Page 83 of I Dream of Dragons

He bends me over backward, an arm around my back, and bows over me. Black hair draping his face, black eyes wicked and sparkling, his smirk crooked, showing that dimple I love.

A strong hand covered in dark designs closes around my neck, thumb stroking over my jugular. “Well, hello, Little Human. We meet again.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

RAE

I expected a kiss from Phaethon, that’s the bold truth. I expected to pick up where I stopped with Jai, but Phaethon only noses at my earlobe, breathes heat down my neck and says, “What did the king tell you?”

I flinch. “Whoa, hold up.Thisis why you took over Jai?”

“Why else? What did he tell you? I fear he’s been lying to me and I don’t take kindly to lies.”

I swallow down my ridiculous disappointment. “The king didn’t tell me anything new.” Slowly, I step back. “Jai thought you wanted me.”

“That’s…” He cocks his head to the side. “Possible.”

“How? You being…youand all. An Eosphor bent on destruction.”

“That’s not strictly true. I only want to return.”

“To your people.”

“… yes.”

That pause is intriguing. “And is it true you’re Astar?”

Another pause. “That used to be my name. How do you know?”

“Does Jai know?”

“What I know, he knows.”

“Ah, but that’s not strictly true, as you already told me. You’re not always thinking the same thoughts, feeling the same sensations. And apart from that… would he know your name, and what it implies?”

“I am not sure,” he admits. He’s looming over me, observing me with interest in his dark eyes, and it’s unnerving to see that coldness in Jai’s familiar, pretty eyes. “You’re so… fragile.”

“What?” I bristle. “I’m not fragile.”

“Delicate, if stubborn. Is that what draws Jai to you?”

“Enough of this. It was a mistake.” It’s hard to admit it, but Jai was right. Phaethon isn’t interested in me that way. “Why don’t you let Jai?—”

His hand curls around my neck once more. “I like your eyes. They look like polished silver.”

I gaze up at him, my heart booming. “What do you want?”

“I want to see what thiswantingis all about.” That sharp smirk is back, and Gods, it’s hot. He’s eyeing me like a morsel on a silver dish. “Jai was right about me. You should have listened to him.”

“Will you hurt me?”

“Are you asking me to?”

“No, what I want is to share pleasure with you.”

“This is what I meant.” His smirk turns into a grin. “Pain is pleasure. I’ll be happy to torment you.”

Before I can react, without my inhuman reflexes to fall back on, he shoves me against the balustrade. The void yawns behind me and terror fills me.