Fate of a Royal (Lords of Rathe, #1)(68)

He snickers, turning his head out the window. “Figures. Humans. Always so fucking narcissistic, thinking they’re the only kind to ever exist.”

I open my mouth to argue, but close it when I realize he’s right. Well goddamn.

“So.” I take the turn off the single road that looks to be a highway, only no cars. “Am I the only one who drives here?”

“Nah. If there are humans here, they usually do drive. Portaling makes you all feel the same way, so after getting here, y’all can’t take much else without a fuck ton of practice, and you’ll be here long enough for that.”

“But humans do come here, then?”

“The Haunt happens here, so they come for that and a few other games we like to play, but a lot of people enjoy pets.” He shrugs. “Fuck ’em good and feed for a few days before using compulsion to make it all better and send them back.”

So…blasé.

“Feed as in?” I ask, assuming I know the answer, realizing fast I do not.

“Their blood or their energy. Giftless blood is like a vitamin to our kind, and for Power Banks, they’re a quick dose of coke. Leaves them feeling on top of the world after a quick fuck. Like Alex with your little buddy, Benjamin.”

My heart falls to my feet. Oh my god, Ben!

I slam on the brakes, my pulse thumping wildly, urging me forward for some unknown reason, but the ache in my chest keeps me frozen. I open my mouth, but Sinner cuts me off.

“He’s fine. Back in his cute little skates pretending he knows how to play hockey.”

“Fuck you. Don’t talk about Ben.”

Sinner laughs, and for some reason, I decide I believe him and hit the gas again. Almost like a wave of certainty washing over me, which makes no sense since I trust this motherfucker about as far as I can throw him. And I’m not very strong.

I take two more left turns once off the highway, pulling to a slow stop in front of a large clearing. Deep red flowers scatter through the blades of grass. It’s an explosion of green and burgundy, and when I open the driver’s side door, the smell hits me at once. Sugar and cinnamon with a faint spice of masculinity.

“Ahh, now it makes sense,” Sinner murmurs, following me out of the car.

I walk a few feet forward as tingles erupt over my skin. Like a magnetic field, I draw my eyes to the left. I strain my sight, looking beyond the thick tree with cherry blossoms dangling off, only these blossoms glow. Literally glow.

I find what I must have been subconsciously looking for.

Knight appears, his shirt long gone and jeans unbuttoned. Body dripping wet as if he just climbed from a body of water that I can’t see, but the droplets rolling over his hard muscles I can. He shakes his dark hair out, and I bite into my cheek, watching as he pulls a small towel from a pile. He lifts it high, wiping at his face, and every inch of him ripples.

“Holy shit,” I breathe.

Knight’s head snaps my way and I suck in a sharp breath. The moment his eyes meet mine, his shoulders fall as if eased by the sight of me. I find myself eager—no, desperate to get to him. To just…be near him.

His eyes travel over me, almost satisfied that I’m wrapped in clothes he gave me, and then his gaze meets mine.

A shiver runs through me, my attention following the line of sweat that rolls between his pecs and doesn’t stop until it disappears into the dark trail leading to his jeans. How I missed the marking on his abdomen that day on the trails, I don’t know, but there it is. A burn in the shape of some sort of crest, but instead of the flashing opal as Sinner’s has, Knight’s swirls a crystal blue.

His abs constrict under my attention, and my thighs clench at the sight, the need to get closer almost too much to handle.

A hard chest presses to my back, and mine rises with a full breath.

“You know, Little L,” Sinner whispers into my ear. “We’re completely identical?”

His meaning is as clear as it can be.

Knight’s teeth sink into his lower lip and he drags a towel over the back of his hair, gaze burning over every inch of me.

“Every bit of us.” His breath fans across my neck. “Every fucking inch of us is exactly the same.”

Knight dips his chin and wind whirls around my torso.

“Yeah.” I nod, my eyes locked on Knight’s, not really conscious of what I’m saying but driven to say it either way. “But you’re not him.”

Sinner groans lightly, swapping sides. “That right there, baby girl,” he murmurs, his tongue sliding across my collarbone and rising until his lips meet my ear. “Was a good fucking answer.” His hands squeeze my hips. “Go to him. Take what he gives you.”

My tongue slips out to lick my lips. “But—”

“No buts. Take, London. Let him give what he needs to give. You can do that for my brother, can’t you, sweet girl?”

My mouth opens, but I close it, nodding instead.

“Good. Now go.”

I relent, and the moment I do, the air whirling around me like a timid tornado, strengthens, tugging me across the yard. The toes of my shoes tease the tips of the grass as I’m weightlessly carried like controlled weather to the man waiting for me.

Knight stares down at me, his knuckles coming up to glide along my throat, tipping my chin up. His nostrils flare as he inhales deeply, abruptly dipping until his face is in my neck, my hair in his hand. He tugs slightly, a small rumble leaving him.