Before that thought has more than crossed my mind, Memnon kisses me.
CHAPTER 41
Hateful, hateful man. With his wicked lips and wicked thoughts and wicked intentions.
He’s got some fucking gall to dare kiss me after he’s upended my world.
So I bite his lip. Hard.
Memnon groans as the metallic tang of blood hits our tongues. The monster smiles against my mouth and deepens the kiss, as though the small violence is a turn-on for him. Despite my raging fury—and, oh, how it rages—I kiss him back, hungry for more of him. My fingers slide into his hair and pull it taut enough to hurt.
I hate that I do still want him when all I really want is to hate him.
Memnon’s fingers flex just the slightest bit against my throat, reminding me that he has me pinned and vulnerable, though it doesn’t make me feel vulnerable. I feel as though I’m going to combust. Already, I know that if I open my eyes, I will see plumes of my magic seeping out of me.
“My empress is finally showing her true colors,” Memnon murmurs against my lips.
There’s nothing true about this at all—this is my worst side. But if my mate wants to cut himself on the sharpest parts of my personality, so be it.
When his tongue delves back into my mouth, I bite it. Memnon hisses, but again the action only serves to make him kiss me with more fervor. Fervor I return.
I can’t explain it. There is no explaining it. I hate his guts. I’d love nothing more than to kick him in the balls. But I’m also enjoying hate kissing the shit out of his lips. I’m pretty sure I’d be fine taking this hate all the way to the end of desire.
I think I’ve just unlocked a new kink.
Memnon pulls away. “You will know me in all ways,” he vows.
His thoughts must be in the same vein as mine—that, or he heard me through our bond.
While it’s fine for me to fantasize about using Memnon to fulfill my own desires, like hell am I going to let him do the same thing.
I push the sorcerer away, his hand slipping effortlessly away from my neck.
Hate-fucking fantasies be damned—
“If I can’t break the bond, I’ll simply cast a spell to shrivel up your dick,” I threaten him.
Memnon smiles, a bead of blood gathering at the corner of his lip. “It’s cute that you think you haven’t already tried.”
That has my eyes widening.
He wipes the bead of blood away, flicking his eyes over me.
“Release,” he says in Sarmatian.
Immediately, his magic lifts itself from my body, no longer anchoring me to the table.
His eyes settle on me. “I love you, little witch,” he says, his expression a touch sad. “More than all the world. That is my deepest truth, and it’s one I should have told you again and again as I once did.
“And I’m sorry you have to bear the weight of that love.” His features shift a little, growing determined. “But you will bear it.”
With that, he heads for the doorway.
“Three days,” he calls over his shoulder. “That’s all you have left, Empress.”
And then he’s gone.
Those three days pass in the blink of an eye.
Three days to try to sort out my own tangled emotions. Three days to fixate on my revenge. Three days to wonder what Memnon means to do on the night of the ball.
I now stare at the gown spread out on my bed, my mood grim.
I don’t want to face Memnon again.
Maybe that’s cowardly. It’s still the truth.
He is my worst nightmare, but I’m also coming to find he’s a huge weakness of mine because he saved me and he cared for me and a part of me—a twisted, wayward part of me—likes him. Fuck, I more than like him. I’m beyond attracted to the man, and I crave the sound of his commanding voice and the feel of those arms around me. All he has to do is kiss me or whisper a few pretty words in my ear, and I’ll reconsider every hateful thought I’ve had of him.
I’m terrified that will happen again tonight when I’m seeking out my revenge.
In the distance, I hear someone tromping up the stairs, followed by the creaking of floorboards as they head down my hall.
Seconds later, Sybil opens the door. “Hey, babe!” she hollers as she bustles in, carrying her dress and shoes as well as a massive tote bag full of what looks to be makeup and maybe hair supplies.
She drops it all on the bed. “Fuck, I’m excited for tonight, aren’t…？” Her voice trails off as soon as she sees my face. “No, no, no, Selene,” she says.
I touch my cheek. “What?”