Page 43 of Rotanev
I canted my head, catching her dropping gaze with mine. “What do you mean, Kailiani?”
“Whatever voodoo magic you plan to perform to, you know,unleash my soul.Will I be involved in the decision to actually move forward? Will you tell me what’s happening?”
“Of course,” I replied, confused by her queries. “It’s your body, Kailiani. I would never force you to do something you didn’t want to do.”
She arched a brow. “Are you sure about that?”
“Have I done something to make you think otherwise?” I demanded, affronted by the mere notion of forcing her to do anything against her will.
She considered, then slowly moved her head back and forth. “I guess not, no. You’re just very, well,in charge.”
My shoulders relaxed as understanding caressed my thoughts. “Yes, as is my due as King of the Seas. But I would never make you do something you didn’t want to do, Kailiani.”
“Well, technically, wematedwithout my permission.”
“Is it something you don’t want?” I countered, already knowing the answer. Her soul would never have bonded to mine if it wasn’t a mutual agreement.
“It’s something I don’t really understand,” she admitted softly. “But I’m not necessarily upset that it happened, no.”
I feathered my lips over hers. “I will teach you, little siren. However, first, I need to deal with Dolos. Can you tell me where Corban is?”
“I can show you…”
“An address is all I need.”
She shook her head. “No. I mean, yes, I have it. But no, I won’t give it to you. I willshowyou because I’m coming with you.”
My spine went rigid. “Kailiani—”
“Nero.” The emotion in that single word had me refocusing on her face, giving her all of my attention. “If this demigod destroyedmylife, then I have earned the right to confront him. I am going with you.”
A dangerous request. But also a fair one.
She was right—she deserved to face her attacker, perhaps even needed to face him to begin the healing process. Because who knew what Dolos had truly done to her all these years?
“You will do as I say, and you will let me protect you,” I told her, unwilling to negotiate those two demands. “You may no longer age, but you are still very fragile. And I will not risk your existence for vengeance.”
“I no longer age?”
“Correct.”Oh, there is still so much she doesn’t know.“Because of our bond,” I added before she could ask.
“So I’m immortal?”
“To an extent, yes. But you’re stillhuman. You can bleed. You can die.”
“What happens if I die?”
“I don’t know,” I confessed. “What we’ve done is… unprecedented.”
“I see.” She pinched her mouth to the side and slowly bobbed her head. “I accept your terms. But I get to punch him.”
I chuckled. “Oh, I’ll let you do more than punch him, little siren.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Really?”
“Yes. It would be my honor to watch you destroy him.” I kissed her again, this time with intent. “In fact,” I whispered against her mouth, “I think it would be excellent foreplay to watch you draw blood.”
She gasped. “Nero…”
