Page 38 of Gambling with Time

His tongue poked the side of his cheek as he moved closer and dropped to his knees, his eyes never leaving my face. A spike of real desire hit me hard, flipping my stomach. Shit, I wanted him to kneel for me when we weren’t in possible danger. His lip curled up in a knowing smirk, and he bowed his head.

“Now you,” I said, flicking my gaze to the Leyak. He was in danger, and he didn’t even know it. Lex shifted on his feet, drawing my attention, and I could feel Rai at my back. This mage was so confident in the gem that he didn’t even have back up.

The demon stepped close and gripped my chin. “I am your king so you would do best to kneel to me.”

A slow smile pulled at my lips as he stepped within striking range. With a quick twist of my wrist, I had my dagger in my grip as I dropped to my knees and pressed the tip into his dick. He inhaled sharply and attempted to step back, but Bellamy sprung to his feet and held him in place.

I looked up at the demon that tried to ruin my life. The urge to gut him before getting answers was strong. But if we didn’t get something out of him, we’d be facing Osiris blind.

“Easy, Leyak, wouldn’t want to lose your manhood.” I slowly stood up, keeping my dagger pressed into his junk. “Not that you are much of a man. Trying to take things that aren’t yours. I’m sure your Prince will have something to say about that.”

I met Bellamy’s eyes over the mage’s shoulder, and he grinned, flashing his canines. “His Prince will let his Queen deal out the punishment.”

Queen. A thrill shot through me. I knew that was what the prophecy was, but it wasn’t really something we had acknowledged out loud. That together we were meant to bond the Underworld with common rulers.

Was this something I wanted six months ago? Hell no, but life had a way of changing how you felt. And if they would all be there, so would I.

“If you kill me, you won’t know what is coming,” the mage started to squeal his secrets.

I sliced his pants. “Who said I would kill you?” I dragged the sharp tip up his stomach, leaving a trail of blood where it cut him. “What is coming?”

“You’ll never win. Not against Osiris and his army. They will win this battle, and the Underworld will be his.”

Lex sighed. “Blah, blah, blah.” He moved next to me and rested his palm on my shoulder. “He doesn’t sound like he knows anything. I think you should kill him.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I replied. I pressed harder just below his collar bone. It wouldn’t kill him right there, but it would hurt like a bitch. Without another thought, I shoved the blade into him, and he screamed, his legs going limp, Bellamy taking the full weight of him into his hands.

I pulled the blade free and positioned it over his heart. “Whoops…missed.”

“Wait–” he cried. “I know things. You need me.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Do we? Prove it.”

When he didn’t answer immediately, I lifted the dagger and plunged it just left of where his heart would be. He screamed as if he were being murdered. Which he was, so cool.

The bell over the door sounded, and I glanced back seeing that Alastor and Cerberus had joined the party. I licked my lips and faced the mage again.

“Want to try again?”

“Even now he is on the border of the Underworld with his hybrids. You’re too late. You can’t stop him now even if you tried.” He laughed as blood bubbled out of his mouth, and he coughed.

“Where?” Raiden demanded, his voice nothing but a low gravelly growl.

“Your dragon-kin are first. Over the mountain they will flow, into the palace of the dark, and over the red lands of the demons. There will be nothing left.”

“Right, so the mountains,” I repeated.

That was enough information for me. I plunged the dagger into his heart, and he exploded in a cloud of dark ash. It should make me feel better with him dead, but I just wanted to bring him back and do it again. Lifting my gaze from the pile he became, I sighed meeting Bellamy’s hungry gaze.

He stared at me as if I were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Then he was crashing his mouth to mine. Our tongues stroked each other as he devoured me. Passion ignited by violence stirred between us.

Fuck.

The high of winning at least a little rushed through our bonds, and before long, we were a tangle of limbs and wanton touches. Adrenaline rode us hard as we found a new outlet for it.

CHAPTER 20

Lex

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