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“When Krakatoa went off in Sumatra in 1883, the explosion was three hundred and ten decibels,” he says. “It was, and still is, the loudest sound ever recorded in human history, equal to a two-hundred-megaton bomb.”

Woah.

“The sound wave went around the Earth three times”, he continues. “People heard it three thousand miles away, and peoplefortymiles away had ruptured eardrums.”

Holy. Shit.

“Why do you have it tattooed on you?”

He shrugs. “It’s inspirational to me.”

I grin. “Because it caused mayhem and destruction?”

“Maybe,” he grins back. “Or because it was the loudest fucking thing on Earth.” He eyes lock with mine. “Maybe I just like to be heard.”

He pushes his knee between my legs and roughly shoves them apart. He nudges his cock against my lips and start to push his still-hard cock into me.

“Hang on?—”

“Nope,” he murmurs, smiling darkly. “You got your question.”

“I have a second one. Shall I stop younow, or later?”

He rolls his eyes dramatically as he sits back on his haunches, glaring at me.

“Fine. Fuck,” he mutters. I grin impishly and pull my knees up to my chest.

“How do you and Kir know each other?”

He tenses, his eyes darkening.

“Careful, princess,” he murmurs.

I cock my head to the side, folding my arms over my bare chest, which I realize is probably more humorous-looking than tough.

He eyes me coolly. “Why are you asking me this?”

I feel my throat work.

“Milena—”

“I saw you the other night,” I blurt.

He frowns. “When?”

“When I didn’t show up at Greymoor that first night you told me to come back.” I pause. “I… Idid. Show up, I mean. I was just…”

“Early,” Nero mutters, his eyes locked on me. “What exactly did you hear.“

I look down at my hands, instantly regretting bringing this up and cursing myself for being such an idiot.

“What did youhear, princess,” he murmurs quietly.

“Enough.”

His mouth twists. “And what did you see.”

“A lot,” I whisper hoarsely.