Page 34 of For the Love of the Gods

Dominic raised an eye in doubt of my assessment. “That seemed more chaotic than normal.”

“But nothing wrong with the power,” I returned, relief evident in my tone.

Dominic stopped, as if my words forced him to. “Are youhappywith how that went?”

“What?”

Distressed. That’s how he looked. “That man let you walk out of here with a spider. He should have triple checked that fucking bag. It was so crowded someone shoulder checked you. That woman ignored you to flirt with me in that store.”

Oh, he had it so, so wrong. That spider was intentional, the man who pushed me: intentional, the ignoring: pointed and intentional.

Bold, too bold, but intentional.

“It’s not surprising, Dominic. They don’t exactly like me.”

Dominic's eyes narrowed, his arms crossing over his chest and defining his biceps. “Like has nothing to do with this.”

I did my best to keep my eyes on his face.

“Respect then. They don’t afford me the same respect they give to you.” It was the polite version of the story. One that didn’t even touch the extent of people’s disrespect. But I wasn’t going to be the brutal hand of retribution and drive the nail into my coffin.

My reputation was that of harsh, cruel death. I was trying to leave one behind that reflected how I really felt about my realm. That death could be beautiful, that I could create a home for those to rest in after a long life.

And I wasn't going to achieve that by squashing dislike under my foot.

“You should be happy about that, Dominic,” I continued. “I would expect you to revel in people disrespecting me.”

Dominic stepped into my space, bringing his strong nose close enough to touch mine. “You don’t know what I revel in.”

I felt my chin tip up ever so slightly, pulled into combat. “Enlighten me.”

“Maybe I do like disrespect,” Dominic postured, his form so imposing it almost eclipsed the sun behind his head. “MaybeI’lldisrespectyou.”

I laughed incredulously. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Wrong time, wrong place,” he drawled in response.

“Oh, I think outside is the perfect place for some disrespecting.”

Another rumble from his throat. “Careful, Rose.” The words were a threat that sent my heart racing and my skin buzzing. “You won’t like what happens when you make me snap.”

“Don’t you see, Dominic? That’s exactly my goal.” And just because I’d grown to love his shocked expression, I tapped him twice on the chest and disappeared through a portal. I left him there in a yellowed grass field with delicious shock on his perfect face, trying to ignore the fact that his chest felt like steel.

For some reason, that thought felt more dangerous than the lingering tightness in my chest that those three incidents were enough to finally snap the camel’s back.

Chapter 9

Dominic

Rose was right to be nervous. To be doubtful of her safety around me.

Because that little devil was keeping secrets.

A surprise investment in her power.

The same stress and plan I had about the integration of our Houses.

Not to mention the absolute insanity that was her walking on top of an unstable, crumbling wall like she had not a care in the world for her safety. Barely a word from me and she went tumbling, making me watch her scrape her pristine skin and act like it didn’t hurt.

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