Shadow's Claim
Page 77

Exactly as she'd imagined exploring his shaft. He swallowed hard, and furtively adjusted it now.
Along the fourth ring, she engraved a wild, spray-tossed seashore. When she puckered her lips to blow away any trace shavings, he just stifled a groan.
One day soon, he'd take her on this bench, with her eyes alight. Yet another reason to survive tomorrow.
She tilted her head, surveying her work, a stray tweak here, a deepened groove there. "I'm done," she said, returning the chisel to its box.
As she exhaled, rolling her head on her shoulders, he gazed from the work to her, and back to the work. So much talent! How long had it been since he'd looked at something with awe?
The better part of a millennium. "Try it on," he said, his voice gone husky.
With a shrug, she donned it. The raised etchings seemed to come alive with each movement of her hand. One press of her thumb and a vicious-looking sneak blade shot from the bottom. Another press, and the blade slipped back inside.
When she removed the piece, placing it in its cradle, more pride shone from her eyes. She turned to him. "So, we have a lot to talk about-"
He'd already traced to her, cupping her face. "I'll die if I don't kiss you right now."
Bettina gasped when his mouth met hers, her hands shooting to his chest to push him away. But his lips were so deliciously firm, and his immediate groan made her shiver.
With excitement?
How could she be excited when she still felt raw inside? Why was that empty feeling fading as he deepened his kiss?
Enjoy this, her mind whispered. Tonight's your last chance. Yes, to enjoy those smoldering looks, those strong arms around her, holding her secure against him. That connection . . .
When he lifted her to the bench and wedged his hips between her legs, she grasped his shoulders, delighted by the way they flexed under her palms.
His hands closed over her waist, his thumbs stroking just beneath her br**sts. Her thoughts seemed to be scattering, leaving room only to register feeling.
Sensation, pleasure. Yes, let him seduce you again.
Seduce. She'd been warned of this. Just like everyone else, he was taking advantage of her. Again.
I am so naive. Even as he kissed her, tears welled in her eyes.
When they spilled over, he froze, then drew his head back. His voice grew rough. "What is this, dragă?" As his gaze searched her expression, he grazed his knuckles across a line of tears.
"They told me you'd try to seduce me."
He straightened. "I'm not trying to seduce you."
She blinked. "Don't you want to . . . you aren't . . . oh, never mind."
"Want to?" He gently cradled her face, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks, over her tears. "I think about taking you to bed constantly, Bett. But I will never claim you completely, not until I defeat Gourlav. I wouldn't risk even the slightest chance that you'd be vulnerable to the primordial. Once I leave you this eve, you'll be a virgin still." When two more tears tracked down her now heated cheeks, he rasped, "Why are you crying?"
"Why not?" She dashed the back of her hand over her eyes. "Everything in my life is wrong. I've quarreled with my guardians. I've quarreled with Caspion for the first time-"
"Always that demon!" His hands dropped to his sides.
"And apparently, I'm quarreling with you now! I should be railing at you, not kissing you. You took my memories, you've seen inside my head. And you knew what would happen if we kissed that night. You got me to a point where I didn't care if your fangs were sharp. It was a calculated move on your part."
"Yes," he admitted.
"I hate it when you do that!"
"I did want your blood-so that I could find your foes. But it was also true that I had very little control over my fangs. I've worked on my control ever since that night."
"And what about your actions in this round of the tournament? The Vrekeners might consider your move an act of war. I won't have been queen for a day before they descend upon us, bringing strife to my people."
The vampire's eyes flickered. "They declared war on your realm when they attacked the sole heir to its throne!"
Her lips parted. Exactly what she'd said to Morgana earlier today.
"They stole the root power of a great sorceress." In a softer tone, he said, "Bett, they executed your mother."
And indirectly killed my father as well. She pinched her forehead. "I understand why you killed them. I thank you for that! But you shouldn't have revealed them in public."
"Of course I should have. It signals to the Vrekeners that they aren't beyond our reach. They can be found, and there will be swift consequences to their actions."
"You sound like Morgana." With your actions, you train others how to treat you.
"In this, she is right. I come from a closed realm, one hidden like Skye Hall. If anyone were to find his way to us in Dacia, the kingdom would be rocked. The Vrekeners will be as well. Failing to retaliate would tell them that they can do whatever they please to you and your kind. Eventually they would attack you again. They would not stop."
She knew this. The hawk would find the escaped mouse. "How did you find the Hall?"
"I didn't, not precisely." He pulled out the leather lead he always wore, showing her the attached crystal. "This is a scry talisman."
"You own an authentic scry crystal?" Did he never run out of surprises?