about it.
I’m the godsdamn Princess of the Brine—a stupid one, but a princess nonetheless—and Iwillbreak free of this place. Of the king and his wretched Beast.
How stupid was I to think he’d listen to me? That my little “we’re friends” routine would work on such a complex, dark being?
He’s murderous. Angry. Manipulative. I sense it in his thoughts as he pins me in place against his body, his hands squeezing me tight. If he squeezes any harder, he’ll crush me.
So I abandon my pride. Time to grovel.Please. Please take me away from here, oh mighty Beast.
He snorts, bubbles tickling my hair.Beast.
Please. Out of the Rime. What do you want? What can I give you? I’ll let you come with me. Are you trapped here, too? Do you want to leave?
I concentrate on my memories of the sun. Warm water. Golden rays.
His tail thrashes, as we turn again, lifting from the seafloor into open water.Can’t leave.
We pass through a swarm of silverfish, and he snatches one from the cloud, slurping it into his mouth. His jaw works against the top of my head, crunching the bones.
I can hunt for you. Any prey you want, it’s yours. I’ll help you. It tastes better when I hunt. You might like a sunfish. Come, let’s leave the Rime and I’ll catch you a whole swarm.
Sunfish.His hand slides from my neck, tracing the length of my arm. He finds my hips, and his claws curl into my scales.
Sure. We can hunt sunfish. All yours. No problem, big guy. Let’s go get them.
His claws dig deeper, pricking the surface of my skin beneath the scales. Pain springs, and I scent my blood in the water.
Mine.
My ass bumps against a protrusion between his legs. His hidden sheath, bulging, flexing behind me. A flash of affection in his thoughts. Then,Cute.
Fuck. That’s not what I meant. This is not what I want.
We’re approaching the surface. The lights dance in the sky overhead, like a rainbow painted against the blackness. I suck in their beauty through watery vision.
Come on. Take me out of here. The king will never know.
