Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
It was possessive and intense and unbelievably, searingly hot. He kissed me like I belonged to him, and he couldn’t get enough. Like he would kill anyone who dared to interrupt.
His tongue slid between my lips and touched mine, stroking, tasting . . . This wasn’t a kiss, this was sex. He was making love to my mouth, and I took him in like I needed him to live. The heat of him, the scent of him, the heady taste, the feel of those powerful arms embracing me, it was too much. He destroyed me. I forgot where I was. There was no thinking anymore, no fear, no doubt, only the irresistible need in my body and the fireworks in my soul.
He broke the kiss. I was breathless. My head spun.
He looked at me with those wicked green eyes. If he kissed me again, I would strip him naked in this damn carriage.
He pushed the door open, took my hand, and pulled me out onto the street. We were in front of our house. He led me through the tunnel. Some part of my brain registered the familiar faces—Clover, the Magnars . . . Behind us, Everard’s knights loomed.
“She does not leave this house,” Everard ordered in his Sleepless Duke voice. “Nobody comes in, nobody goes out.”
Reality slammed into me. My brain restarted in a cold rush.
“I don’t think so,” I said.
He turned to me.
“Last I checked, I was a free woman. I will go out whenever I want.”
Everard looked at Clover. “Take your lady to her rooms.”
She bit her lip but didn’t move.
“Did you not hear me, Clover?” Everard asked.
“Do not take a step,” I told her.
Will and Lute moved to flank Clover.
“What the fuck are you two doing?” Gort growled.
Will ignored him. “My lady made her wishes known, Your Grace.”
Lute put his hand on his sword.
“You seem to think that you can order my people around,” I said. “You’ve forgotten where you are. This is not Selva.”
Behind us two of Everard’s knights walked through the tunnel.
“Maggie,” he started, a warning in his voice.
“Lady Demarr. This is not your house, Your Grace. We are not your people. Do not presume that you have any power here.”
Black smoke slithered from him across the courtyard, writhing like a living thing.
“I guess Solentine was right,” I said. “No man wants Arvel as a rival.”
His voice was cold enough to freeze blood in your veins. “I’m at the very limit of my patience.”
“You saw me dance with Arvel, realized that your pet secret weapon might be slipping through your fingers, and dramatically rushed over here to make sure I was secure under house arrest and pull me back in line. The kiss was pretty good, I will give you that. Omelyana is a lucky woman.”
“Maggie!”
“Lady Demarr!” I bit back. “Did you think that if you kissed me, I would be so overcome that my brain would turn off and I would meekly obey you without question on the off chance you might condescend to climb into my bed?”
Behind Everard, one of his knights winced. The other just stared, motionless like a statue.
“I don’t care that you danced with him!” Black smoke boiled out of Everard. “You were hidden and safe. Arvel dragged you out into that nest of vipers and made sure that every single one of them noticed you! If any of them find out what you’re capable of, they will crush every bone in your body for a crumb of the knowledge hidden in your head.”
“But they don’t know what I’m capable of, and instead of helping me fade into obscurity, you added to the spectacle by dropping everything and thundering through the streets to escort my carriage! You know Sauven watches you like a hawk. Everyone you interact with becomes suspect in his eyes. What were you thinking?”
“I kept you safe!” he snarled. “Arvel thinks laws don’t apply to him. He’s trained in defensive warfare, he plans and lays traps, and when they fail, he takes what he wants by force.”
“And yet neither he nor his knights are here, are they? The only one here trying to force me is you.”
His eyes were two green points of light. “I don’t have to force you. You’re already mine.”
Okay, that was it. That was the last fucking straw.
“I wish you would stop with this shit. For two and a half weeks I lived on pins and needles, wondering if you were poisoned and dying. Ramond, you didn’t even bother to let me know you were alive. If I hadn’t gone to the joedurar, I still wouldn’t know if you’d survived. It didn’t cross your mind, because to you I’m a tool, and tools do not warrant that kind of consideration. They are supposed to stay at home, nice and neat, waiting quietly until you need to use them. So please, for the love of the Aspects, stop and be honest.”