Page 48 of The Death King

I did my best to keep a straight face, to hide the truth with my stoicism. Our paths had crossed on the worst night of my life, but I would take that to the grave. I would never tell him, because then he would know we were enemies.

“Calista.”

I turned back to him, my expression harder than it’d ever been. “The answer is no. And the answer will always be no after what you did?—”

“After I cut your bonds and freed you? After I made you feel good? After I showed you how a man can make a woman feel? You aren’t upset because of what I did. You’re upset that I forced your hand. That’s what this is really about.”

“Think what you want?—”

“Your answer will be yes,” he said coldly. “I’ll make it yes.”

I left the couch and moved toward the bed. “Goodnight, King Talon.” My arms were still crossed over my chest as I put distance between us, because the coffee table between our seats simply wasn’t enough.

He remained still. “Talon. Only my inferiors call me King Talon.”

“You treat me like an inferior.”

He got to his feet but remained in the sitting area. “We’re both dragonians. You’re my only equal on this continent.”

“Dragonians?” I whispered.

“Both human and dragon,” he said. “You and I are the same—whether you like it or not.”

When a knock sounded on the door, I knew it wasn’t Talon. “Come in.”

The door opened, and one of his servants stepped inside. I’d seen him before because he usually brought my dinner. “King Talon invites you to join him for dinner.”

“No thanks.”

He remained cordial even though his eyes turned slightly hostile. “He said you would say that. And to tell you that your attendance is mandatory.”

“Then that’s not an invitation. That’s a command.”

He stood with his hands behind his back by the door, dropping his eyes momentarily like he didn’t know how to circumvent this awkward exchange. Coercing a woman into dinner was obviously out of his range of duties. “Then His Highness commands your attendance for dinner. What shall I tell him?”

I wanted to deny what he demanded, but I knew where a refusal would lead. The dinner would be moved to my bedchambers, or he would have his men force me into the dining hall. There was no scenario in which I emerged as the winner.

I was never the winner in any scenario. “Fine.”

The servant blinked a few times, clearly shocked I’d actually agreed, when Talon had warned him how difficult I was. “His Highness requests that you wear this…” He stepped out into the hallway and returned a moment later, bringing in a black dress with a low-cut front. He set it over one of the armchairs before he departed.

I stared at the dress then rolled my eyes. “Like I’m wearing that.”

A few minutes later, the servant returned to escort me to dinner. His eyes showed his disappointment when he realized I was still in my plain leggings and tunic. Then his gaze darted to the armchair where the dress had been placed—but now, it was missing. He quickly looked around in search of the dress and stopped when he spotted the fire.

I left the couch and walked past him. “I’ll wear what I want. Thanks.”

He stilled before he turned back to me, his face pale, like the dress had been a prized possession. He cleared his throat before he followed me into the hallway, and as if he was about to be sick, he breathed harder than he had a moment ago.

I followed him down the hallway, headed toward Talon’s section of the castle. There was only one way in and one way out—and that pathway was blocked by guards more heavily armored than the rest.

We passed and then approached double doors. The servant knocked. “Your Highness, Calista is ready for you.” He excused himself and walked back down the hallway.

The door opened, and instead of revealing a grand dining room in front of the windows, I looked at royal bedchambers. A large sitting room contained a luxurious rug, couches and armchairs all facing the huge fireplace that had a fire crackling in the hearth. To the right, double doors showed a glimpse of his bedroom, the big four-poster bed against the wall, the details of the rest of the room hidden from sight.

I stepped farther into the room then looked the other way, seeing a set of double doors leading to the dining room, a table that could easily seat six people. The surface was adorned with short vases containing red roses, and white candles were sprinkled throughout. Two plates were covered by trays, and the wineglasses had already been filled.

My eyes lifted to see him seated at the head of the table, elbows on the armrests, shirtless.