Page 83 of Gemini Queen
“Projecting again, huh?” I say glumly, my spirits taking a nosedive. “Damn. I’m working on that.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, darling.” He smirks so insufferably I want to slap him. “If I don’t want you inside my head, rest assured you won’t get past my defenses. I’m telepathically linked withhim, because that’s what he likes. Which means I had a fucking front-row seat for your gazebo porn.”
Well, shit. This is concerning. I didn’t realize everything I share with Ronin I’m also sharing with Vasili, and I’m definitely not crazy about the concept.
But it’s important that I not get distracted myself.
“Why do you care who I fuck, Vasili?” I’m determined to get it out of him. “You know I’m leaving. You’rehelpingme leave.”
By now he’s reached the circular couch. He sprawls in it, spreads his arms across the back to keep me from claiming any of his real estate, and scowls at me. “Indeed those are the current terms of our arrangement. I trust you’re fully aware that arrangement constitutes the one and only reason I’m not an active accomplice to whoever on this island is hunting for your head. Should you happen to change your mind about leaving… should you renege on your vow to abdicate… the terms of our temporary peace treaty are history. Then you’d better watch your back.”
Well, at least now I know where I stand. He helped me fend off Zerxes because he thinks a powerful warlock and committed monarchist like our prof might persuade me to stay.
Maybe he even thinks I’m weak enough and dumb enough to let Zerxes seduce me into staying.
“You know something? Those assumptions you’re making about me are offensive on so many levels I’d need a calculator to keep track.” I glare down at him, sprawled with effortless glamor across his monster couch, and barely restrain the urge to kick him in the balls.
“Hmmm. If the shoe fits, Cinderella,et cetera.” Seemingly indifferent to my fuming, he slips a little silver mirror and a wand of lip gloss from his pocket and starts touching up his makeup.
Despite my fury at his condescending attitude, I’m thoroughly distracted by how sexy he looks doing it. In fact, it’s so distracting watching that slender wand glide over his perfect mouth, clear gloss framing those sharp little fangs of his, that it’s practically mesmerizing.
I find myself wondering if he bites with those fangs when he fucks.
And how much Ronin likes it.
The deep gong of the church bell vibrates through the commons, which is my cue to vamoose to my next class.
But I’m not quite ready to let this serpent slither free.
“You do realize, Goblin King, that I’ll actually have to go with you now to that fucking dance? Or Zerxes will know we lied so I could get out of detention. And he’ll take it out on me.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. We’ll put in an exceedingly brief joint appearance, then go our separate ways.” His glacial eyes slide over me with disdain. “I trust you’ll find something appropriate to wear. I’ve certain appearances to uphold at this Academy.”
“Hey, no worries, bad boy. I’ll dress to impress.” I pop my hip like a runway model while I think briefly and unhappily about the collection of schoolgirl uniforms in my wardrobe. I’ll have to persuade Racetrack to loan me something. Her edgy vibe’s a lot closer to mine than the soft feminine style Dez cultivates.
“Hmmm.” Vasili tucks away his cosmetics and flicks an unimpressed look over my posturing form. “We’ll finish this delightful discussion at our midnight rendezvous, shall we? For now, I’d advise you to hurry along. You’re running late for Double Witchcraft, and Lucius doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
“For someone who doesn’t give a shit, you seem pretty fucking familiar with my schedule.” I frown, because I do have two back-to-back Witchcraft sessions—basically a big fat independent study with Lucius—that just got added to my schedule this morning.
“Rest assured I don’t give a single incendiary damn about your piddling academic schedule.” Vasili bares his sexy fangs in a scowl. “I’m tracking Lucius because the two of us are taking care of something for Ronin. Now run along before you begin to annoy me, little queen.”
My temper spikes to match his. “Till midnight then, asshole. And if you pull a no-show, I’m going to show up in your fucking bedroom.”
He looks so horrified by that prospect I almost laugh. There’s actually nothing that would induce me to show up in the snake den this pit viper calls a bedroom, but he’s so freaking arrogant he believes it.
I leave him completely appalled over the nonexistent possibility of my late-night visit to his bed and head off to the belfry to find Lucius.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lucius
There’s a winter storm brewing and the wind up here in the church belfry is wicked, but my wolf enjoys the wild weather. The moon will be nearly full tonight, and it’s a supermoon this month to boot, which makes both of us unusually edgy.
My wolf is itching for another long lope on the wooded slopes. I’m more than inclined to indulge him, since I desperately need to blunt the edge of my own savage appetites.
Given the fraught situation at thedomus, that blunting of the edge can’t possibly occur soon enough to pacify me.
In fact, our young queen has my household’s entire male cohort on edge. There’s a queen killer lurking, she refuses to claim her power and save our failing races, and I’m responsible for her education, her safety, and thus the survival of the entire witching world. Yet her powerisrising, whether she claims it or not, along with her sexual allure. For a warlock, there’s nothing more compelling—even irresistible—than an unclaimed queen.
