Page 63 of Of Spindles and Nightfall
“Aryana.”
She jumped at Zarathos’s voice, though she anticipated his arrival.
He looked her over, his gaze stopping on her bandaged leg. “What are you doing here?” He sniffed and a deadly rage entered his eyes. “Marbas.” He whirled, as if intent on giving pursuit and ripping the other demon to shreds.
“Wait.” She grabbed his arm, and he paused, glancing at her touch, almost in surprise. “What areyoudoing here?”
“Marbas is dangerous. You need to stay away from him,” Zarathos said.
“He wrapped my leg.”
“And what did he ask from you in return?”
She pressed her lips.
His eyes narrowed. “Never mind, I can guess. You realize, assisting him could be seen as breaking our bargain.” He reached into his pocket and he pulled out the same dark green Draught of Corruptionhe’d forced her to drink before going into the arena. “I need you to take this again.”
Her fingers curled into her palm and she stared at the potion he held out, her stomach twisting, and a fire building in her veins. Enough with the games.
“You almost killed me today.”
“You almost killed yourself today. Did our bargain mean nothing to you? You promised tohelpme win the Demon Trials, not ensure both of us died before it started.”
“What does it matter? You won’t let me live to the end.”
He pulled back, his lips parting in surprise.
“Jesir told me they don’t let the kalators survive till the end because they would be considered winners. You were planning on killing me all along,” she said.
He snorted. “As if you weren’t planning on killing me after the Demon Trials. What, Vampress? Sorry that I outmaneuvered you? Now open those pretty lips and take your dues.”
“It's not necessary.”
Anger flashed across his face. “Everything I do is necessary.”
“Even when you throw me to the demon hordes to be devoured and don’t bother to stand and watch?” Gods, she realized it was partially her fault, but still after the whole ordeal, it was the image of him turning away from her that bothered her the most.
The shadows curled at his feet. “I said before we went out that I wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t necessary. It was you who nearly exposed us.”
She wondered what he meant by exposed. Sucking on his cock, almost bringing him to his knees from pure pleasure, or something else.
With a wave of his hand, the shadows dispersed. He glanced around carefully before holding the vial closer to her. “Now take it.”
“No. You’re a monster. You’re all monsters, and I am only a pawn—”
“Of course you are a pawn,” he snapped. “You’ve known that since the outset. You really think I was going to let you live? Stop being so naïve, Aryana. You’re smarter than that.”
She bared her teeth. “I should have never made the deal with you.”
“What? Your humans aren’t worth the sacrifice of your life? Perhaps you are right. Perhaps love is weak.”
She shoved his hands away from her. “I won’t take any more of that damn potion.”
“You will take it, or I will return you to the dungeons to be tortured with the rest of them.”
She hated him. How he always had to be right. How he always held the power between them.
He sighed, his head dipping forward. “It's not as if I can walk you to my room all happy, like I’m taking you for a midnight stroll.”
