Page 7

Chapter six

D imitri groaned at the feel of Astrid’s soft lips. Her magic curled around his, stroking him delicately. Learning him. Making his cock hard.

Her scent of honey and wildflowers engulfed his senses.

Her affection was a pleasant surprise. The E’lan Vital worshiped fate, a fatal flaw that would make his task remarkably easier.

He squeezed her closer, possessive and intent.

Astrid Noctis accepted she was his, but his mercy would depend on her willingness to take direction.

He could be kind, Dimitri mused, for a sweet, purring neva.

He broke their kiss, grazing his lips across her cheek to her ear.

“Spread your legs and I’ll let you ride my—”

His little neva caught him by the throat and shoved away from him. Aggravated, Dimitri knocked her hand away and his fearless captive followed his movement. The point of her elbow caught the corner of his mouth, and a stinging pain shot through him.

Astrid broke out of his hold and scurried backward, sprawled on the carriage floor.

He’d been gentle, and his vicious neva repaid his mercy by splitting his lip.

She retreated until her back collided with the opposite bench. Pain flickered through her dark gaze, and she lifted her palm, breathing heavily. “I’m sorry.”

Her apology was as fleeting as her gaze, darting around the carriage.

She’d struck him with her elbow. Not a slap.

Not the rake of nails so many other princesses used.

He’d wager her labored breathing was meant to disarm him.

To lure him closer. She played a damsel well, but there was technique in her aggression.

Dimitri licked his lip. The metallic taste of blood spread over his tongue, and he grinned, stepping closer. “You’re sorry?”

“I’m not used to males being so forward.”

“Do you need sweet words before giving a male the warmth of your cunt?”

“I’m a princess.”

Dimitri raised his brows. “Jewels, then?”

His vicious neva’s eyes narrowed to slits and Dimitri welcomed the unfettered rage burning within them. If she had wielded an element, he would certainly be at the center of an inferno.

Dimitri lowered to his knees before her, amused by the way she folded her legs to the side. She turned away from him and he chuckled. “Isn’t it beneath the Anima Carnifex to pout?”

Her gaze snapped to his and he grinned. “I always research my targets, princess. Which is why,” he said, smoothing the backs of his fingers down her calf, “I know you prefer your males bound and screaming.”

Astrid squared her shoulders but didn’t deny his words. “I demand the respect of my station,” she announced. She moved to rise to her feet.

Dimitri caught her ankle and yanked her beneath him.

His fingers wrapped around her slender throat, and he moved over her, looming above her delicate frame.

Her erratic pulse thrummed against his palm, and he leaned closer, spreading his wings.

His weight choked her as she struggled against his grasp, uselessly kicking her legs.

She opened her mouth, gasping for breath as she fought to break his grip. Their eyes met in the struggle, and he paused. Terror didn’t permeate her midnight gaze. Fury, violence, and a glimmer of hatred sneered at him as her cheeks pinkened.

Such a beautifully vicious thing.

Stunningly defiant.

He licked the blood from his lip and spit into her mouth. “You belong to me.”

Astrid was shocked still for the space of a heartbeat.

Two. Then her eyes hardened. She bucked her hips and drove her fist down on the bend of his arm.

Dimitri pitched forward, catching himself mere inches before crashing into her.

Pain erupted over his scalp as she fisted a handful of hair and yanked him closer.

He scarcely had time to close his eyes before a mixture of her spit and his blood struck his face.

Malice kissed Dimitri’s heart. Astrid afforded him no choking sound, or whimper of defeat.

His spirited princess lifted her chin, positioning her fingers beneath his grip around her neck.

Her nails sank into his skin as she pried open his hold.

His neva, caged yet free. She knew he couldn’t cut her air off entirely. A stalemate.

Dimitri’s dark smile widened.

He bent lower, cleaning his cheek with the silk across her breasts.

“Get off me, you disgusting beast,” Astrid shouted.

He ignored her, enjoying the way she squirmed and writhed beneath him. He brushed his lips over her sternum and trailed kisses over the swell of her breast. His magic unraveled, reaching for her.

He was a soul drinker, consuming the living to sustain himself. He’d swallowed souls hastily, draining them in moments… not out of hunger, but because fear rotted the soul. Every soul decayed as he drank. He’d taken thousands, each ending the same.

All except hers.

There was no hint of fear in her soul. No taint of rot to turn his stomach. Dimitri drew against her soul slowly, savoring her essence. Her soul was rich and sweet with notes of heat, he believed to be her temper.

Astrid stilled and pursed her lips, unable to hide a muffled moan. Curious . Dimitri watched her and lapped at her soul again. She kept her breathing even, but a flush crept over her cheeks.

“You like when I drink you slow,” Dimitri mused.

She struggled with his grip on her throat but relented after a few moments, hissing, “I hate it.”

Liar. He took a deep inhalation and leaned over her. “I can scent how wet you’re getting. Should I spread your legs and prove I’m right?”

Her heel stabbed into the wooden floor, uncomfortably close to his leg. Dimitri made a show of turning to glance behind him before returning to her. “Such a vicious neva. Don’t the E’lan Vital worship fate?”

“What’s your point?” Astrid bit out.

“You’re mine. Your precious Fate delivered you to me. Shouldn’t you accept it?”

“I am not yours,” Astrid answered on the heels of his question.

Dimitri brought his wings down on either side of them and leaned closer. “You’ll learn to take my cock in your throat, cunt, and ass, neva… And you’ll beg me to drink you slow while I’m fucking you.”

Astrid raised her elbow in a swift motion, but he deflected her blow with the leading edge of his wing. Dimitri chuckled. Taming her will be exquisite. He captured both her wrists in one hand and positioned them above her head.

“I want you to hold on to this viciousness,” he said, while holding her still and replacing his hand with the curved talon of his wing, “as the days turn into months and you realize—you’ll never escape me.”

“Fuck you.”

“Keep that, too.” Dimitri smirked. “I think your temper adds a bit of something to your soul.”

He held her stare and smoothed his hand up her side before slipping beneath her peacock silk. She raised her chin as he palmed her breast. By the blood, her soft curves fit his hand perfectly.

He fisted her lotus belt, holding her down while he guided her legs over his lean waist and caressed the back of her thigh with the tip of his wing.

His fiery princess kicked but it did little to stop his claw from trailing to the curve of her ass.

Vicious anger swirled in her midnight gaze. “Don’t touch me with those grotesque wings you use on your whores.”

“Are you jealous? Would you prefer I fuck you with something I’ve never used on a female?” Dimitri asked as he removed his weapon from the scabbard on his hip.

Her silence answered him.

“My sword will remind me of you when I’m in battle,” he whispered, inching the chilled pommel up her inner thigh. He leaned closer and his princess turned from him. He nipped under her jaw and fanned his breath over her throat before moving to her ear. “And I’ll hurry back to you.”