Page 40 of Thief of Dreams
Only to flicker back into being as something stops me from melding with them. Slamming back into my physical body is an agony I never expected, and I find myself gasping on the floor.
"Don't deny your charms," the prince growls out. "I've never been moreintriguedby you."
Soraya is gone.
And with her, the Dragon's Heart.
I slap my palm to the floor. Merciless bitch must have had a turnkey portal on her somewhere. Which means I'm the sole recipient of the prince's hot-eyed stare. Damn it.
She won again.
12
The golden cuffs around my wrists bite against my skin.
Or more precisely, the magic within me.
It's a horrible sensation, somewhat akin to being dumped in a swamp absolutely teeming with midges, and try as I might, I can't Sift.
"Are you done?" asks a cool, demanding voice.
Slumping against the chair I'm bound to, I look up at the speaker.
Prince Keir paces in front of me, and he looksfurious. If he had a tail, I'm fairly certain it would be lashing behind him.
"Nice chains." I shrug. "Chair's a bit hard though."
His golden eyes narrow to thin slits. There's no more pretense of hazel in them, and it makes me a little nervous, for he no longer looks entirely fae. It's like the glamour he wields can't quite hide what's stretching beneath his skin.
And whatever it is, it looks like a predator.
"You'd prefer it if I tied you to the bed?"
I glance at the mess of silk sheets and the knife still lying on the floor. A shiver runs through me. "No. No. Chair is fine."
"Good choice." This time his voice drops several octaves, practically humming with power. He lashes out with his fingers, and half a dozen rips suddenly appear in the sheets. "I dislike being played for a fool. Who are you?" he demands, in a silky, dangerous tone of voice. "Because I'm fairly certain you'renotMerisel of Greenslieves."
Excellent guess, Your Highness.
"Not quite."
"And that was your… sister?"
Who has left me to the prince's mercy without a backward glance. "One would think we owned such familial ties, but I believe I got the lion's share of all the best traits."
"Honesty?" he purrs. "Loyalty? Compassion?"
"I did try to warn you."
If anything the words only seem to make him angrier.
"Is this a good time to remind you that Ididjust save your life?"
"Perhaps you'd be wiser to keep your damned mouth shut," Keir growls. "Considering your sister just tried to put her knife in my heart."
"Well, if you hadn't had your tongue halfway down her throat, I daresay she wouldn't have gotten close enough to try."
He pauses, looking momentarily interested in the bite in my tone. "Jealous?"
