Page 27

“You sure about that?” With my other wrist free, I caressed his inner thigh, cupping his impressive erection through his pants. I remembered the vision I’d had of him in the bathing chamber. It was one I’d called to mind many times. Oh, to have that thick length inside of me now.

His entire frame shuddered in my grip.

Still, he shook his head. “No. No. There’s an important task. Something urgent.”

I drew a deep breath of the tantalizing perfume that surrounded us, and my sex spasmed. He was wrong. The only thing that mattered was this feeling.

With little warning, he jerked free of my grasp, stumbling back. Fangs bared, he glared at me, his glowing eyes consuming me. Energy pulsed between us. The ground trembled, not that I cared. The walls could fall in, trapping us together forever. Yes .

The predatory gleam in his gaze prickled the hair along my nape. Something deep inside pushed to the surface. This creature. He was dangerous, not to be trusted.

No. I rejected the idea. This vampire was my salvation—the only one who could save me from the fire burning in my veins.

I reached out to him, and he flinched. His reaction snapped my hand back, seizing my heart in my chest.

“Run,” he grated.

I frowned, studying his menacing profile. “Run? ”

“Yes,” he snarled. “Before it’s too late.”

He was rejecting me? Hurt twisted my guts, and I curled my arms around my waist. “But—”

“Now!”

His command rattled my bones, the dark fury in his tone stirring some deep-seated sense of survival.

Without another word, I spun and bolted, my head a tangle of contradictions. My instinct for self-preservation made me shove one foot in front of the other while the warmer, deliciously tingly parts of me screamed, Return to him. You’re going the wrong way!

Footsteps hammered the stone behind me. He was so close.

Go!

No, stay!

No, go!

Bright light filtered through the darkened cavern. The clamor of several thousand voices rang in my ears. Fresh air billowed through the tunnel on a gentle breeze, the scent sunny and clean. My head pounded, my thoughts clearing. It was the end of the challenge. I was almost there.

My langued muscles firmed with determination, and my racing stride lengthened. Flark, what had I been thinking? Go! Definitely go!

Behind me, a primal growl rumbled, and my pulse leaped. Claws scraped my shoulder. The vampire was gaining on me. Whether he hungered for blood or… gulp …more, I couldn’t determine. Regardless, this time, he wouldn’t find me docile prey.

Sunlight flashed in my eyes. This was it.

I’d reached the end. The vampire’s fiery breath dusted my neck as I dove through the tunnel’s exit.

Sand padded my fall, and a large body landed beside me.

Victor’s weighty frame pinned me to the ground.

He straddled my hips, his hand circling my throat. I blinked, peering up at him .

Victor blinked down at me as well, panting.

Goddess, but he was a sight. For a moment, I forgot where we were, simply taking in all that was Victor Custodis.

Silver-white hair surrounded his head, wild and untamed.

His usually icy gaze was a hot, searing gold.

Twin fangs gleamed behind his full lips.

Gone was the emotionless demeanor he chose to portray.

In its place was something else. Something powerful. Savage.

Though we’d left the flowers in our wake, a heated shiver ran through me. I didn’t hate this hidden side of my icy partner.

Custodis blinked, and by slow degrees, the golden light in his eyes faded. “Runa?” he groaned, and his grip on my neck eased. Shock registered in his expression, and he rolled, then pulled me up off the sand in a rush.

At the sudden movement, my head reeled, and I wobbled, pressing a hand to his chest.

He grasped my upper arms, peering into my face. “Are you okay?”

Why does he keep asking me that? It wasn’t as if he actually cared. Or did he? I nodded my answer, not trusting my voice.

Slowly, I became aware of the arena around us, other competitors strewn about the pit, the hovering orbs. Flark! The orbs!

The roar of cheering voices stabbed my ears. Custodis’s name fell from worshipful lips. Many celebrated his performance and prowess in the game. While my name was often followed by jeers of harlot, whore, tease.

Fire blazed in my cheeks, memories surfacing. By the goddess, the flowers had reduced us to our most primal state, and the audience had watched every moment.

Nausea twisted my stomach, and I slapped a hand to my mouth. The weight of countless ridiculing stares pressed down on me. Sharp breaths wheezed between my fingers.

Custodis gripped my chin, the contours of his face hardening. “Reclaim your control. It is they who should be ashamed. ”

He was right. What sort of sickos signed up to watch a bunch of criminals experience this kind of hell? They were the ones who should have been embarrassed. I met Victor’s silver gaze and nodded my agreement.

“Do you see my brothers?”

The side of his mouth curled into a mockery of a smile. “Over there.”

I glanced in the direction he indicated, only to find both of them rising from the sand where they’d been dumped from their tunnel. Drazen’s eye was swollen shut, and he held his ribs. Kronk’s harness and part of his hair were seared.

Dread tied a knot in my twisting gut. I’d always feared the span my brothers turned on each other with no one to intervene. At least they’d survived. The two cast sullen glares at each other. I hastened to their sides.

Drazen scanned me with his good eye. “Are you injured? The leech didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“Nope,” I croaked, cheeks flaming anew. Apparently, our primal halves had emerged in different ways. Lucky for Kronk and Drazen.

“How are you?” I asked.

Kronk shrugged one massive shoulder. “I went easy on him.”

“Did not. It’s I who went easy on you,” Drazen snarled.

Kronk took a menacing step in his direction, pointing a blunt finger at his missing eyebrow. “Did not.”

“If I hadn’t, you’d be dead.”

“And your bones would be splinters.”

“Guys! Enough!” I dared to step between them, slapping a hand on each of their chests.

“What happened in the tunnel, stays in the tunnel. None of us are responsible for what happened under the influence of those flowers.” I raised my head, meeting Victor’s mocking smirk, and lifted my chin, daring him to comment.

Kronk reached over me, placing his hand on Drazen’s shoulder. “ Runa is right. We were not ourselves. I forgive you, Brother.”

“Forgive me?” Drazen barked, then froze, tipping his nose toward me and sniffing.

He snapped his eyes to mine and sniffed again. “Why do you smell like the leech?”

“What?” I offered a wobbling smile. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Kronk jammed his nose in my hair and sniffed as well. “Our brother is right. You stink of—”

“That’s enough.” I threw elbows, squirming free of their intrusive sniffing. The bula-holes needed to keep their nostrils to themselves.

Horns blared, interrupting my family squabble. I huffed a sigh, for once thankful for the king’s intrusion.

“Let us congratulate the winners of our first round,” Idris boomed.

“And thank our dear kingdom for rendering judgment upon those who were unworthy of her forgiveness. Take note, for those gathered before you will move on to compete in the second round of our trials. Tonight, our champions feast. Tomorrow, they return to the pit.”

Around us, the crowd broke into applause. The thundering of their hands, deafening. Soldiers marched into the arena, herding the prisoners into our appropriate cells. My brothers stormed past us, casting glares at Victor as the guards led them away.

As we passed the royal pavilion, I caught the queen’s smirk. No doubt she’d loved watching me humiliate myself, performing like a whore before the masses. One span, very soon, I would wipe that smile off her face.