Page 44 of Nocte
No, Caspian,Cassius warns.Betrayal.
I ignore him. I’ll deal with him later. Make a trade. Whatever price is worth this, making her say what I know she will. She wants something from me—in the same way I want her to make new words spill into this chained, slave-mind. She’ll ask.
Voice scratching the air, she starts, “You can…”
“Say it,” I snarl when she trails off into silence. I run my thumb over her mouth and pry those pink lips apart. “Say it. Tell me what you want, little fae. Ask me.”
Her breath coats my fingers as she utters, “You can help me leave.”
Her eyes widen. Oh dear. She’s said such a dangerous fucking thing. Never ever has she voiced as much out loud. Never has she begged anyone for a damn thing. Not even him. Especially not him, the creeping male fae.
Because she knows he would refuse.
So will I.
As long as she doesn’t bite her lip like she does now. If her breathing doesn’t hitch. Fuck, until I feel her hands creep up to the bare skin of my throat am I sure that I’ll deny her. Silly little fae. Who is she to demand anything of me?
“And what will you give me?” I ask.
“I told you.” She swallows. “Anything.”
The price, however, is too high. Whatever I take from her, I’ll inflict upon myself—a double-edged sword. Things I’ve denied for centuries or decades. Why the fuck can’t I remember? In any case, no. She isn’t worth one night of sin with that sick motherfucker.
She isn’t worth debasing myself before him.
Good,he murmurs. Spying, jealous Cassius.I can let you have hundreds of bodies. You can let loose on the city. Have anyone you want.
Forhim. In the end, anyone I take will always belong to him. But not her. I can own this fae, and he can never, ever touch her. She’ll be mine…
Unfortunately, the price is too high.
So, I laugh in her face. “You think you are worth the risk?” I ask her. “To go against the council is to risk prison or worse.”
It’s clear from her frown that she knows the answer without having to speak. Of course, she isn’t worthy. Isn’t a prize. She isn’t worth the one kiss—two, three, four—that I’ll have to give Cassius in exchange.
I wait for her to confess as much. Admit it to herself and to me. She’s worthless. Even so, she cannot say it. Then I see why—glistening wet drops shining in her eyes. Those tears I’ve fantasized about causing.
I should grin in triumph.
“Stop.” I jab my thumb to the corner of her eye and feel the wet warmth as if force alone can keep any more at bay. Too late. Another falls onto the pad of my finger, and I watch it shimmer there. Then I crush it in a fist. “I said stop it.”
I shove her against the wall. The shock alone should shut her up. Make her stop. Those tears… I want them, but not now. Not like this.
“Fucking, stop!” I press my face to hers. I’ll glare those tears away. Fear will make her stop. Shut up. I need her to shut the fuck up.
“I…” Her lips quiver. She’s still trying to answer my question. Is she worthy? “No. I’m not. I know I’m not?—”
“Then why ask?” My voice is a rasp. Curiosity is what roughens it, nothing else. Certainly not concern as those eyes continue to well and more tears fall. “Why?”
She blinks, sending two droplets down those hollow cheeks. “I need to know.”
I grip her thin shoulders. Shake her so hard her head rears back. “What?”
She inhales raggedly. Licks those uneven lips. “I… I need to know if there is more out there. More thanthis.”
Her words linger in the air, a longing confession. One I should laugh at. Spit at. Taunt. I would do all three if it would make her stop fucking sobbing, silent and frozen. She doesn’t even flinch as I lower my mouth near her ear, at the curve of her throat. That racing pulse beckons in an unsteady thumping. I could bite her now, give her something to truly sob over.
Instead…