Just like that?
Just like. It was the bloody weirdest thing. I dont even know what I did.
Your hands werent, like, around her throat or holding a knife or anything?
No. Thats why I kept her. I wanted to examine her to figure out what I did so I dont do it again. Its not like I can go without sex for the rest of my life. I can barely make it a few bloody hours. One second she was having a great time and so was I, and she was making this really hot noise while I wassorry, you probably dont want to hear about that. Im not trying to make you jealous, lass. Then she just wasnt moving and you have no idea how disturbing that was. Well, mostly. But not entirely. I think the Unseelie Im becoming was aroused because once she stopped moving it was like
Too much information! I cant hear you! I start humming to tune him out. Jealous? What is he talking about?
I got distracted and left her on the bed to look at later, then I found you bleeding to death and brought you back to my place. I didnt want you to see her and get upset. I was going to figure out what I did to her after you were gone.
Did you?
Still no clue. There wasnt a mark on her anywhere. I thought I must have been too rough and bruised her from the inside, but if I did, youd think thered be external bruises somewhere, and there arent any. Maybe youd take a look at her. Ive been considering an autopsy but I dont know any morticians. Do you?
He asks it like its a normal question. Like hes the person investigating a murder, not the one who committed it. Nope. I wonder how crazy he is. Does it bother you that you killed her?
He looks aghast. Of course it does! I dont want to kill anything. Well actually thats not entirely true. I do want to kill things. Lots of things. Especially Ryodan lately. I can lose myself for hours in a soothing haze of murderous intent about that dickhead.
Wont argue with you there, I commiserate.
But I dont. At least I didnt until now. And if I cant figure out what I did this time, I cant stop myself from doing it in the future.
Wheres my sword. I say it like Ryodan, with no question mark at the end. Im beginning to understand why he does it. Its a subtle demand instead of a question. Folks answer instinctively, against their better judgment. Thats Ryodan, always playing the odds, stacking them in his favor.
Christian smiles and for a second I see a hint of who he was. Now that his face has completed most of the transition to Unseelie prince, his expressions are more readable. I guess the muscles arent always at war, trying toshape a look. He has a dazzling smile, almost a killer smile, but not quite. Its the smile of a man who could get any woman he wanted into bed, but might just kill her while shes there.
You have to admit, the flamethrower was bloody brilliant, wasnt it? I blasted the thing right out of the stalagmite and fried Ryodans men. They didnt even think of it. Fucking idiots. You want something, take it.
Did you hurt my sword? Wait a minute! I realize something I cant believe it took me so long to realize. Youre not making me feel like Im turning Pri-ya!
I figured out how to mute it. Its just as easy to turn back on. All I have to do is this.
Horniness slams into me, and I hear myself making such an embarrassing sound I could die of embarrassment.
He keeps me from sinking to the pavement, physically holding me up, hands around my waist. Lass, doona be looking up at me like that. On the other hand, do. Yes. Yes. Exactly like that. Princess, youre slaying me.
Turn it off, Christian! I want to choose my first time!
I collapse on the floor, blinking, dazed.
Christian is gone.
Without his hands holding me, I slumped in on myself like a wet cardboard box. I sit there, looking around but seeing nothing, trying to clear my head. Either hes completely gone or hes muting himself again. But the aftereffects linger.
His voice floats down from somewhere in the rafters above my head First time, is it now? I was fair certain, lass, but I like hearing it from you. Ill wait. I want you to choose your first time, too. Itll be chocolate and roses. Music and sweet kisses. Everything a lass dreams of. I want it to be perfect for you.
I turn beet red. Nobody, but nobody talks about my virginity but me! Butt out of my virginity-losing plans! Theyre none of your business.
Theyre my business and mine alone. But we dont have to talk about them. Yet.
I feel like I just got brained upside the head with a frying pan. Is he kidding me? Has Christian decided in his half-mad Unseelie prince mind that hes going to be, like, my boyfriend and be, like my first? Dude, Im fourteen and hes an Unseelie prince! And hes like ten years older than me! I open my mouth to read him the fecking riot act and set things straight between us when I think about how an Unseelie prince with a crush on me might not be an entirely bad thing to have, and close my mouth again. He might be tricky to handle but all weapons are good weapons, and Christian on a leash would be like, the ultimate weapon. Especially against Ryodan.
The question is: can I leash him? And if I manage to, will I be able to hang on to his collar when it counts?
