Page 65 of Rapunzel Unchained

Gage cleared his throat and scoffed. Though he turned his face away, he couldn’t hide the hunger that darkened his eyes.

I dropped my skirt and turned my back on him. “You could at least bring me something to do. A book, television, something.” I collapsed dramatically on my bed. “There’s a reason I almost went mad while in my tower. One’s own company can drive you crazy.”

“You are hardly alone.” Gage snorted, setting his tablet down before stepping through the barrier. “And I’m not giving you anything you could use to break my barrier again. You’re lucky you’re still getting food after that stunt with the fruit.”

A hand above my head, I let my eyes trail over him as my other hand made a path down my body. My gaze passed everything from his thick calves to his powerful thighs, lingering on the sinch of his belt before hungrily devouring the long hard planes of his chest.

It was like this man was sculpted out of muscle. Each piece of him was carved into a deadly weapon. I couldn’t wait to have that strength against me, inside of me, begging me to let him taste me.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

I blinked coyly at him.

Gage crossed those delectable arms over his chest. “You’re fucking me with your eyes. It won’t work.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My fingers traced over my breast, causing my nipple to pucker against the material. “You won’t give me anything to entertain myself. You won’t talk to me or let me talk to anyone else. What am I supposed to do with my time?”

Gage’s eyes stayed on mine, but the tension in his jaw tightened. “If you want out, you can make a blood promise to not attack the other mages.”

I made a rude noise in the back of my throat. “I could make you promises until the end of time, and that still wouldn’t keep them safe from me or me safe from them. I put myself in their sights and, no matter how much you and Adam try to hide me away and protect me, they’re going to find a way to get me.”

My hand continued its path down my stomach and settled between my thighs. I didn’t move it or draw my dress up my thighs. I simply left my hand there, taunting him with what he could have if he’d just give in.

“That won’t happen.”

The certainty in Gage’s voice made me want to laugh. How trusting he was of their government. How naive he was to think they wouldn’t come for me.

“You forget, Gage.” I closed my eyes, teasing the inside of my thigh but going no higher. “I’ve been through this before. No king, princess, or council member will let my actions go unpunished. So either I come for them or theywillcome for me. No matter how pretty their promises are to you and Adam.”

Gage huffed, and his footsteps drifted away from me.

I sighed and let my hand fall to my side. This was getting pointless. I hadn’t been lying to Gage. I wasn’t some power-hungry idiot who didn’t know the consequences of my actions.

Someone would die. Whether it was the council members or me, there would be blood shed before this was all over.

I must have drifted to sleep at some point because I woke to the sound of laughter.

Groaning, I rolled onto my side and peeked out beneath my lashes.

Zane stood on the other side of the barrier line, his lips curled as he sucked on the end of a cigarette. A red burning gaze swept over me and my new home.

“Well, well, well, the little birdy has been all caged up with nowhere to go.” His voice was a rolling taunt as he walked along my cell.

My body uncurled from the bed, languidly drawing myself up into a sitting position. My fingers dragged through my hair, letting the sheets of pale blonde hair cascade over my fingertips. “This little birdy wouldn’t have gotten caught had someone been where they were supposed to be.”

The demon stopped his prowl, his fingers pinching the stick in his mouth. “That was not my fault. If that damned cleric had let me loose, I could have broken through their wards easily.”

“Oh?” I purred, leaning back on my hand. “You took your precious time getting here.”

He lifted a foot to move and then stopped, eying the line on the ground.

“You won’t get stuck in here.” I sighed, waving a hand languidly in the air. “Only me.”

The demon let out a vicious growl. “They think to keep you safe when anyone could stroll in and hurt you.”

I let my lips curl into a grin that promised violence. “Let them try.”

He sniffed the air and then returned my grin with one of his own, his mixed with desire. “Did my little sinner kill someone?”

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