Page 9 of The Manticore's Fire

That was apparently the wrong thing to say because her face darkened, rebellion brightening her eyes. She looked wild, unbreakable, and absolutely breath-taking. It inspired his need, not to conqueror her but to tame her into accepting him. She would be a glorious queen of his desert—if that was what he was looking for.

“I’m not… your… pet,” she hissed from between her gritted teeth.

He gave her an amused look. “Of course you are not. Manticores have little use for pets. You are a delightful captive guest whom I wish to treat well while I have you.”

“Keyword being captive,” she muttered but he could see that much of her ire had already fizzled away. She sighed heavily and gave the almond a disparaging look that such a sweet treat certainly did not deserve.

“I mean no offense,” he replied, his hand closing around the almond. “But if you truly do not want it?—”

“No, wait,” she said, her hand rising in the air between them. Her tongue swiped over her lips again, her gazed fixed on his hand. “Something sweet actually does sound good.”

Samir beamed in response and immediately opened his palm and extended his hand with the almond in it out to her. She plucked it from his hand, her fingertips briefly grazing the thick pads that covered his palm and fingers, sending a shiver through him. He showed no reaction, however, and merely smiled when she quickly put the candied almond in her mouth and began to chew, a look of pleasure filling her face.

“This changes nothing,” she said as she scrutinized him. He found her assertiveness charming. She was certainly making a point in informing him. “I’m not your willing captive.”

“Perish the thought. I would never imagine that you would,” he agreed pleasantly.

Her eyes narrowed on him briefly, but she nodded. “I’ve just decided that you are right and there is no point in refusing when I do not benefit from doing so. I cannot see it benefiting you either if I eat them. Not unless you are trying to fatten me up to devour me.”

“That is a possibility. I do imagine that I would enjoy leisurely devouring you. Tea?” he inquired as he poured mint green tea into a cup and gestured to it in offering to her.

She nodded, a scarlet blush racing across her cheeks. Picking up the cup, she brought it to her plush lips to sip from the rim. He pushed the bowl of almonds toward her with a smile.

“Please, have as much as you would like. I have plenty,” he added, gesturing to the large, lidded container that he had painstakingly filled from the sacks he had acquired.

Abby froze and lowered her teacup. “How full is that?”

He considered the jar curiously. “I have had it for a couple cycles of the moon now. I think it has dropped four fingers from the top,” he said, demonstrating with his own large, padded fingers.

Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “How did you acquire so much? Wait…” she groaned aloud, “please tell me that you didn’t acquire them from attacking a caravan as they say.”

“Why should I say that when it would be a lie?” he inquired curiously. “It is not like they did not scream in terror and abandon their wares when they saw me coming. No one was offering trade and a few tried to pierce me with their arrows as they hid like cowards. I never harmed them, merely took what I wanted and left.”

“Gods,” she groaned in dismay but quickly popped an almond into her mouth. “At least they are good. If you are going to terrorize humans and commit crimes against Veldala, at least it is for something decent.”

“Naturally,” he agreed with a satisfied purr, his eyes following every motion as she ate the candied nuts. “As I can provide much for myself, I would not take something of inferior quality.”

She nodded absently as she ate another nut. “Is that what you do in your free time, then? Track caravans.”

He lifted his hands in a shrug. “At times. You asked how I can sit here day after day, and the truth is that I usually do not once the sun begins to set. The caravans attract very little of my attention unless there is something specific that I want or need. The night, however, calls to me. It is made for prowling and enjoying and catching the subtle scents of the desert flowers of the desert during the rainy season before the heat reclaims the last of them.”

“Perhaps you can show me?” she suggested.

She leaned forward and smiled in a way that was far too beguiling. He wanted to both laugh and applaud her tenacity. She was still trying to trap him. He grinned back at her, noting that she did not flinch this time at the sight of his sharp teeth.

“Perhaps,” he purred. A look of excitement rose victoriously in her eyes, and he chuckled. “But not on this night.”

Frustration and disappointment darkened her gaze, but she did not act on it. Instead, she shoved another candied almond into her mouth and chewed it far more vigorously than it needed. His poor frustrated little kitten.

Chuckling to himself, Samir sipped on his own cup of tea and popped another nut into his mouth. He wondered just how long she was determined to extend this particular dance between them.

Watching should prove interesting.

Chapter

Eight

Abby scowled as she paced restlessly along the passages of the part of the cave that Samir claimed for his home. She couldn’t believe that he was really going to keep her trapped inside his cavern with him at all hours of the day and night. He never left and he seemed to hear every move she made within the cave. How the hell was she going to get outside and set off the flare at this rate? What was worse was that being stuck in close confines with the manticore was beginning to mess with her head. She was constantly in a state of semi-arousal that was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with no relief in sight. That alone was enough to make her supremely annoyed.

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