Page 13 of Crave Me

“From the explosion?” she asked, searching my gaze. “There were three who didn’t make it?”

“Yes. Three died from your attack.” Not two like she’d previously said.

Her eyebrows flew upward as she tried to take a step backward, but my grip on her wrist held her in place. “Myattack? I tried tohelpthem, notattackthem.”

“By blowing up the bar?”

“Why would I blow up the bar?” she demanded, her regal tone heating my blood. Because I’d always enjoyed a strong woman. And knowing this one was meant to be mine only increased my interest.

An interest I ignored in favor of seeking the truth.

“You blew up the bar because you knew my men were close to capturing you,” I told her.

Or that had been my theory, anyway.

Until I’d met her.

Now I wasn’t so sure.

Primarily because I hadn’t scented a single lie on her yet. Every word she’d breathed thus far had been the truth.

Including her comment about wanting tolickme.

But I would handle that one later. In private.

“Capturing me?” She blinked a few times. “Why would theycaptureme?”

“Because you’re in this realm illegally.”

“Illegally?” She gaped at me. “How does one ‘illegally’ enter a realm?”

“As a goddess, you should have come through the portal in the Himalayas. That’s where your realm seeks permission for entry.” Something she should already know, as not only was it the first portal that had opened on this earth, but it’d also sprung to life several thousand years ago.

Yet her confused expression only deepened. “My world does not have a portal to yours.”

“Yes, it does, Goddess. In the Himalayas.”

“Nyx,” she corrected. “And there is no portal between my realm and yours. I’m only here because of my medallion, which is also the reason I haven’t left yet. Because it’s…” She trailed off, frowning. “The magic decided to go on holiday in your world somewhere.”

I stared at her. “The magic decided to go on holiday?” I repeated.

She blew out a breath, her frustration oddly kind of endearing. “It’s mad at me for using it to realm-jump too quickly, so it’s teaching me a lesson by taking me on a tour of your world. I thought I felt it here in Dublin, but…” Her lips twisted to the side. “It’s gone now.”

All truth, I discerned, both surprised and confused.

Either this being had figured out a way around my family’s ancient talent for lie detection, or she’d meant every word.

Either way, it was interesting.

“I’ve done all I can,” Trixie said, her exasperated tone pulling my focus away from Nyx and redirecting it at my second-in-command and the witch walking toward him.

Trixie was the one with healing powers that Kieran had found for us.

I didn’t know her well, as I tended to avoid those affiliated with the House of Spirit and Sapphire—they were all as pretentious as their rulers.

But this witch had been helpful, so I owed her a debt of gratitude.

Hmm, I’d probably gift her some of my vampire venom.