Page 30 of Song of Night

My heart races as I stand. I cross the short distance between us until I am standing over Vyrin. Then, slowly, I sit down in his lap, straddling his waist. His eyes glow feverishly as I run my fingers into the hair at the back of his head.

“Yes, Zara,” he groans. “You belong to me now.”

I respond by rotating my hands, fast as lightning, and snapping his spinal cord.

His head lulls to the side, eyes rolled back. I step backwards off of him and his body slumps over in its chair.

“You may have been around since the dawn of time, but you still think with your dick.” I shake my head.

I know that one such as him can’t possibly be killed that easily. But it’s bought me enough time to find Asher and get out of this terrible place.

Casting one last glance at the mad fae’s limp body, I head for the door.

Chapter Twenty-One

ASHER

The desire for vengeance propels me to my feet and I begin to pace back and forth in front of the bars of my cell. I may have expended the small spark of magic that returned to me, but the fact that it had returned means two very important things.

It’s not gone forever.

And I can get it back again.

I focus on my rage, remembering that day centuries ago when I summoned the great force that nearly consumed me and Night both. I will get back my power by any means necessary. I have to, to save Zara and my city both. Vyrin will not take them. I won’t allow it.

A spark stirs deep in my chest, right at the same moment that footsteps ring from the floor above.

And then Zara steps into view, rushing down the stone steps.

“Dark goddess!” I murmur as she approaches. “How did you—did he—”

“I’m fine,” she gasps, breathless, chest heaving.

There’s a bloody gash on her right temple, almost blending with her hairline. “What happened?”

“Just a run-in with some guards. I used my magic to get away.” She bites her lip. “The last of it, I’m afraid.”

“And Vyrin?”

“Incapacitated. For now.” Zara places her hands on the bars of the cell. “We need more magic if we’re going to make it out of here.”

It takes me only a half moment to ascertain her meaning.

“I know you’re still angry with me, and that this isn’t… ideal,” she continues. “But if it’s the only way to get our magic back…”

She trails off, her eyes burning into mine.

I don’t want to admit to Zara—or myself—how much I need her right now. Not just to create enough magic for us to escape. But seeing her here, alive, unharmed, when I thought she was being tortured by my greatest enemy… I’m so overwhelmed with relief that I don’t care right now about the lies and deceit that hang between us. I don’t care about anything but Zara’s body in the circle of mine.

A low growl rumbles through my chest. “Turn around.”

Zara blinks for a moment, then slowly does as I say. I step up to the bars of the cell and press myself against her from behind. One hand circles around the front of her, crossing over her hip, and the other wraps around the slender column of her throat, holding her head in place. I press my face into her dark hair and inhale deeply. I can hear her heart accelerate at my touch.

My fingers brush her hair behind one ear and I flick my tongue against her earlobe as my other hand moves to the buttons at the front of her pants. Zara shudders against me, a sigh rushing from her lips. My lips and teeth tease down her neck. I get her pants unfastened and yank them down, just enough to expose the V between her legs.

“Asher,” Zara gasps. “We need to hurry.”

Just the sound of her voice makes me harder than I already am.

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