Page 46 of Dark & Dreadful Brutes

His breath still tickled my ear, his chest pressed to my back and his knees at my hips.

“I wrapped my arms around him, pressed my body to his, and took his lips in mine.” I let my heartbeat pick up with the stress of the lie, knowing Ravv would interpret it as something entirely different. “His mouth made love to mine while I rubbed myself against him. I wasn’t wearing any undergarments, so he felt my bare breasts against his chest. He probably smelled how much I enjoyed it, too. He gripped my ass and squeezed my tits—until I climaxed, without so much as a damn touch of his fingers.”

Rav’s breathing was ragged as his fury swelled.

He had no way of proving me wrong without leaving the room, and that gave me all the power.

“When I thanked him and pulled away, he invited me to share his bed tomorrow night, and I agreed. As I turned around, I realized we had an audience. Fae from all of the kingdoms had seen me unravel against him, and knew that we’d be bare in his bed the next night. That made it hard to walk away from him, but I forced myself to go.”

A slow, low snarl that legitimately sounded like it had come from a wild animal vibrated against my back. Ravv slowly released my shoulder—and then he left the room so quickly, I didn’t even see him move.

A relieved breath escaped me when he was gone.

“Wicked little human,” Gleam murmured, her mouth parted in what almost resembled a grin.

I hadn’t even realized she was still in the room with us, and flashed her a warning look as I tugged again at the ice still holding me captive.

It didn’t budge.

“I won’t let you control me either,” I warned her.

“Good.” She lazily rose to her paws. “Fate knew what it was doing when it paired you. My king has finally met his match.”

With that, she slipped out of the room.

I focused on my anger, trying to force my damn fire to reignite—but all I got was a little steam.

Truthfully, I wasn’t all that angry anymore.

Sadness outweighed anger again… and veil, I despised it.

Eventually, my heat melted the ice enough that I managed to slip my wrists and thighs out of the icy restraints. I was exhausted, so I simply locked the door to my room and dropped into bed, curling up in a small ball.

At least the mattress was comfortable.

At least I wasn’t in the cellar anymore.

I calmed myself with those reminders, and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 10

Ravv

Elwynne cursed as she ran behind me, barely managing to keep the pace I set.

I was going to find Toveo, consequences be damned.

He had touched my mate.

He had stolen her first kiss from me.

He had made her unravel.

The bastard would pay.

Gleam caught up to me as I reached the castle’s exit, and I landed on her back smoothly.

“I don’t think this is wise,” she murmured to me. “Laeli may have been lying about the extent of their connection.”

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