Page 51

KLEOS

I t would be inaccurate to say I didn't recall the rest of the night. Every moment was etched in stone into my soul. Still, it felt more like a dream than reality.

He fucked me against the marble wall behind the bar again, and then over a bench, until Ronan announced he'd take Silver home and look after her there, as she didn't seem inclined to wake up.

Then, he fucked me inside his friend's coach, which started as highly embarrassing, but by the time he'dwrangled a fifth orgasm from my exhausted limbs, I didn't care.

When Ronan dropped us off, with a "have fun," he carried me into the manor, only letting go when we'd reached his room, where he fucked me into his mattress, harder than any other time.

I couldn't even move when I woke up, so I didn't try for long minutes. I was alone in the unfamiliar room, similar to the dungeon, just much larger. Red walls, dark curtains, a red leather sofa, and a metallic four-poster bed.

Zazel found me, and decided to purr on my chest until I was up for a higher level of activity.

"I ought to apologize."

I had the strength to lift my head an inch. Lucian was leaning at the entrance, two cups in hand.

"Hm?" was all I said.

"I was rough. This should help." He sat on the side of the bed closest to me and handed me one of the cups.

The moment he approached, Zazel hissed and scampered away, making me laugh.

"No apology necessary. A girl occasionally loves to be fucked into next week."With great effort, I made myself sit up and take the drink. "Something for aches?" I guessed by the smell.

He nodded. "And contraception. I wasn't actually joking about Pan wreaking havoc on fertility."

" Oh ." I was sincerely mortified by the fact that I wasn't completely horrified by the prospect of getting knocked up.

Lucian's gaze dropped to my lips as I took a sip, then he stood up. "I'll be in Theke when you're up. I made breakfast."

Emboldened by the fact that I was sore in parts of my body heretofore untouched, I decided to push. "Were you going to kiss me earlier?"

He lifted an eyebrow. "Do you question every man who tries to kiss you?"

I didn't miss a beat."Yes. There's usually a pop quiz."

"You sucked my cock and I fucked you half a dozen times, love. So, I suppose I thought about it. But kissing's rather different from sex, isn't it?"He ran his hand through his hair—his nervous move, just like when I twisted my own hair into braids.

It was. Far more intimate, for one. At least, amongst sorcerers. On Ostara and Dionysia, and other festivals, any of us could end up fucking casually, no strings attached. No one ever kissed for any reason other than wanting to.

"I don't know what your line is," he told me. "And I'm inclined to take more than I should."

I noticed him twirling this signet ring with his thumb. "What's the deal with your ring?"

He folded his hands behind his back.

"There's something, isn't there?" I pressed."I'll find out."

That made him snort. "The Hall of Truce's books would be of little help to you about founding families’ whims and fancies. We keep them to ourselves."

"So tell me," I insisted.

He shook his head. "You'd make a fuss."

"I'm making a fuss already," I whined.

"Barely. If I told you, I'd expect twenty questions, foot stomping, and potentially a curse or two."

That did nothing but increase my curiosity. "I will ask Ronan."

"He wouldn't tell you," he said confidently.

"Yes he would, to annoy you."

Lucian opened his mouth to protest, then saw the truth in my words."Fine," he snapped. "But you're going to remain on the bed, on this side of the room. And no cursing allowed."

He moved towards the door to put some distance between us.

My eyes widen. "That bad?"

He nodded, looking at the ring on his hand again. "It's a precaution. That's all."

I snorted. "If that were all, you would not look like you're considering jumping out the window."

"Dammit, witch," he grunted. "The ritual—you said it yourself, it's attempting to bind your soul, temporarily, as a slave to the will of whoever's behind it.

And rewriting the runes will only works for a while, until the curse is repeated.

You escaped Friday. Great. But I thought it prudent to have a fail-safe. "

Finally an answer. "So, the ring?"

"My signet ring would allow me to mark you. And unless the one cursing you has a stronger claim than I, my mark would win out."

Mark me.

As I pondered the meaning of his words, he continued,"As I said. A precaution. In case it came down to you being enslaved, mind and body, I wanted this option on hand, so to speak. But all was well, and I didn't need to use it."

"Is that why it heats up?Your ring. Because it's made to brand people?"

He nodded. "Don't worry—what I did last night wasn't a mark.

It won't leave a trace on your clit. It takesa drop of blood from each of us.

Blood given willingly . That's essential, and why it would supersede whatever spell they're trying to force on you.

Once completed, I'd stamp your skin and mine, and it would be done.

" He repeated himself, "Nothing but a precaution.

I assume that you'd find it preferable to a lifetime of enslavement. "

"And what would it mean?"

His jaw clenched. "You'd become a member of the house of Nyx. Without the words to complete the binding, it's vague. It wouldn't result in a soul bond, if that's what you're afraid of."

I wasn't afraid of anything. "If it's that unimportant, why not just do it?"

He cursed under his breath. "Kleos. Learn to value your soul. We do this, and part of it belongs to me. Part of me belongs to you. How great the part, how binding the agreement doesn't matter. This is serious. And permanent."

I nodded.

We barely knew each other. Of course he didn't want serious and permanent with me.

"All right. I'd better get home. Tomorrow at the temple?"

He looked at me for what felt like an eternity, and nodded.