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I triedto tug my foot out of his grip, yanking the cloth his bed was made from. It felt like a similar texture to his shirt, but the insides moved a little more than a mattress from Earth, as if it was filled with feathers or wool.

“Stay still,” he ordered, pulling my leg until I was once again on my back, flicking aside my ripped skirt. It parted to the middle of my thigh, and I tugged it under me to keep it from riding up and exposing my still-sensitive sex. He lowered his head and ran his tongue along the cut.

I propped myself up on my elbows, watching him clean away the dried blood, taking care to collect every speck of it. The slow glide of his rough tongue spawned butterflies to life. He swirled his tongue along the top of my foot.

Was he . . . ‘bathing’ me?

This was turning me on when itreallyshouldn’t. I licked my lips and dropped my shoulders from their tight position near my ears. He swiped his long tongue up my leg, lulling me until energy leaked out of my limbs, and I fell back.

“Corvus?” He stilled, head slowly lifting to peer at me. “Corvus Zypher?”

He grunted and continued running his tongue across my ankle.

“If you weren’t born, who named you?”

“I spawned knowing my name.” He cocked his head. So, when he . . . spawned. That was so strange.

“I like it.” He blinked at me. In a swift movement, he let go of my foot and crawled up my body. I tipped my chin higher to keep my eyes on his. He watched me with such intensity, it made me nervous. “Why did those Novians try to kill you?”

“How do you know about Novians?” There was no inflection in his tone.

“One of them said that’s what they were.”

He made a sound similar to a disapproving tsk.

“There are many realms, but you fragile humans are blind to them.” Realms sounded crazy and mind-boggling. I’d always believed in more than Earth and humans being out there, but notrealms. The confirmation stunned me.

“Why did they say your name like they could make you obey?”

“Villagers tell tales. They weave and twist stories of the beast living in his castle. A creature of darkness.” That must have been where the title of Lord came from.

“I remember the days when they used to provide sacrifices and tie them to podiums.” He bared his teeth in a macabre smile, dropping to his side and leaving one leg sprawled over me, which was much heavier than he could have understood. I wiggled to lessen the pressure on my femur. “They served as nothing morethan lovely snacks. They go from worshipping to hatred.” His tongue flashed across his lip. “Novians are as fickle and pathetic as humans.”

I huffed, offended. The feather-like hair framing his forehead fluttered.

“You know, we’re not all like that, and stuffing all humans in one box?—”

His hand curled around my mouth, cutting me off. My words turned muffled, and I sank my teeth into his palm.

He yanked back, hand raised, gaping at it and then at me, mouth slightly parted to show fangs.

“That’s what you get,” I grumbled.

He blinked once, and a coughing chortle left him. He wound his arm around my waist until I was tucked against his body. His wing fell over me, enveloping me in warmth and darkness.

“Youwillrest.”

I grumbled again, but couldn’t deny my exhaustion as it dragged me into a peaceful sleep.

I swam closerto the deep end of the water, kicking my feet as I reveled in being clean. Corvus leaned against the furthest point in the granite pool, head tilted back and eyes closed, his face turned toward the sky.

“I wish I had soap,” I mumbled, dog-paddling across the deep end.

“Soap,” Corvus murmured, peering at me. “I will get you soap.” He held his hand out, and his shadows pulsated and expanded before evaporating, leaving behind a bar on his palm.

I gasped and swam to him, exerting more effort. The water felt denser here, and the coloring wasn’t a trick of the light; it was a deep, startling blue.

“How did you do that?” I sputtered as water fell from my mouth. Once I reached him, I lunged for it, clinging to his arm to give myself a rest.