Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Ansin’s back got visibly stiffer in the driver’s seat. “I thought you said you haven’t backed out of our deal.”
I returned to watching the road. We both knew I already had. That was why he was pursuing plan B, aka Plan Obliza.
He added, “Just know I would have married you per the tradition of my people.”
“You want to spend eternity with me? Yeah, right.” This guy and his mind games.
The SUV came to a stop at the light, and he turned his head, piercing me with his intense gaze. “You think this is a joke to me?”
“Not a joke. Just another one of your head trips. You want me licking your boots and begging to be yours.”
“If I wanted that, I would simply command you.” He visibly seethed, his broad, muscled chest rising and falling with short breaths.
I’d hit a nerve.
I took a mental step back. I knew better to tangle with Ansin. (A) He could use his voice on me any time he liked. (B) Pissing him off wasn’t going to help get back my baby when he was the only one who could help me.
“I’m sorry, Ansin. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”
He grabbed my chin and squeezed, fury in his dark eyes. “Don’t ever cower again, Jeni. Not to me. Not to anyone.”
What the hell? I pushed his hand away.
He added, “Perhaps I was mistaken when I said I would marry you. The woman I am meant to be with would know better than to kiss my ass.”
“I was trying to be respectful and keep the peace.”
“Those are two different animals. Respect is having a healthy appreciation for another’s power. Peace requires compromise, and compromise is for the weak.”
This again? Seriously, the guy was starting to sound like a Confucius knockoff. “Okay, Wisdom Master.”
“Again, I’ll ask if you think is a fucking joke,” he growled, “because I assure you it is not. I am trying to teach you how not to repeat my mistakes. Never give up your power to others. They will only use it against you.” He pointed to his face, but really he was pointing to the hundreds of fine scars, including the waffle-like pattern on his ears. Whoever had done that to him must’ve been a sadistic bastard.
I couldn’t laugh at that, nor did I want to. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what I think now. You’ve got Obliza, and hopefully she’ll give you the children you want. After we find Draco, I won’t be your problem.”
Something in the air shifted inside the vehicle. Darker. Heavier.
“Let us hope,” he said firmly.
Ansin used his usual mind tricks at the airport. Two first-class tickets. No money exchanged. No passports needed. We simply sailed through security and boarded. The crew offered me food and champagne, per his request, and then he closed his eyes, falling into his customary meditative state. Where his mind went, I didn’t know.
Somewhere in the middle of the long flight to Athens, I opened my eyes, feeling a strange tingling pressure in my head. I found Ansin in the seat beside me, staring with a determined look—focused eyes, furrowed dark brows, and a tense jaw.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Attempting to have a look around.”
“Well, don’t.” My head was private.
“Then keep your guard up.”
“I was sleeping,” I replied.
“So you believe that being vulnerable physically and mentally while you sleep is a good survival tactic.”
“No,” I replied, “but I’m not able to fight, block, and rest at the same time.”
“I can teach you.”
I didn’t reply. He had to know I wanted him to show me what he knew, but I was afraid to say it out loud. What would he ask for in return? It was a negotiation for another day.
He pushed back his long hair and tilted his head slightly, studying me like a strange little bug. “Why do you resist me, Jeni?”
“You know why.” He was dangerous. And, yes, there was that whole intrigue thing, too.
He smiled. “You still think of that night, don’t you? You wonder what it would be like.”
Sex with him? Absolutely. “What night?” I said, playing dumb.
“Like me, I am sure you will never forget Sage’s castle or when you dreamed about making love to me for hours on end.”
Sage was the crazy woman who’d taken King prisoner and harvested his organs. Among Ten Club members, she was known for two specialties: One was creating those very special tattoos that embedded powers or spells into a person’s skin, like the collar King had.
Sage’s second well-known skill was creating these dream potions that put a person in a very suggestive state right before they fell into a deep sleep. With it, you could make a person believe they were anywhere with anyone, doing anything. Her whole house had been boobytrapped with little aerosol dream-bombs, and Ansin and I had stumbled on one while looking for King. Like a complete jackass, Ansin had jumped in and made some wonderful suggestions right before I fell asleep.