Page 72 of Demonic Prince

“Rook, what I did was unforgivable. I killed innocent people. The tavern keeper took me off the streets and fed me. And what did I do in return? I burned her livelihood, her home, to the ground. All because of my rage and my desire for revenge.”

He tilts his head, his eyes glinting. “And yet you aren’t heartless. You feel regret.”

“Regret feels like an old friend.”

“You protected yourself and avenged your mother’s death. The village was an unfortunate consequence.”

I let out a shuddering sigh. “Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had just run away from the dragonslayer.”

“I ran after King Everhart died. I’m not sure it was the correct choice.”

A shiver darts down my spine. “After Queen Dulcamara killed him?”

“After she stabbed him in the back.” Remembered pain glitters in his eyes. “I found him bleeding out in his bed. He cursed at me. Told me to get the hell out of his castle. And so I did.”

“Did your father mean to protect you?”

“Doubtful.” He hesitates for a breath. “I don’t know. Though I may have chosen the coward’s path.”

I flick tears from my cheeks with my fingertips. “I would never call you a coward. You’re a demon and a bastard prince, but you’re brave. Foolhardy even, considering you chained a dragon in aellurium and dragged her from her cave.”

He twists his mouth. “Lucky for me.”

I laugh through my tears. “I’m sure you regret that decision.”

“Never.”

Does he mean that? I don’t ask.

“No more nightmares,” I say. “Can you bring me a better dream?”

He arches one eyebrow. “A sex dream?”

“Any dream. I don’t want to be alone.”

He nods. “Go back to sleep.” He lies back. “Your pillow awaits.”

I rest my head on his chest. His heartbeat thumps under my ear. At last, I close my eyes and surrender to sleep.

* * *

I’m runningthrough the forest. It’s night, and the trees above me are shattering moonlight into shards. I’m naked except for the aellurium chains glimmering around my neck and between my breasts.

I’m being hunted.

My heart thunders in my rib cage. My breathing turns ragged. I can’t stop, can’t stumble, orhewill catch me.

Are those my footsteps crunching the leaves, or his behind me? I glance back.

Red eyes glow in the darkness.

A thrill of fear strikes me like lightning. With an extra burst of speed, I sprint between trunks and leap over a fallen log like a deer. When I land, my feet slip in the wet earth and I sprawl across the leaves.

He grabs my ankle. I’m flipped onto my back and straddled by a horned demon.

Rook.

He’s naked. As I stare at his cock, it thickens and rises to greet me. Unable to resist, I stroke him in my fist. Daring him.

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