Page 32 of Heavy is the Crown
Drago’s threat still lingers in my mind. I have no doubt he’ll figure out a way to send me home if things get bad enough. Anger briefly pulses through me at the idea, an urge to run, to show Drago he can’t control me. It is a reaction that comes from years of being inhibited by my family. A reaction that is unfair for Drago to be on the receiving end of. Despite all that, I still have the itch in my skin to escape the penthouse tonight.
“Fuck it,” I mutter, grabbing my makeup. I paint my eyes with kohl, the wings elegant and thin. I brush on more blush and bronzer than I should, but I need to look somewhat more alive than I currently do if I plan to leave this place tonight. I end up leaving my hair down in waves that caress my back.
I walk over to my closet, bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as I look through my options. In the end, I opt for comfort. The long black maxi dress hangs loosely off my left shoulder, and two slits expose my legs up to the hip on either side. Pulling on some gold bangles over my wrists and attaching dangling gold earrings, I assess the look in the mirror. As much as people say they like outfits that leave nothing to the imagination, I’ve found more people flock to me when I’m dressed like this. Simple with a hint of mystery.
Looking down at my options for shoes, I curse when I realize I don’t have the energy to put on the strappy gold sandals I want and instead have to opt for my plain white slip-on sandals. While comfortable, they do nothing for the outfit.I guess I’ll go barefoot tonight once I get there.Taking a deep breath, I look at myself once more in the mirror. My kohl-lined eyes stand out starkly against my skin, and despite the blush, I still look a little too pale. My blonde roots have started to peek through my pink hair, and I make a mental note to fix that. I sometimes toy with the idea of going back to blonde, but despite it making me feelconnected to home, I hate that it reminds me of my time with Alexi. So, I keep the pink to remind myself I got out. To remind Shadow I got out.Hegot me out.
As if those thoughts summoned him into existence, I spot his tall body leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his muscular chest as I enter the bedroom. Drago is slung casually over a red armchair in front of the fireplace. Their contrast is sharp. Drago bleeds confidence, a danger that shimmers below the surface, whereas Shadow holds a darkness around him that is toxic and all consuming.
“Where do you think you're going?” Shadow asks, his eyes trailing over my body in a path that sets me on fire. I’m both cursing my dress choice, given how easy it would be to scent my arousal, and loving that it would be so easy, on the off chance he decides to finally give in to that need we both have.
“To work,” I say. My voice is flat and leaves no room for argument. “Where have you been all afternoon?” I raise my eyebrow at him, a challenge.
“Absolutely not,” Shadow says, ignoring my question.
Disbelief moves through me like a tidal wave. “I most certainly did not ask permission to go to my place of work. I’m telling you I’m going.”
“It’s not safe,” he grinds out. I can practically taste the flames he is dying to spit out. I should stop, back down, but I can’t now. I’ve dug my heels in and refuse to give an inch.
“It was safe enough last night, what changed?” I ask.
Neither say anything, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Drago is pulling back, now that he knows just how depleted I am. I shoot a glare over at the bastard as he continues to silently watch our sparring match like he’s at a fucking tennis game.
“The Playground is the safest place around,” I argue. “Cordelia isn’t going to show up there. Let's be honest, no oneis getting past my magic. Besides, she knows Astrea and Ciaran aren’t around.”
“No, but she might look foryou,” Drago says. “Or someone else might be.” I glare at the traitor, despite my stomach sinking at his words. “Were you planning on telling us about the two shifters who showed up last night with Kallen?”
Well, shit.“I didn’t bring them. Take it up with Ciaran.”
Shadow growls low. “They were Primal Knights, Ava. You should have fucking said something. And with no magic, you were unprotected.”
“More reason for me to be at my own club. Like I said, nothing is getting in.” I step forward, and Shadow moves to block the door. Samhain looses a warning caw at him, fluttering closer to the fray. The movement from Shadow switches something in my brain, turning the rational side off and leaving nothing but the anger I feel toward his consistent rejection of our bond. “You don’t get to have a say in this. Not when you don’t care otherwise,” I say. “You made your choice last night, and it wasn’t me.” He flinches. I step closer to him. “Now. Get. Out. Of. My. Way.”
“Ava,” Drago says in warning, seemingly done with being a passive observer. But I ignore him, holding Shadow’s glare with my own hardened one. I know it was a low blow, but my hurt and anger is boiling over.
“You can’t keep me here,” I say to both of them, though my eyes stay on Shadow, locked in a standoff with him that goes beyond this moment here. We are one altercation away from coming to blows, me and Shadow. This dance we keep doing is grinding us down. His whiskey eyes are almost begging me to release him, while my own silver ones hold strong, refusing to bow. The need to have my mates feels like the worst craving imaginable. As though I’m coming off a binge on Eufori and my body is desperate for the next hit. I need him to understand whatI’m going through without them, what he is choosing to put me through while he refuses to face his issues.
I hear Drago let out an exasperated sigh, his frustration evident. I think I also hear him mutter something about being cursed with bratty mates before I’m suddenly pulled tight against his body. His breath plays over my neck, and the contact sends jolts of need through me. I squeeze my thighs together, desperate for some friction, and Shadow’s eyes zero in on the movement, gold flashing across them.
“If you go, one of us will always be with you. You will listen to us, obey us. No matter what,” Drago says. “You will tell us if some other fucking shifters show up onourturf.”
“What, so Shadow gets to fuck around, and I don’t? He gets to come and go without so much as a word, but I don’t tell you one thing, and suddenly I shouldn’t be allowed to my own gods damn club?!”
I can’t keep my eyes locked on Shadow’s when I say the next words. “Don’t think I didn’t smell that cheap perfume on you. I hope her pussy was fucking worth it.” I also can’t keep the blatant hurt from my voice. I keep my gaze locked on Drago’s hands splayed across my belly, focusing on the tattoos and rings instead of looking back at Shadow.
“Shadow knows he fucked up and he knows what will happen, should he do it again,” Drago says in my ear, then bites out, “You will listen and obey, Ava, if we let you go tonight. You will communicate with us, no secrets.”
Flames spark inside me again. I growl at him, “I don’t obey anyone.”
(“Don’t Blame Me” – Taylor Swift)
He brackets his hand against my throat, squeezing slightly, my back still flush against his front. “You obeyme.” His voice shoots straight to my pussy, and I have to bite my lip to keep the moan I want to let out from slipping past my lips.
I finally lift my eyes. Shadow tracks us both, not saying a word, but his body coils tighter and tighter with each moment Drago’s hands are on me.
Drago lets out a small laugh. “I’m testing Shadow’s patience, it seems.” The hand on my stomach moves up and tweaks my hard nipple through the thin dress. This time, I let myself moan out loud.
“Mmm. You make such delicious sounds,” he says into my ear before moving my hair to the side and licking up my neck. “Do you like hearing them, Shadow?” he teases as he lets his hand trail lower, until it’s peeling back the maxi skirt and those ringed fingers are dancing across my lace panties, which are already embarrassingly wet. I hiss as he dips into them, touching my soft curls.
