Page 9 of Lore of the Wicked Wood
Yes, this was exactly what she needed. A night of wild sex with no strings, no emotions, and no nightmares.
Four
The giggly female vampire sitting on Atlas’s lap ran her nails up and down his chest, whispering promises into his ear about how shesworeshe wouldn’t use her fangs on his cock, but he was hardly listening. He was simply going through the motions expected of him. She was stunning—deep ebony skin, eyes that reminded him of topaz, and sleek black hair that fell in a thick braid over one shoulder. His fingers tapped a restless rhythm against her slender waist, which she took as her cue to sidle closer. Every inch she moved sent her velvet skirt creeping higher up her thighs. She leaned in, her glossy berry painted lips primed for a kiss, but Atlas leaned back, craning his neck to peer over the balcony behind them.
And then he saw her.
Everinne was tangled in the arms of Jarek Zima. If it had been anyone else, Atlas told himself he probably wouldn’t care, but if Everinne thought she was going to take a demon summoner back to her bed, she was highly mistaken.
When Jarek’s hand slid lower to palm the curve of her ass, Atlas’s pulse hammered in rage.
Over his dead fucking body.
“Excuse me,milazk.” Atlas lifted the vampire off his lap, despite her pretty pout, and deposited her on the sofa beside him.
He stood, glanced over the balcony, his gaze zeroing in on them once more. Without another thought, he stalked toward the door of the Midnight Lounge.
“Your Imperial Highness.”
Damn it.
Caedian appeared from the shadowed corner of the lounge, always on duty. He stepped forward, tucking his hands behind him. “Where are you going?”
Atlas lifted a hand, waving him off. “Stand down, Captain. I’m just going home.”
Caedian arched a suspicious brow, the glass ceiling of the Grand Cru proving it was going to be an earlier night than usual. “Already?”
“I forgot I have something I need to take care of,” Atlas muttered.
He stalked out of the lounge and closed the door soundly behind him. Almost instantly a flock of females descended upon him, but he was in no mood to wage war against the females of Starysa. His wings exploded from behind him, forcing them to stumble backward, away from him.
“Apologies, ladies. No time to play tonight.” He gripped the railing of the staircase, swung both legs over, then let his wings carry him across the dance floor. Soaring lower, he ignored the gasps and shouts of his name, then dropped right in front of Everinne and Jarek, effectively blocking their path.
Everinne didn’t notice him at first, her face was angled up toward the demon summoner, her eyes glassy from too much drink. She stumbled along beside him, holding onto him like she’d fall over if she let go. If she wasn’t careful, she’d break her ankle in those damn shoes.
Atlas stretched his wings wider in a full display of power. No one approached him, no one spoke to him, but everyone watched him. He shoved his hands into his pockets, clenching his fists, and offered a slow smile.
“Evening,” he drawled.
Everinne’s gaze swung to him, and Atlas didn’t miss the way Jarek’s finger dug into her hip before he went rigid next to her.
“Your Imperial Highness.” Jarek bowed, but Everinne’s face hardened.
“Make anyone orgasm yet, Your Radiance?” she asked, her smile sharp.
“Not yet.” Atlas rocked back onto his heels, then winked, just to piss her off. “But the night is still young.”
Her jaw went slack but she recovered quickly, her full lips pressing into a firm line. She tugged on Jarek’s arm, trying to steer him around Atlas, and lost her balance. He righted her, but she swatted at Atlas’s wings in an effort to move past him. He fluttered them once, just to annoy her further.
Her brow furrowed, and those turquoise eyes of hers cut to him. “Move out of the way, playboy prince.”
The slight was a little too loud, and his blood simmered at her public display of disrespect. It was one thing to mouth off to him in private, it was something else altogether when his citizens were watching.
He reached out, snaring her by the chin, and forcing her to look up at him. She struggled but he tightened his grip, holding her in place. She sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening.
“Mind yourself, Wildheart,” he murmured softly. “You might be my best friend’s sister, but I’m still yourprince.”
Her scowl deepened.
