Page 3 of A Heart of Crimson Flames
I noted that for future consideration.
“Now that you are my betrothed,” he said, eyeing the ring as if its presence was proposal enough, “you are mine to do with as I please. I will erase you and reshape you into everything I desire you to be and you willsmilewhile you do it”—his eyes stabbed daggers into me and held, a fly caught in his web—“you will spread your legs for me whenever I command and I will breed you and break you until I have as many heirs as my heart desiresand then I will keep going. Iownthe air in your lungs and the blood in your veins. Do you understand?”
It wasn’t a question—or rather, it was a trivia question, with only one right answer. It took every single year of training for my mouth not to fall open, for my eyes not to widen in shock. I lowered my gaze out of self-preservation and feigned obeisance, feeling instant relief from breaking our eye contact. I gave another short bow. “Yes, Your Highness.”
I heard the jangling of metal against metal as Evres produced the keys from his pocket and opened the dungeon door. As he yanked it ajar, I wanted to push past him and flee the cell, but instead I stood stock-still and waited for his command, imagining my bare feet tethered to the wet stone.
“Then you may go to your room,” he said. “I trust you will be able to find it. It is the same one you resided in last time you were here.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Highness.” I offered another quick bow. There could never be too many with someone like him. In truth, I had no idea where I was going but I wasn’t about to ask a venomous beast like him to guide me.
I took a tentative step forward, waiting for Evres to make way, but he didn’t move from the doorway, forcing me to get within a hair’s breadth from him to push past. I kept my eyes trained on the silver buttons of his tunic, the skirt of my dress brushing over the tops of his boots as I moved past. My heart punched against my sternum. I had just skirted past him when his hand snapped out, grabbing me roughly by the upper arm and slamming me back against the bars.
I tried not to yelp as my head smacked against the steel, but there was only so much I could contain. Evres shot toward me, his mouth hovering over my own. A cold hand lifted to cup my cheek and he swept his thumb across my bottom lip. His chest pressed into mine as he breathed me in and I fought with every ounce of restraint not to let my shoulders bunch up around myears. I fought the tension building in my muscles, desperate to fight and flee.
He wants you to flinch. Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm...
I’d felt unsafe with men my whole life. I caught their lingering stares, their lust-filled looks tinged with violence; knew with acute surety that I never wanted to be trapped alone with one of them, let alone give one my heart. When Grae had told me our marriage would be in name alone, I’d felt such relief. For one thing, I knew him and trusted him. For another, it meant nothing would ever be forced on me. Bedding a man would’ve been just another way I was forced to pretend. And when I’d found my mate, I felt so blissfully confident that no man would ever touch me again. Tears welled in my eyes at the thought, but Evres was too close to see them.
I wondered what he’d think of them. They’d likely spur on his violence; worse, they’d probably turn him on.
His mouth dropped, his lips colliding with mine in a bruising kiss, one I was forced to return.You have to move; react!It was all I could do to listen, to not let the fear freeze me. So I worked my tongue over his, meeting each of his kisses with a disingenuous passion of my own. His mouth tasted as rotten as his soul. As I kissed him, I dreamed of biting out his tongue, blood dripping down my neck as I chewed it, masticating and swallowing as he choked on his own blood.
Surprisingly, this fantasy was enough to keep me engaged. I held on to the thought like a prayer, like a curse:he will die at my hand.
I could do it, I told myself.Iwilldo it, I affirmed... once I knew I could survive to tell the tale.
Oh yes, I was made of stronger stuff. But Evres didn’t need to know that... yet.
When he pulled away his eyelids were drooped, his lips parted as he stared at my seemingly eager mouth. I prayed to all the Gods that I could work my magic over him like I had Wolf menbefore. He shook the spell of that kiss from his eyes and released me, taking a step back, eyes just slightly hooded.
“Go to your room,” he commanded once again. I took a step when he continued, “And get ready for a reception with the King. You will face the wrath of your pack ruler for your crimes.”
He said it so nonchalantly—like an afterthought, I wasn’t sure if what I’d heard was real. I had somehow forgotten about Nero. About the brute that hadcreatedthis Wolf standing before me. The one staring pointedly at me, making it clear he could kiss me and threaten me in the same breath and not blink.
I would note that to myself, too.
My cheeks flamed, fear coiling in my heart, as I turned and walked toward the dungeon door.
Don’t run, don’t run, don’t run.
It would only make him want to chase me.
I battled the tears threatening to spill as I reached the threshold and stared at the cloudless sky through the stained glass windows.
Please, Maez, I begged the sky and the Moon Goddess hidden by the daylight, the Goddess who had gifted me a mate, one who I’d found my way back to against all odds, against dark magic itself.
Please. Come save me.
Calla
“BRIAR!”
The scream shredded my throat as I raced through the snow. I could hear Grae shouting my name from behind me, but I just ran and ran and ran. I didn’t feel the ice burning my feet or the blood gushing from the wound on my thigh. I had to reach that sleigh. I had to save her. I couldn’t lose her again, not when I just got her back.
What was happening to her in that sleigh? Naked and frightened. No. My heart couldn’t take it.
I ran faster, not caring if I bled to death on the snow if it meant I could reach her.
