Page 114 of Warrior's Reign
“There’s a fun way to bleed?”
He smirked a little. “I’d be happy to show you.”
Reign shook her head.
He swirled his wine. “I love him too, you know. But loving him is—rarely rewarding. Tortured souls are so tedious.”
She lifted her glass to that, and took another long sip.
“He left you this evening,” Lohail continued. “Why?”
Frowning, Reign stared into her glass. “He thinks he’ll corrupt my path to Silence. I think he’s afraid I’ll corrupt his.”
A beat of surprise, and then Lohail roared with laughter. He set his glass down and pressed a hand against his eyes. “Vykhan’s path was corrupted long before you were born, my dear. He is afool.”
Lohail lowered his hand, the same naked dislike in his gaze she’d seen earlier that evening—but this time knew it wasn’t for her.
“No, Reign, he’s afraid you’ll make him confront who he really is. You stir such things inside him.” His voice darkened to a croon. “Such dark things, things that should remain hidden. He’ll never achieve true Silence. Not while he continues to fracture his soul in two.”
Reign stared at the male responsible for one of those fractures. “How do I help him?”
Lohail shook his head. “You don’t. Let him stew in his angst. It’s all melodrama. Vykhan is spoiled. His family is old wealth, so he had to find other things to feel deprived about. He left you hungry tonight?” His eyes skimmed her body again. “I smell the cold water on you. It won’t help. But I know what will.”
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me too.”
Gaze trained on hers, he held out a hand. “I would never leave you wanting, Reign. You might not want to leave me once I’m done with you, though. Just a friendly warning.”
Reign sighed, not bothering to hide her body’s reaction.
“Would this make it easier?”
She glanced up as he brushed his fingers against the unit on his wrist, and then his face shimmered.
Reign’s breath caught. “Are you mad?”
Vykhan stared with cruel, cruel eyes and a smug smile. “I am quite sane, Obe’shan.”
He even sounded like Vykhan. Elegant, critical, steely.
“I know you desire me. What holds you back? You’re not innocent, and the male you desired left you to complete yourself in a cold shower.”
Reign set her glass down very carefully. Did he have the technology to read her mind? He wouldn’t leave this room alive.
Lohail laughed. “The look on your face. No, I can’t read your mind. Vykhan and I have a rich history.”
“When were you lovers?” If she allowed him to seduce her—to a point—what advantage would it gain her?
White teeth flashed. “Come find out. What he knows, I know. I taught him how to touch a female, how to toy with her. Taste me, Reign. He need never know.”
Reign stared at him. He was baiting her, and she wasn’t sure why. Oh, she knew he wanted to use her against Vykhan somehow...but what was the point?
How far would he go to enjoin his former lover’s betrothed to betray them all? The real question, though. . .would Vykhan even consider it a betrayal? He still loved Lohail. Reign knew it, even if Vykhan hid it from himself.
She rose, rounded the table, then was in front of Lohail, who looked up at her with Vykhan’s face.
“Come,” Vykhan said. “I need you. Only you can save me.”
Whatvakshit.She almost rolled her eyes. He must be used to dealing with young girls whose dream it was to reform a bad boy. Reign dropped down onto his lap, straddling him with her thighs, drawing on anger and hurt and decades of unquenched desire. His hands threaded in her hair immediately, and he yanked her head down for a kiss. A vicious kiss, his hands running down her naked back to grip her buttocks.
