“What they said,” Sol agreed.
Well, at least they were all working as a unit.
“I didn’t almost kill her. Whatever trap Mortus left for us was the culprit.” That was the argument I’d given myself for the last week. It almost satisfied me. Almost. “How is our fighting benefiting Claire?”
“I don’t know, but I feel a hell of a lot better right now.” Sol’s words vibrated the earth, the giant finally allowing his powers out to play.
While I appreciated the show of force, I would have preferred it to not be directed at me.
“You feel better because Claire is back,” I informed them, my words carried over the wake of another wave that sent them all to the ground. Again. “Now stop wasting my time and let’s talk about this like—”
A blast of fire knocked me backward a few feet, the flames burning a hole in my suit.
“Okay.” I brushed off the embers. “Right. We’ll work this out the unintelligent way, then.” I showered them all with hail, which earned me a whip of sound to my ear—Vox attacking strategically. “Remember, I tried to warn you,” I said, infusing a hint of disappointment into my tone.
And then I let them truly feel the brunt of my power.
They would all bow by the time I finished.
I was, after all, a Royal King, and they were about to find out what that meant.
Exos
Claire, I whispered, sensing her stronger state. Baby, I need you to hear me now. I can’t wait any longer. You feel it, don’t you? Our connection fraying? Another day or two and it’ll be too late. I need you to find me now.
Silence.
I paced in my dark cell, frustrated. I’d hoped by now that someone would check up on me down here. Alas, no. I was just as alone as the first day I awoke—whenever that was.
At least the inky presence had disappeared. Well, mostly. The culprit had left some residue in my mind, blocking the memories I desired most. While I recognized the energy signature, I couldn’t recall the owner, and it was pissing me the fuck off.
I couldn’t even recall who knocked me out to begin with, yet I firmly remembered the sensation of being blasted from behind.
Claire, I tried again. Baby, please.
Still nothing.
I growled and kept moving, doing everything I could to keep my body in prime condition. A month of lounging had resulted in slight deterioration, but not much. Fae could withstand far worse treatment, including an extended time period without food.
Of course, that didn’t make me any less hungry or thirsty.
Fuck, what I wouldn’t give for a crackle pie right now. Juicy, thick, and oh-so decadent. I sent images of it to Claire for fun, wondering if I could wake her with thoughts of food.
Or even better…
I thought about running my hands over her body, our spirits dancing on a plane only we could reach, and drew kisses down her sternum to the sweet place between her thighs. I love the way you taste, I whispered. Mmm, I miss it, Claire. When I see you again, I’m going to devour every inch of you and kill anyone who gets in my way.
A flicker of something came back to me.
Intrigu
e.
I smiled. So sex is how I get you to talk to me, is it?
A sleepy unintelligible murmur traveled through our link, amusing me despite my surroundings.
You want me to continue? I taunted. Talk to you about how I plan to fuck you for the first time? How I intend to make you scream for hours upon hours?