Page 8 of Our Sins in Shadows (Coven of Sin 2)

Veering my attention back to Eros, I released a low breath. Things had gotten a little carried away in the back of that van. I’d been beside myself with joy to find they weren’t dead, and Vincent Feral had a way of driving me mad with lust.

Was I completely crazy for promising him my womb? Yup. Did I regret it? Not really. And I wasn’t about to make excuses for myself.

“It’s true. I told him when I was ready for the whole kid thing that I’d carry his child first. That doesn’t mean I can’t also have yours one day. It’s still my body, and I can do what I want with it. Promising him this is about way more than just getting you guys to co-exist together without the bloodshed and drama. He’s sworn to give up his pursuit of the crown. He won’t oppose me when I take my father’s throne. I won’t be selecting a king, and he’s promised not to fight me on that either.”

I waited with bated breath for Eros’ reaction to the big news I’d just dropped like a mic. This was the first time he was hearing about my decision to choose none of them for king.

Eros pressed his face between the bars, leering at me with a twisted grin that had my heart in knots. “So, our little princess wants to rule us all by her lonesome. Maybe I cared about the title once. But when you came into our life, the throne became a dusty consolation prize. So long as you remain my mate, that’s all I give a shit about. Just one hefty problem, though. What if I fill you with my kid first? Or what if you decide to throw the youngblood a bone and fuck him, and he’s the one to knock you up? You think Feral will be so amicable when it’s not his brat who’ll inherit the throne?”

Vincent snorted. “My species is a virile race. I don’t doubt in my ability to breed her the moment she decides she’s ready.”

A guttural growl of warning rumbled from Eros’ chest. Vincent moved toward his cell, but I moved faster, planting myself between them.

“Knock it off! Both of you. This is ridiculous. My uterus is not a damn Rent-A-Center, assholes.”

There were several seconds of the most uncomfortable silence, filled with the sizzle of Eros’ cigarette. After what felt like an eternity, he was the first to speak. “Look. I’m not like Feral. I’m not so insecure that I care if you fuck my brothers. Before tonight, if you told me you wanted him to be your baby daddy, I would have probably kept my mouth shut.”

I sent him a pointed look. “What changed?”

“Are you kidding me? Everything changed! You saw what he did to me. You don’t know what else he’s capable of. He’s a monster, Ruby. One that will eat you up if you let him.”

“Funny,” I drawled with a too-sweet smile. “That’s what people said about you.”

Eros opened his mouth but closed it again, sending me a fiery glare through coiling smoke as he took another angry inhale of his fast-shrinking cigarette.

“Deathwish is right.”

I turned to look at Vincent, who wore a pinched expression that looked out of place on his chiseled features.

I wasn’t sure if I’d heard him correctly. Did he just agree with Eros? “What do you mean, he’s right? About what?”

“About the possibility that I might hurt you.”

“So what?” An incredulous sound left me as I raised my arms and let them flop back down at my sides. “When has that ever stopped you from trying to pursue me before? With your greedy hands leaving bruises, the hand necklaces, your mean words. Not to mention all the things I know you fantasize doing to me.” My pulse ran riot as my irritation with Feral turned to a heady intoxicant in my belly. When I spoke next, I dropped my voice to a whisper, as if I was letting them both in on a sinful secret. “I want you to do those things to me. I like it.”

Vincent held me by my shoulders, looking at me as if he was about to attempt to try reasoning with a crazy person. “You saw what happened at The Warehouse. I completely lost it. Had you not acted quickly, I would have killed my own den brother and—” He took a breath, as if attempting to rein in the emotion in his voice. “I shudder to think what I would have done to you.”

I peeked up at him through my screen of tangled bangs, my lashes fluttering in solidarity with the butterflies in my stomach. “But you didn’t. You didn’t kill him, and you didn’t hurt me.”

“Thanks to you. Not me. You saved your own ass, and you’re getting pretty good at that, Ruby.” Catching me off guard, he took a loose lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. His fingers remained on my earlobe in a tender gesture that had my heartbeat thrumming with wild abandon.

“It’s something I love so damn much about you. But you’re also insanely reckless. As much as it pisses me off to say it, we have to take physical things slow. I need to get a grip on my returning fae abilities. On the inside it’s like I’m a little faeling all over again. But on the outside I’m not so little. I’m a full-grown hybrid with an insatiable lust for blood, and sex, and pain. It’s dangerous to be near me. Especially as my mate.” His voice went brittle. “I don’t want to lose it while we’re together.”

My cheeks blazed so hot, I was sure he could feel the wave of heat rolling off me. By the way Eros adjusted himself in my periphery, I knew my skin was stained with a tantalizing wash of scarlet.

“You mean, letting your monster out while you’re inside me?”

The fae gave a stiff nod, watching carefully for my reaction.

My tongue grew heavy in my mouth as my mind stretched back to my dream, how our naked flesh slid together as the fae’s body pumped into the cradle of my spread thighs. I recalled the stretching sensation as he’d shifted inside me. It was just a sex dream. Yet…It’d felt more significant than that. Vincent Feral was a dangerous, virile hybrid that called to the deepest, darkest parts of me. I lusted for the male to the point where I could taste him, even in my sleep.

“It doesn’t scare me,” I answered after a long pause.

He kept his face impassive but something dark glittered behind his eyes. “It should.”

I gave a casual shrug. “I’ve been having weird dreams. I think they’re coming from the thing inside me. With her, I can endure your monster, Feral.”

Now both my princes were looking at me like I’d completely lost it. Vincent pulled back as if something gross had suddenly sprouted from my forehead. “Wait. Isthatwhat you were dreaming about? Mating me in my full-fae form? Christ, Ruby. You shouldn’t want that.”

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