“My father wanted to remind me of my part in killing her,” he said, and I could hear the pain twisting his words. “This rosebush was enchanted by the demons and sunk into the floor. It’s connected to the kingdom. Each year I see a little more of it wilt and die. Eventually we will all die with it. There’s nothing we can do but make the passing as easy as possible. I thought maybe bringing you here would help. I knew your village was using the everlass for something, and your rate of death was slower than everywhere else. Your branch has roses still in bloom. The only one that looks even reasonably healthy. I’ve been watching from afar. I just had no idea how you were managing it.”
“What?” I blurted. “But you said—”
“I lied. How many times must I remind you that I am not a nice man?” He stalked toward me slowly, a hunter sizing up his prey. “Your scent is burned into my brain. That first night you ran into the Royal Wood, the young, plucky thing with more courage than a grown dragon, I committed it to memory. You didn’t escape me, Finley. I allowed you to leave. You were too young to kill. I smelled the everlass on you and wanted to know what you were doing with it. After you left, I visited the field and scented your path through it. I realized you’d pruned as you went. You harvested just one leaf from each plant, taking your time to keep the plants healthy. Even though you came to steal, you were looking after that field.”
He wound closer, one slow step at a time, his big shoulders swaying, his size dwarfing mine. His presence was imposing.
I swallowed. “Everyone knows to harvest like that.”
He shook his head. “You know they don’t. Especially not plucky little—what, fourteen? Fifteen?”
“Fourteen,” I whispered.
“Yes. Before the first shift was possible. I didn’t scent your animal, or feel it when I chased you out. The magic surrounding the wood was too strong for me to cross at the time, but I didn’t need to. You returned to the wood before I could investigate you further. You’ve never entered without my knowing, but I could never catch you. Not until I had that birch enchanted. You’re a sly little thing.”
“I was just trying to keep my family alive.”
He stopped in front of me. “The last time, when you left your knife, I felt you. I felt your animal. It called to us. I’d suspected, but only then did I know what was in you. Your power.” He pushed in close, taking all the space. Trapping me in. “Tell me, when your animal first awakened, what did you feel?”
“Exhilarated. Scared.”
“And?”
He put a hand to each side of my face. His heat soaked through my skin, turning me liquid. My body was fifty percent heartbeat.
“Turned on,” I whispered.
His power coursed through me, caught by my animal and held for a moment before she fed it back, like we had done to save Hadriel. He was the brawn; I was the finesse. Together we’d literally pulled someone away from the brink of death. This time, though, pounding arousal came with our connection.
I panted, my breasts rising and falling with each breath. His gaze traveled down my front as though caressing my naked flesh. My animal pumped fire into me. The power between us turned molten.
A desperate, tortured moan parted my lips. He leaned in a little, almost imperceptibly, as though he couldn’t help it. Like he was struggling against the desire. The air between us snapped taut and the room fell away. All I knew was him and me and this never-ending thirst for his body to fill mine. For his muscles to push me down onto the mattress and his cock to fill my world.
He inhaled, taking me in. “Goddess strike me down, Finley, I want to fuck you so hard you forget your name. I want to own that sweet pussy and destroy you with pleasure.”
I couldn’t seem to get enough air. Wetness gushed between my thighs.
“But if I do that,” he went on, “that will be the end of you. I’ve explained why. I do not share. Not in my past life, and not now. Once I take you, I will not allow anyone else to touch you. Your life will be forfeit. To me.”
His words crawled across my skin, making me shiver. His eyes hypnotized me, and a large part of me wanted him to do as he said. I wanted him to make good on his word and brand me with his desire.
But seriously, had I lost my mind? Had I gone completely insane?
He was a damned prince. What would I become, his side piece? Because no way was I the heroine of this story. I was a nobody from nowhere. I was a lure to his ruin. An end to his celibacy. And if I gave in? I’d land myself with the world’s biggest cockblock.