He takes advantage of my surprise to settle more firmly against me, rocking once. The movement is barely there, but it’s enough to send sensation crashing through me. He dips his head again, his cheek brushing mine. His tongue flicks the shell of my ear, and I inhale sharply, a jolt of desire thundering through me. His lips skim down my throat, his warm, suddenly ragged breath curling around my neck and captivating my senses. He nips softly at my hammering pulse. My whole body jerks under him. I stifle a moan.
Smoothing his thumbs over the insides of my wrists, he rises above me, his eyes never leaving mine. The sensual touch makes me tremble. So does the earthy roughness in his voice. “I never know what to expect with you. Worldly cynicism or blushing innocence. It’s enough to drive a man insane.”
I stop breathing, going perfectly still while my heart throws itself against my ribs. I fight the urge to draw up my knees and cradle him between my thighs. For one charged moment, I’m not sure what will win: common sense, or instinct. It seems wrong for them to be at war.
My lungs start to burn. At my shuddering breath, Beta Sinta smiles, the raw hunger in his expression fading into amusement.
I narrow my eyes and jerk my forehead up, but he dodges, lifting off me in one powerful, fluid twist.
Dazed, I sit up and glance around. Kato, Carver, and Flynn are busy looking anywhere but at us, and I feel my face flame kalaberry red.
“Why would Andromeda send her favorite child into an arena for a fight to the death?” Beta Sinta asks.
Seriously? It’s over, just like that. No more tussle. No more hard, heavy body on top of mine. No more hot breath in my ear. No more tongue.
Thank the Gods. Gag!
Sort of.
Except not at all.
Gah! I’m going insane!
That fluttering is happening again, almost like feathers whispering over the insides of my ribs. I press my palm to my chest, pushing back while Beta Sinta picks up a twig and holds it to the flames. I watch it burn. There’s too much fire in my life, and I hate the heat.
“Probably because she thought Lukia could win.” I’m surprised my voice comes out steady. I don’t feel steady.
“But she couldn’t.”
I pull my legs to my chest again, locking my arms around my knees. “Maybe she couldn’t. Maybe she didn’t even try.”
He turns to me, his gaze intent, his eyes deep and turbulent like Poseidon’s seas. “Where’d she go?”
I roll my eyes. “How in the Underworld should I know? I’m not an Oracle, and it doesn’t matter. You’re asking the wrong questions, Beta Sinta.”
“My name is Griffin.”
“Your name is Beta Sinta.”
“That’s what I am, not who I am.”
I groan and bury my face in my hands. “You’re hopeless!”
“Call me Griffin, and I’ll ask the right questions.”
“Fine. Griffin. Are you happy now?”
“Yes.”
He also just proved it’s possible for one word to hit me like wine—potent, and a little intoxicating.
“What’s the right question?” He winks. “Cat.”
I huff, clamping down on the need to claw and bite. I haven’t felt this savage in years. It’s his fault. He brings it out in me. “What does it mean if the Lost Princess is still alive?” I prompt.
“What does it mean? …Cat.”
I glare at him. He’s teasing me, and it’s getting to me, making me feel hot, and annoyed, and…happy. Everything about this is dangerous. Worst case—it’ll get one of us killed, and it probably won’t be me.
“It means no Fisan royals after Andromeda can be secure in their reigns. The current Beta, Gamma, and Delta will always be wondering if Lukia is alive—if she’ll come back to challenge them. Fisans will always be wondering if they’re bowing down to the wrong ruler, especially when they’d probably prefer Lukia to anyone who’s left. When people start asking questions like that, of themselves, of others, that’s when realms explode.” I look at Beta Sinta. Griffin. “That’s when warlords from the south sweep in and massacre royal families.”
His eyes sharpen. “Are you saying there are people who would challenge Andromeda?”
Adrenaline floods my system, setting my heart suddenly to galloping. “Not without Lukia, or someone else to rally them. But Tarva and Fisa are just like Sinta. The royals here were too busy fighting each other to realize how powerful you had become. You surprised them all. You gathered Sintans behind you with the simple promise of being different. The royal family was left with their magic and their army. How hard did their army fight for them?”