Page 42 of The Stygian Crown

Against her better judgment, Kara spread her knees in invitation.

His fingers slid between her legs and slowly traced her folds, spreading her slickness around before settling on her clit. Kara tossed her head back, and he caught her lips with his. His kiss was hard and full of need. Kara wrapped her hands around the edges of the tub as pleasure rocked through her. Her knees slipped against the sides as her hips lifted to meet his hand eagerly, splashing water over the edge.

She moaned into his mouth. He wrapped his hand around her neck, pinning her there so he could devour her, and it turned her on even more.

Pleasure dripped through her as his fingers circled her clit in slow motions. Then his hand dipped lower, and he slid two fingers inside her, curling them against a sensitive spot deep within.

Kara sucked his lower lip between her teeth and groaned. She was out of control. She was supposed to be mad at him, not writhing beneath his hand. She was already on the verge of orgasm. Logan’s thumb stroked her clit as his fingers curled inside her, rubbing that secret place, and it sent her over the edge. She came, shuddering beneath his hand and clenching around his fingers.

“You’re driving me insane,” he groaned. His eyes were yellow orbs—he was full on keening. He brushed her oversensitized clit once more, and she jerked in his arms.

Logan scooped his arms beneath her knees and back and lifted her out of the water. His shirt was soaked through from her splashing and wet skin. Water dripped off her back into the tub. Logan’s gaze drifted across her naked body, hunger in his eyes.

Kara was slow to remember the dark mark from the demon’s drip, still languishing in the heady aftermath of her orgasm. Then her brain caught up, and she tried to twist out of his arms before he saw, but he held her tight against him.

His eyes froze on the violent black streaks that spread across her abdomen. His fingers dug into her flesh. “What is that?”His voice shook.

Kara lowered her eyes. The game was up. “I got a new tattoo?”

Logan carried her away, kicking the bathroom door open, and dropped her on the bed. “Start talking.”

Kara reached for the sheet to cover herself, and Logan yanked it out of her hand. “Now’s hardly the time for modesty, Kara. Not when I’ve kissed every inch of you.”

Kara’s cheeks flushed. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. I’m fine.”

Logan began to pace and wrung his hands through his hair. “You’ve lost weight, you’re pale, that cut you got three days ago is still open when it should have closed already. You smell like—like corruption. Oh, and you have a bloody shadow spreading beneath your skin that wasn’t there a month ago. You’re clearly notfine,and I will not stand by and watch you hurt yourself.”

“It’s none of your business. I have it under control.”

“Did it start after your shadow attacked you? Someone is obviously trying to harm you, and you won’t talk to me about it. Please let me help.”

She didn’t owe him an explanation. When had he ever offered her one?

Logan’s face fell. “You don’t trust me.”

“You lost that privilege when you let another woman kiss you. But this is unrelated to the attack.”As far as she knew.

His expression turned thunderous. “Tell me what it is, or I will lock you in this room until you do.”

“But the contract—”

“I don’t give a fuck about the contract, Kara. I owed Serena a favor after she saved you, and now we’re both stuck in this godsforsaken palace with that willful brat.”

“Protecting the princess is the favor?” Warmth spread through her chest. So it was just a job after all. Though the clan would be displeased if they weren’t making any money off it.

Logan gave a short nod. “The escort and your contract were already set up, but we weren’t supposed to stick around afterward.”

Would he really lock her in here? She wouldn’t put it past him… She could use the unlocking rune, but she had a feeling he meant to lock himself in with her. By the flintiness of his stare, he wasn’t going to let it go anytime soon.

Kara sighed. “I heard a rumor that a local mage was working on an antidote for the monthly keening. I had no plans to take it at first, but after what I saw in the lover’s bowl, and then the masque and the hunt… I didn’t want to be beholden to anything this month, especially you.”

“Your eyes… I haven’t seen Namirah’s fire in your eyes since the feast. Was it Serena?” he asked in a low voice.

Kara shook her head.

“Who?” His eyes were going red, and Kara shoved her hands beneath her legs so she wouldn’t nervously pick at her fingers. If Logan got to Salizar, she’d never get another dose out of him. Assuming he survived to make more.

“Why are you protecting them?! Whatever they gave you is poisoning you, Kara. I’ve lived with the curse since I was eighteen—you think I haven’t tried everything already? Every so-called cure and charm in Teleria and abroad? There is no remedy. Not even cutting the mark off—it will grow right back. Anything that works is worse than the curse itself, because the curse is a part of you. And it won’t be suppressed. Not without taking you with it. Better to be stuck with your own demons.”

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