Page 56 of To Hunt a Demon King

“You’re very confident,” I said, propping my chin on my arm, still lying across his broad chest.

He grinned. “I have evidence to back up my arrogance,” he said, running a warm hand over my bare backside and sending a shiver through me. “You crying out my name several times, for one.” He leaned forward, capturing my mouth and biting my bottom lip gently between his teeth.

“You tasted as sweet as I imagined you would,” he purred, that hand caressing me gently and making me go all molten again. “And you felt divine.”

“And what does divinity feel like?” I asked, smiling at his ridiculous romantic notions.

He cocked a brow at me suggestively, kissing me again. “Like you,” he murmured, pulling me over him until I was straddling his body, completely bare to him. “Gods above,” he groaned. “The perfection is too much.” I laughed, smacking him lightly on the chest as he made a rumbling noise and pulled me back down for another kiss.

“In all seriousness,” he said, his lips against mine as he held me to him. “Are you all right?” I nodded, brushing a kiss to his stubbly jaw.

“Perfect,” I whispered, close to his ear. He held me for another moment before pushing me gently back up, holding my arms as he examined me.

“No pain?” he asked, studying me like I was his patient, rather than his…well, whatever I was.

“I’m fine,” I said, putting a hand to his cheek. “Only a little sore.”

“Hmm,” he said, looking at me appraisingly. “I wonder if you could do something about that.”

“With magic?” I asked, thinking of the chalk and crystal he had purchased for me sitting unused in our bag of supplies.

He nodded, frowning. “Not the kind I know you’re thinking of,” he said, running his hands up and down my arms.

“No thanks,” I said with a frown. “I’d really rather not accidentally kill you.”

“How the times have changed,” he said, grinning widely as he rolled, scooping me up and plopping me back down on the bed. “There,” he added, stepping away from me, still completely naked. “Despite the fact that you had ample time to kill me last night while I was inside you, I hope this eases your conscience.”

I gave him a withering look, despite the heat that unspooled inside me at his words, and he chuckled.

“Try, Red,” he said, crossing his arms and leaning on a bedpost. I shook my head.

“I don’t want to use it,” I sighed, looking down at my toes. The magic seemed to pool in me at the suggestion I put it to use, and I forced it back down.

“You used it on Akela,” he pointed out.

“That’s was different,” I said, looking up to meet his eyes. “He was dying. He died. And it was my fault for attracting the leshy.”

Carnon sighed, frowning down at me. “You realize,” he said slowly, “that if the Demon King can’t break it or remove it or whatever you hope he can do, then you will have to learn to control it?”

“That’s a problem for future-me,” I said brightly, trying to smile away my anxiety. Carnon rolled his eyes, bending down and kissing me soundly before walking to the adjoining room he had fetched a towel from last night. I heard running water, and realized he was drawing a bath.

I stretched, reaching over to the table to retrieve Mama’s necklace. I had felt lighter somehow without it on. Maybe the weight of what was waiting for me in the Witchlands, and the worry of Mama’s fate, was heavier than I realized.

I clipped the necklace back into place, running my fingers over the smooth, black stone. It hummed faintly beneath my fingers.

“Not that I protest this view at all,” Carnon said, making me spin to face him. His eyes flared wide and he swallowed. “Or this one,” he added, prowling toward me with mischief in his eyes. “But the bath is ready. I thought you might want to get cleaned up before getting grimy on the road again.”

He ran warm hands down my arm, making a shiver run through me as we looked at each other, both completely bare.

“Will you be joining me?” I asked, loosening my braid and watching him as I combed through the hair with my fingers. Carnon bit his bottom lip, as if considering.

“If you’re in pain…” he started.

“It’s nothing,” I said, blushing a little at my obvious eagerness. He grinned wickedly, dipping his head for a kiss and pressing himself to me. He was definitely interested in joining me.

A screech outside the window startled me, and I turned to see Artemis flapping furiously and pecking to be let in. Carnon rolled his eyes, going to unlatch the window and let the irritated strix inside. She flapped onto the desk, giving an irritable hoot. Carnon sighed.

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to the little roll of paper tied to her leg. Carnon untied it from the strix, who hooted again and flapped up to the pole between the bedposts, dropping upside down and burying her head beneath her bat-like wing.

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