Just like. It was the bloody weirdest thing. I dont even know what I did.
Your hands werent, like, around her throat or holding a knife or anything?
No. Thats why I kept her. I wanted to examine her to figure out what I did so I dont do it again. Its not like I can go without sex for the rest of my life. I can barely make it a few bloody hours. One second she was having a great time and so was I, and she was making this really hot noise while I wassorry, you probably dont want to hear about that. Im not trying to make you jealous, lass. Then she just wasnt moving and you have no idea how disturbing that was. Well, mostly. But not entirely. I think the Unseelie Im becoming was aroused because once she stopped moving it was like
Too much information! I cant hear you! I start humming to tune him out. Jealous? What is he talking about?
I got distracted and left her on the bed to look at later, then I found you bleeding to death and brought you back to my place. I didnt want you to see her and get upset. I was going to figure out what I did to her after you were gone.
Did you?
Still no clue. There wasnt a mark on her anywhere. I thought I must have been too rough and bruised her from the inside, but if I did, youd think thered be external bruises somewhere, and there arent any. Maybe youd take a look at her. Ive been considering an autopsy but I dont know any morticians. Do you?
He asks it like its a normal question. Like hes the person investigating a murder, not the one who committed it. Nope. I wonder how crazy he is. Does it bother you that you killed her?
He looks aghast. Of course it does! I dont want to kill anything. Well actually thats not entirely true. I do want to kill things. Lots of things. Especially Ryodan lately. I can lose myself for hours in a soothing haze of murderous intent about that dickhead.
Wont argue with you there, I commiserate.
But I dont. At least I didnt until now. And if I cant figure out what I did this time, I cant stop myself from doing it in the future.
Wheres my sword. I say it like Ryodan, with no question mark at the end. Im beginning to understand why he does it. Its a subtle demand instead of a question. Folks answer instinctively, against their better judgment. Thats Ryodan, always playing the odds, stacking them in his favor.
Christian smiles and for a second I see a hint of who he was. Now that his face has completed most of the transition to Unseelie prince, his expressions are more readable. I guess the muscles arent always at war, trying toshape a look. He has a dazzling smile, almost a killer smile, but not quite. Its the smile of a man who could get any woman he wanted into bed, but might just kill her while shes there.
You have to admit, the flamethrower was bloody brilliant, wasnt it? I blasted the thing right out of the stalagmite and fried Ryodans men. They didnt even think of it. Fucking idiots. You want something, take it.
Did you hurt my sword? Wait a minute! I realize something I cant believe it took me so long to realize. Youre not making me feel like Im turning Pri-ya!
I figured out how to mute it. Its just as easy to turn back on. All I have to do is this.
Horniness slams into me, and I hear myself making such an embarrassing sound I could die of embarrassment.
He keeps me from sinking to the pavement, physically holding me up, hands around my waist. Lass, doona be looking up at me like that. On the other hand, do. Yes. Yes. Exactly like that. Princess, youre slaying me.
Turn it off, Christian! I want to choose my first time!
I collapse on the floor, blinking, dazed.
Christian is gone.
Without his hands holding me, I slumped in on myself like a wet cardboard box. I sit there, looking around but seeing nothing, trying to clear my head. Either hes completely gone or hes muting himself again. But the aftereffects linger.
His voice floats down from somewhere in the rafters above my head First time, is it now? I was fair certain, lass, but I like hearing it from you. Ill wait. I want you to choose your first time, too. Itll be chocolate and roses. Music and sweet kisses. Everything a lass dreams of. I want it to be perfect for you.
I turn beet red. Nobody, but nobody talks about my virginity but me! Butt out of my virginity-losing plans! Theyre none of your business.
Theyre my business and mine alone. But we dont have to talk about them. Yet.
I feel like I just got brained upside the head with a frying pan. Is he kidding me? Has Christian decided in his half-mad Unseelie prince mind that hes going to be, like, my boyfriend and be, like my first? Dude, Im fourteen and hes an Unseelie prince! And hes like ten years older than me! I open my mouth to read him the fecking riot act and set things straight between us when I think about how an Unseelie prince with a crush on me might not be an entirely bad thing to have, and close my mouth again. He might be tricky to handle but all weapons are good weapons, and Christian on a leash would be like, the ultimate weapon. Especially against Ryodan.
The question is: can I leash him? And if I manage to, will I be able to hang on to his collar when it counts?
