Page 32 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

I can’t tell if he’s goading me or if he honestly doesn’t know what I am. “I may be smaller, but I am not weak. My Matriarch Nafre taught me to fight.”

Taught me to fight, to weaken my body, to tire my mind so as to ignore the magic? Yes. Enough to survive in a battle? Not so much.

He frowns, tasting my deceit. Grabbing my wrist, he pulls me close, inspecting my fingers.

I try pulling away, his burn scorching me, but his grip is unrelenting like steel. He tsks. “No, no. Let me see those bloody fingers.”

Any hope I have for someone to interrupt is squashed as soon I think it. We’re in the back corner, shadows thick around us. No one is coming to my aid.

It was stupid not to bring my dagger. I need to plan better.

Holding my hand to his face, he peers at my pale tips. “They’re not bloody.”

“I see that,” he snaps out. “Then what are you? What power does such a small kitten posses?”

My cheeks heat as I glare at the heir. “I am not a kitten. I am the advisor to the Blackwoods Coven?—”

“Yes, yes,” he dismisses. “A powerful title that meansnothinghere as you are a woman. Now. How did you do it?”

“Do, what?” I ask, innocently, face hot. He leans close, his breath rustling against my lips and I tense. He’s too close and yet not close enough.

What is wrong with me? I push him, dare him to fight me and can’t seem to move away. It’s as if I’m drawn to him, an invisible need to be close.

Smiling arrogantly into my face, the heir wraps a finger around my silken strand, playing with the end as if this is normal.

My body trembles.

“Fine. Don’t tell me.” His finger brushes my chin and I exhale, warmth rising from my core. “Maybe I’ll just share what I saw withthe King?”

Jutting out my chin, I narrow my eyes, coldness quelling the rising flames of desire. If he tells the king, who knows how he’ll react?

“Is that a threat?”

He tilts his head, assessing me. “More like a promise.”

Finally, I jerk my hand away, fed up with his bold advances. He doesn’t get to threaten me and think I won’t respond.

“Remove yourself,” I demand, scowling.

He leans close, lapping up my fury, fangs glinting in the darkness. I refuse to budge.

“Use your powers andmakeme.”

I try to call on my magic, but it barely stirs. It wants to attack but it won’t attackhim.

Convenient.

“What do you want to know?”

Now, his smile edges into something wicked, primal. Inhaling, his nose ghosts my jaw, scenting me. “Tell me, kitten. What are you? You smell like a Witch but I sense—” he breaks off, unsure. “You have magic. Powerful, dark,magic.”

Gulping, I keep my eyes trained over his shoulder. He doesn’t know how right he is. How dangerous I am.

But by admitting it, I’ll give him more power. He’s already seen me, I can’t tell him what I am too. “I’m only an advisor,” I bite out, throat dry. “That’s all.”

“Oh, kitten.” He chuckles, looking up at me. At this angle, my heart constricts at the beauty on his deadly face. “You aresomuch more than that.”

“Everything alright?”Tayinterrupts, body highlighted against the flickering flames of the ballroom.