Page 77 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

She fixes me with a piercing look and spits, "You have a way of doing that, yes," she muses. "So when I say it's not you, it's me, know that I'm lying through my teeth." Her words drip with an edge of venom and contempt, slicing through the air like a sharpened blade. "Know that it's all you—every last bit of it."

Fuck.

I need to build trust. But how can I do that in the next fifteen minutes? My heart makes a racket in my chest as I try to stall for time.

"I think I've figured out why you were able to die." I slow my steps until we stop under a giant spawn willow, its vines draping all over the path at our feet.

A real sense of vulnerability crosses her features now, her face framed by the stars above us. "Why did I die?"

No doubt she dies all the time, but I've figured out what keeps her here.

"Make me a deal, and I'll tell you," I challenge her.

Her face contorts with rage, her eyes blazing with fury.

Fuck, she's perfect.

A frustrated sound escapes her lips, and she spins around on her heel, fists clenched as she brings her leg back to kick the tree in anger.

I snag her around the waist to haul her back before she shreds her foot on the razor-sharp bark.

"You," she shrieks, "are a monster!"

My arms band around her, dragging her to the center of the path, holding her tight as she tries to flail. "Morte," I whisper in her ear.

I release her, and she steps away from me, keeping her eyes trained on the tree line.

Tucking my hands in my pocket, I saunter down the path, a smirk playing across my lips as the patter of her feet follow behind quickly.

"Wait!"

"You've got ten seconds to make a decision." I keep the humor out of my voice. "What'll it be? Do you want to know why you died and ended up here?"

She makes another indignant shriek of frustration. "Fine!"

Relief seeps into my shoulders, and I can't help the smile that plasters my face as I stop on the trail.

Turning around to face her, I hold out my hands in supplication. "You know how this works," I purr.

Her eyes narrow. "You're psychotic."

"Quite." I grin.

She hesitates, taking a few steps closer to me and my nose flares, breathing in her intoxicating scent. Below the stench of the other two she spent her night with is the sweet scent of her desire, anger, and curiosity.

Her lips press to mine for half a second before she rears back, and I raise my brow.

"Well, now you've got to kiss me twice. It's got to be much longer to count as a deal." I smirk. "And if you want to double down on that, I'll even let you share our bed the next thirty days."

Her face screws in revulsion. "Why the hell would I want to do that?!"

I shrug, turning to continue the path. "The alternative is the dungeon," I call behind me.

"But I'm your victor!" she shouts, her hand clamping down on my shoulder in an attempt to spin me back around, but I'm too strong.

Instead, I turn around at my own pace. "Even my guests stay in the hot dungeons." I chuckle. "Who do you think I am?"

"You're a monster," she whispers.

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