Page 80 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

My heart slams against my ribs. I can’t let him handcuff me to that desk. I need to get out. I need to win the next trial. Win this whole competition. I need to help the fae resistance. I need to make people accept me.

Draven forces out a long breath and places the other manacle on top of the desk. Then he starts towards me. I cast a desperate glance around the room, trying to calculate if I can somehowmake it past him and get to the door. As if he can read my mind, he spreads his wings wider, blocking the way.

I start to back away, but then change my mind and instead stand my ground. Draven keeps advancing on me. He doesn’t stop until he is standing so close that his chest almost brushes against mine. Holding my gaze with commanding eyes, he raises an eyebrow expectantly.

“What do you want?” I blurt out. The words rip out of my chest, full of frustration and desperation. Holding his merciless stare, I shake my head slowly. “What do you want me to do? Do you want me to beg? Is that it?”

Before he can answer, I drop to my knees before him.

“Do you want me to lick your boots and suck your cock?” I demand.

Emotions flash across his features again, shattering that blank mask on his face.

And because I was standing so close to him, my face is now right in front of his cock, which is why I can clearly see the bulge in his pants grow larger. My eyes widen as realization pulses through me. I flick my gaze back up to his face, and find him clenching his jaw and flexing his hand.

“You’re turned on by this,” I state, completely stunned.

His hand shoots down and wraps around my throat. With golden eyes that are burning with fire, he growls, “Do not use your magic on me.”

Forbidden desire pulses through me at the feeling of his hand around my throat like that. He’s not choking me. Only showing me that he holds the power here. But he’s wrong. Because his hard cock is straining against his pants right in front of my face.

A devilish smile spreads across my lips. He is not the one with the real power here. I am.

“Are my eyes glowing?” I ask.

His gaze flits between my lips and my eyes before he finally grinds out, “No.”

I flash him a knowing grin. “Then whatever you’re feeling is all you, Shadow of Death.”

Another bolt of emotion pulses across his features. For a second, it almost looks like desperation.

With his hand still around my throat, he takes a step forward and to the side. It pushes me backwards and off my knees so that I’m instead sitting on my ass on the floor. Draven, who is now standing next to me instead of in front of me, leans down over me.

His other hand slides through my hair at the back of my neck.

Dark desire pulses through my core as he threads his fingers through my hair and takes it in a firm grip. Tilting my head back, he brings his face closer to mine. My clit throbs as he slants his mouth over mine.

“Is this what you want?” he demands.

His breath hits my lips with every word, making a shiver of pleasure roll down my spine.

“You want me to bend you over a table and fuck you like I own you?” he pushes, his voice dark and hoarse. “You want me to handcuff you to my bed and make you come so hard that you’re screaming my name? Is that what you’re hoping to accomplish with this?”

I grin against his mouth. “I think you’re projecting, darling. You’re the one who got all hot and bothered when I got down on my knees and offered to suck your cock.”

A low growl rumbles from deep within his chest.

In one fluid motion, he releases his grip on my hair and instead pulls me to my feet. But he keeps his hand around my throat as he warns, “You’re playing with fire,darling.”

Holding his gaze, I raise my forearm and push his hand away from my throat. He lets me. I take a step closer to him. He draws in an unsteady breath.

I flash him a sly smile. “Good thing I have experience with that then.”

Then I snake my hand around the back of his neck and yank his mouth down to mine.

A groan rips from his chest.

The sound of it makes my heart flip.

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