Page 58 of Lore of the Wicked Wood
“I…” He blinked down at her. “What?”
“A lollipop, Atlas.” She jerked her head towards the display, then spread her arms wide. “This outfit didn’t come with pockets, so I don’t exactly have any notes or coin on me.”
He made the mistake of raking his gaze over her once more, admiring the swell of her breasts and the way strands of diamonds glittered along the high cut of the bodice, barely covering her ass. Hells, she barely had anythingonher.
“Sure,” he croaked out, and pulled a gold piece from his coat. He flipped it onto the counter. “One lollipop please. And some fizzy bursts.”
The female behind the glass case handed Everinne a shiny pink lollipop with a smile, and she bounced on her toes, almost as giddy as a fae child on Winter Solstice morning.
“Mm, thank you.” She popped the hard candy in her mouth, sucked on it, and Atlas almost died. Then she pulled it out slowly, her lips gliding over it with ease. “I’ll pay you back.”
Atlas swallowed, cramming the small paper bag of fizzy bursts into his pocket. “Unnecessary.”
Her turquoise eyes snapped to him. “Why are you so angry?”
“I’m not angry.”
She swirled the glassy lollipop over her tongue before pointing it in his direction. “Yeah, you are. Your jaw is clenched, your shoulders are bunched, and there’s a vein on your neck that keeps throbbing like you’re about to combust.”
Everinne sucked the candy back into her mouth.
Fucking gods, if she twirled her tongue around that lollipop one more time—she did, and then licked her cherry red lips.
Atlas shoved his hands through his hair, blowing out a harsh breath. He stood there, barely able to breathe, and fighting with every last shred of his willpower to keep from touching her, while she licked a lollipop. And the only thing he could imagine was his cock in her mouth instead.
“So, now you’re going to ignore me?” Her tongue slid over her lips again. “You know what your problem is, Atlas?”
“What?” he ground out.
“You forgot how to have fun.”
She grabbed his hand and dragged him through the menagerie, tossing her half-finished lollipop into a waste bin, something he found himself grateful for, until she stopped in front of a wooden table lined with daggers. Most of the hilts were wrapped in leather, and the polished blades were sharpened to a fine point. Across from the table, the perfect distance for throwing, was a wheel with two binding leather straps attached to the top and bottom. The wheel itself was scored, littered with dozens of nicks from where the daggers had pierced the surface.
One of the shirtless fae males who always seemed to be loitering about the menagerie strolled over to them.
His gaze landed on Everinne. “Care for a spin?”
“No,” Atlas spat at the same time Everinne let go of his hand and said, “Absolutely.”
He reached for her but she dodged his grasp. “No way in hell, Ever.”
She spared him a look, tossing her waves of dark hair over one shoulder.
“It’ll be fine.” She smirked up at the male who watched her with covetous eyes. “I bet you never miss, do you?”
He held out his hand, flashing a too-bright smile, and she accepted. “Never.”
If Atlas could burn the whole place down, he would. Rage fired through him, fuming and seething beneath the surface of his skin. His jaw locked into place, his muscles tensed with fury. Everinne sauntered toward the wheel and while the male strapped her into place, all Atlas could think about was how easy it would be to launch a dagger into the bastard’s neck. Envy clawed through him like a beast ready to rip his throat to shreds when he knelt between Everinne’s spread legs, locking her onto the wheel.
Atlas’s pulse thudded heavily, and with each beat, only one word echoed through the storm of his mind.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
All it had taken was for him to finally admit to himself that this female was his godsdamned mate, and the keen stab of possession, the primitive desire to own her, had left him untethered.
The fae male stalked back over to the table of daggers and reached for one.
Atlas’s hand shot out, snatching the hilt of the blade. “Not a fucking chance.”
