Page 21 of Underworld
“Dark Mages don’t mourn a life lost the way others do, Lily.” He explained as his gaze narrowed. “Death is the end. We’ve already lost our soul so there’s nothing left to move on to another plane of existence or…” He shrugged. “What have you.”
“So… I died and you were like…Oh, well. That was fun while it lasted? What the fuck, Hendrik?” feeling even colder and more broken then before, I shoved past him. Or tried. The heavy wings made it hard for me to me as swiftly as I had before and he caught my hand, squeezing.
“That’s not what I said.”
“I don’t knowwhatyou meant,” I ground out. “Why don’t you explain it to me again?”
“Lily…” He blew out a slow breath.
Temper sparked in the depths of his eyes—I was almost happy to see it. It was a reaction, if nothing else.
As if he’d read my mind, he blinked lazily and when he looked at me again, the flash of anger was banked.
I hated how easily he could control his reactions. Glowering, I sighed. “Are we done here? We’ve got a meeting.”
“The meeting can get fucked,” he said coolly.
“If you want totalk, thentalk,” I growled. “But if you just playing more of your games, stop it. I’m not in the mood for them. And for the record?Nowwould be a damn good time to act like you actuallywantto be one of my Virtues.”
Holding his gaze, I reached for that connection between us, fragile after a year of distance but still there. I drew on the bond and watched his eyes widen a fraction.
“Now who is playing games?” he asked. “Are you trying to own me, pet?” Without waiting for an answer, he caught my hips, hauling me against him. “Cole’s tried do that very same thing, you know—ownme.”
Damn him. Wedging my hands against his chest, I forced some distance between us. “That’s funny, coming from you,” I said. “You made me jump to do your bidding for weeks when we first got to know each other. For the record, I’m notlikeyou—or Cole.”
Something about that amused him and he smiled. “If you truly believe that, then even a total death experience wasn’t enough to change you… Lilith.”
“Don’t call me that.” It infuriated me. I didn’t know why, but it did. My claws tore free and I tasted blood in my mouth, followed by a faint pain the faded almost immediately. Reaching up, I touched my lips and felt the slight bulge. Fangs…
“There you are,” Hendrik said, his gaze going hooded.
Jerking my gaze up, I looked at Hendrik. He didn’t look surprised, not by the claws or the fangs.
“This is who you truly are, Lily. This is the part of you that called out to Cole, isn’t it?”
Closing my eyes, I drew in deep breaths but the anger in me didn’t fade. “Why are you tormenting me?”
He had to wantsomething—as much as Hendrik enjoyed his little head games, I’d come to realize he usually had a method to his madness.
Instead of answering, he eased away and started to move, circling me. I didn’t like the predatory gleam in his eyes, but I didn’t think he was out to hurt me.
“This new form of yours, Lily… You take my breath away.”
He touched me then, one fingertip sliding along my shoulder, up to the curve of my neck to my jawline then my mouth. “May I?”
Wary, I eyed him.
“I’m not going to harm you,” he said quietly.
I don’t know why I believed him, or exactly when I’d started to trust him, but I found my lips moving in reply with agreement.
He took that as assent and pressed the tip of his finger on my lower lip until I opened my mouth. He pricked his finger on one of my newly emerged fangs and I tasted blood instantly. “Hendrik—”
“Shhh…” He nudged on my chin, indicating he wanted me to close my mouth—with his finger still inside.
The taste of his blood wasn’t unpleasant. It was just…him. Magic, roses, and blood.
“Swallow.”
