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She was suddenly angry, furious that he’d been there alone. “Someone would have come for you eventually, wouldn’t they?”

“I don’t know.”

Layala had the urge to reach over and touch him, brush her fingers over his beautiful, tattooed wings, and comfort him somehow. Old feelings, the goddess who’d loved him, desired to slip her arms around him. “Iwould have,” she whispered, clutching the soft blanket. “I would have come for you.”

“We hadn’t met yet, love.”

She couldn’t stand the thought of him in a cold dark cage for so long. The image of him sullen and defeated made her shudder. “You get to choose who you want to be. It doesn’t matter who your parents are, born with darkness or not. You always have a choice.”

He turned partially to look at her. His heavy-lidded darkened garnet eyes settled on her face. “You always believed the best in me, even when I didn’t deserve it, and I thank you for that, but it doesn’t matter how long you’ve kept a serpent, he’ll always bite.”

Layala gently placed her palm against his back and goosebumps peppered his skin. He was warm and soft. “You’ve forgotten that I was born of the dark. Your serpent’s bite doesn’t scare me.”

“What do you want from me, Val? Because when you touch me like that, and say things…”

“I don’t know,” she breathed.

“You don’t,” he said flatly and sat up. His vulnerable eyes narrowed.

Don’t look at me like that.

Like I’d die for you a thousand more times? Because I would.

A tear slid down her cheek and she quickly swiped it away. She grabbed her dagger off the bedside table and sliced open her wrist. “Take it.”

He turned away. “I don’t want to.”

Layala pressed her palm gently to the side of his face and turned him. “You’re weakening. I can see it.” She raised her bleeding wrist up. He watched the red line slide down her skin until it reached the bend in her elbow.

“You’re fine with this? Because last time…”

“I’m offering it to you. I want you to have it.”

He nodded then his tongue caressed the underside of her forearm, licking up the blood to her wrist. He gently closed his mouth around the cut and pulled. It didn’t hurt. It didn’t even sting. It was sensual and she moved closer. His arm wrapped around her back, and he tugged her onto his lap. Her knees bent, and her thighs closed around his hips.

His mouth came away from her wound, and his thumb swiped over it, closing it instantly. And there they were, tangled in each other’s bodies.

“We’re in dangerous territory again,” he murmured.

Her chest heaved up and down rapidly. “I like danger. It makes me feel alive.”

He was the first to press his lips to her collarbone, then her throat. She sighed and tilted her head back, giving him access to roam. Feeling him harden beneath her, she dug her nails into his back.

“Fuck,” he murmured and dragged his tongue up her throat. “This is not a good idea.”

“It’s terrible.” Layala began to slowly rock her hips against him, and he moaned, and wrapped his hands in her hair.

He ripped her shirt over her head and tore off her bralette. “Gods, I missed seeing these and touching them.” Both hands cupped her breasts, and he caressed her nipples. “And seeing you come apart when I do.”

Her body was aflame with desire, and he was the match. “Hel,” she breathed, moving her hips in slow circles. “We should stop.”

“We should,” he said and trailed kisses of fire across her chest.Tell me to and I will.

No.

We can’t take it back once it happens.

I don’t care.