Page 51 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

‘Fighting with Irsha is asking for death. He’s a trained killer who isn’t trying to win a duel but to kill as quickly as possible.

I know he mistook you for Jagon’s goon, but you?

Why did you fight?’ I asked, dipping a rag in the water and bending over to clean the cut of any residual poison.

‘Tell me if it becomes too painful. I’ll try to be gentle, but herb of grace can make the skin oversensitive. ’

Rey closed his eyes and tilted his head backwards, giving me full access to his wound.

‘You should trust my abilities, little Viper,’ he said, voice low. ‘Now, stop worrying about being gentle. You can’t hurt me.’

He didn’t flinch when I moved between his legs for a better angle.

‘Don’t tempt me, Kingling,’ I muttered. ‘I’m still mad at you.’

He chuckled. ‘If this is how you express your anger, I have nothing to complain about.’

But the humour faded. His smirk slipped into something quieter, heavier.

‘Never, under any circumstances, jump in front of a blade to protect me,’ he said, eyes still closed. ‘I can’t feel afraid when I’m dancing with death—and seeing you in the path of a blade terrified me.’

‘What . . .?’

The word caught in my throat as Rey slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. He looked up at me, gaze burning. Then, without warning, he pressed his face against my midriff and inhaled deeply, as if the scent of me could anchor him.

‘I can’t stand to see you hurt,’ he murmured. ‘And I can’t seem to stay away from you. Gods know I’ve tried. What spell have you cast on me, Viper, that I can’t stop thinking about you?’

His forehead rested against my stomach for a long moment before he lifted his gaze again.

‘Why didn’t you come to me after the Brotherhood feast?’ he asked.

His words had left me speechless, so I used the moment to dab the antidote powder on a sponge and press it gently to his wound.

‘I was busy,’ I said quietly. ‘But I sent a message.’

It was a weak excuse, and we both knew it. Still, I focused on my task, tilting his chin to the side so I could finish tending the wound. Once the bleeding stopped, however, there was no longer a reason for us to be so close.

‘Rey, you have to let me go,’ I said softly, waiting for him to move while enjoying the warmth of his large hands touching my body.

He didn’t listen.

The soft fae light bathed his dark hair in silver-blue, and in a moment of reckless indulgence, I gave in to temptation, brushing my hand through the silky strands. They slipped through my fingers like water, impossibly soft.

A shuddered breath escaped him, his fingers squeezing my waist tighter as he pulled me to him.

‘Do that again,’ he breathed, voice rough with need. The sound of it ignited fire across my skin, stunning me with its intensity. ‘Sana, please, do it again,’ he repeated, nipping at my blouse, teeth pulling at the laces until the knot surrendered, giving him access.

‘We can’t . . .’

My voice was barely audible, my resistance melting while reason and desire fought inside me. As my breath hitched, I ran my hands over his scalp, playing with his hair while his teeth grazed my skin. The faint sting of his bites was eased by the kisses he trailed down my body.

I was falling—completely and utterly—for a man who could never truly be mine. And I hated how much I wanted him anyway.

Panting, I pulled away with what little willpower I had left.

‘Rey . . . no. We can’t.’

But the workbench halted my retreat. He followed, relentless, bracing his arms on either side of me.

‘Why not? Give me one good reason to step away, Sanika, because I have none.’ His hand rose to cradle my head, fingers slipping into my braid, titling my face up to meet his. ‘The need to touch you haunts my every thought. I’m a man possessed. I want . . . No, I need you.’

His eyes bore into mine, challenging me to object. When I didn’t, a slow, wicked smile curved his lips and a heat like molten lava rolled over my body.

‘I’m going to lift you onto this bench, little Viper,’ he said, voice velvet over steel. ‘And then I’m going to get on my knees and savour the scent that’s been driving me wild since the moment we met.’

He swept the bench clean with one sharp motion, and I gasped, turning around, startled by his actions—a mistake. His hips pressed against mine, and the hard length pressing through the fabric told me exactly how crazed he felt, how hot and hard I made him.

‘Do you know how many nights I’ve dreamed of holding you like this?

’ Reynard murmured, fingers encircling my throat as he pulled me closer.

His touch was firm, but ever so tender. ‘Of hearing those little gasps when your mind resists, but your body yearns to be mine. You invade my nights and my days. I see your eyes, your smile . . . My suffering never ends. Are you so cruel to deny me this respite?’

I whimpered, the traitorous heat between my thighs betraying me. The image of him inside me, taking me right here, was too vivid, too sharp, and my hips tilted instinctively, pressing against him.

I couldn’t resist him even if I tried.

‘Sanika . . .’ he said, pulling my skirt up. ‘Don’t fight it.’

With a defeated moan, I gave in to the liquid fire he poured into my veins.

A booming crash sounded, and it felt like ice water splashing over me. We both froze. I blinked and my focus snapped back to reality as I recognised the unmistakable clashing of steel.

‘Stay behind me,’ Reynard snarled, stunning me with his instant transformation from passionate lover to death incarnate as he rushed towards the door, sword and shield in hand.

‘In your dreams!’ I shouted, hastily straightening my clothes and chasing after him.

The fight might have saved me from making a mistake, but this was my home. The gods have mercy on the idiots who’d invaded it—because I would have none.

And deep down, I wasn’t even sure if I’d wanted to be saved.