Page 97 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

My heart flutters at his possessiveness. His need to protect me. It’s been on my mind since last night.

“It’s nothing new,” I explain, shrugging. “Most people are afraid of me.”

“And most people are stupid,” he retorts. “Only weak men fear strong women. The Witch is weak. He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you.”

Bristling at his insult to my friend, I can’t deny how pleased I am to hear him say I’m strong. At the conviction that I’m more than just evil.

“And what of you, heir?” My toe catches a root causing my knee to jerk and I wince. “Areyou afraid of me?”

Kaden pivots quickly, turning so his chest collides with my front. My hands come up to break my fall, cool palms warming against his body heat. Gods, he’s always so warm, I want to sink into it.

“I am not a weak male, kitten.” He tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “Have I ever seemed afraid of you?”

I shake my head.No. He’s only ever been amazed by me.

It makes me uncomfortable to see such honesty on his face. Such want. But it also warms a cold part of my heart, to have someone look at me like I hang the stars in the sky.

“People shouldn’t fear you, Max. People should bow on their knees for you, praying to you for guidance. For your wrath. Your might. Not shunning you because of the magic you wield.”

Breath rushes from my lips as his bold admission.

“Would you bow?” I ask, the words ghosting between us. “Would you bow for me?”

Carefully, Kaden comes closer, wrapping his long arms around my waist so we’re flush. Where one point of his stops, is where I begin.

His heart echoes the beat within my chest.

“I would happily, gleefully bend my knees for your beauty. I would let you walk all over me for your power. But for your lips?” He shakes his head, a thumb plucking my bottom lip as if to smooth away paint. “Well, for that, I would conquer the world for just one kiss.”

My mouth dries as he leans forward.

“I think you’ve cast a spell on me,” he murmurs, watching my mouth with keen interest. “A spell I don’t think I can break. Nor want to.”

“A spell that didn’t keep you with me for the night,” I retort.

He chuckles, pleased.

“Did that hurt? Well, good, that was my intention. I wanted you to feel every ache I feel when you aren’t near me.” Tilting my chin up, he runs his lips over my jaw to the wound on my neck. “Gods,seeing you with my mark does something to me, Max.”

“And what is that?” I have to know. Does it give him the same kind of pleasure that it does me?

He laughs, the smokey sound wrapping around my heart like a leash. “It makes me want to claim every inch of your body with my teeth,” he growls into my ear. “So that the only thing people see when they look at you is how you belong to me.Onlyme.”

My body tenses, delight spiraling up in me as that bubble of darkness inside my soul is fed.

Gods, I like what this Fae does to me—what he wants to do to me.

I grow damp and he nips my earlobe playfully.

“Do you want me to claim you, Max?” I shiver. “Do you want to wear my marks so everyone knows who owns you?”

OnCella’s crown, I do. Gulping, I tilt my head, allowing him better access.

Groaning, he claims my lips in a brutal kiss that has my head whirling, breaths stuttering. Soft lips pry my mouth open as my tongue dives deep inside his mouth, trying to take as much as he’ll give.

This is what I wanted. The heir, touching him, something clicks inside my chest, a lock opening wide and I inhale as he exhales. Any bit of him I can get, I draw deep inside.

Clutching his locks, we fight for dominance, as he moans into my mouth and I smile. I like hearing him moan for me.