Page 152 of Bonds of Starfall

Rin tiptoed to the kitchen island and braced her forearms on it, eyes traveling from Rhyden’s beringed fingers to the veins inhis hands, all the way up to his throat, until she finally met his red eyes. "I doubt I could sneak up on you."

"You’re getting smarter each time we talk. Where did you hide all this intelligence? Because I sure as shit didn’t see it in your last life," Rhyden commented, eyes dropping back to the laptop screen.

That wouldn’t do.

Rin steeled herself, placing a pale hand on the back of his laptop as she slowly shut it. He let her.

"We’re alone, and you’re going to ignore me?"

His lip twitched, revealing the tip of his fangs. "I didn’t realize you were so desperate for my attention. What? Your other Soulbonds not cutting it?"

She huffed. "What were you looking at?"

God, she was terrible at this. She would be an awful femme fatale. It was an effort to stay the trembling of her fingers, so she tucked her sleeves over her hands. His eyes followed the motion, like a predator.

"If you must know," Rhyden started, each word dripping with amused lechery, "I’ve been searching for information on the Blackfalls. I keep coming back to one thing—if only I’d have searched for you in Solar City, I could’ve found you so much sooner.

The words landed heavily. She hadn’t thought of that—what would have happened if he had gotten his claws into her sooner.

Rin swallowed, interest overtaking the pressing need to carry out her plan. But maybe this was how it started. With a glimmer of curiosity.

On a shaky breath, she allowed herself to give in. "What would you have done… If you had found me?"

"Depends on when." He licked his lips, watching her.

"Let’s say, when I was young," she countered.

"Youareyoung. You’re like a child against the years I’ve lived, wife."

Her cheeks warmed, betraying how deeply the words cut. But not only did they cut deep and remind her of how little she knew—and how little life was in her compared to him—they also tapped on some uncharted piece of her, that thrived on misery and belittlement.Hers. The air crackled, and shame coiled lowly in her gut, not unwelcomed. She had never felt this way before—except with him. He made her feel things she hadn’t even known were possible.

"Younger than I am now, then." Her voice was huskier than she wished it to be. She went along with his words. Better to play docile.

Rhyden hummed, and the distance between them was too vast, and too near.

"I would’ve watched you. I would’ve followed you." The leader of Noctis tapped a finger against the counter. Her eyes fell to it, mouth growing dry. "I would’ve watched you at home, with your parents, followed you to school. I bet you were a dutiful little schoolgirl, weren’t you? Straight A’s, no missed assignments. You were so enchanting—I bet you had all the boys wrapped around your finger."

She hadn’t. She had been alone, rarely any friends that stayed—none but Kit. She did not comment, entranced by this version of history he portrayed.

"I would’ve scared all those fucking little boys away from you—made sure no one touched you. They wouldn’t have known what to do with you, anyway. And when you were old enough, I would have taken you for myself."

His low croon made her dizzy.

"What do you mean,taken me?"

"Do you want it in plain terms?" Rhyden’s red eyes flashed. She grew utterly aware they were alone. If he wanted to reenactwhat he had done in Lunar City, no one would stop him… least of all her. "I would have kidnapped you and made you mine."

Shocked, her mouth dropped open. "You would have taken me from my family? From Kit?"

Rhyden didn’t know the whole story with Kit, or so Rin assumed. But she knew that Rhyden knew, Kit meant everything to her.

He nodded.

"What if I had screamed?" She tipped her chin up in defiance.

"Then I would make you be quiet," Rhyden shot back.

"Would you have… t-touched me?" Rin wanted to know. Here she was, trying to seduce him, and she could barely say the word. She couldn’t imagine an immortal like him having her, especially when she had been younger. It would have been ravaging, plain and simple. She wouldn’t have stood a chance.