Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
PARIS
Despite Silvanus cutting off my air, I killed the panic. My kicks were pathetic, and I needed to land a hefty blow to get him off me.
So, we were back to full-on hate, huh?
Drawing on the energy of the nearby flora and my training, I swung my leg right into his balls.
Wham! Perfect strike!
He released me, staggering back with a grunt. I hit the floor, choking on air. But like hell would I stay down here, waiting for him to recover.
While he cupped his dick, I sprang to my feet and made a beeline for the door.
“Stay where you are!” he cried.
Yeah, right.
I darted into the rain, my neck on fire from his attack. The storm was really going for it now, smothering the island in darkness. I could barely see where I was going, my heart a jackhammer.
Hurdling the gate, I hit the slopes, sliding down the wet grass, aiming for the ocean, instinct and the lightning my guide. Bollocks to it. I’d take my chances in the water.
Silvanus found out I’d known about the attack. Awesome. Time to not be here anymore.
But the water, really?
Maybe I’d be sweetcream. Summon up some super swimming strength and find land in no time.
Pfft. And my toes could summon caramel shortbread out of thin air.
If only!
Halfway down the hill, my senses alerted me to his approach, a shiver licking up my spine.
I moved left, instinctively going for the dodge. A useless move seeing as he grabbed me by my arms and threw me to the ground.
Oof! My poor back!
I slid some of the way down the sodden grass, only for him to land on me. He straddled me, pinning me to the hillside with my arms above my head.
My almost-healed wrist throbbed unhappily.
Speaking of which, what the hell happened to his arm?
Who gives a fuck?
“You knew!” Thunder enhanced the king’s bark, those red eyes of his blazing in the dark.
A flash of lightning revealed the twisted fury on his handsome face, his drenched hair falling across it.
“You knew,” he repeated, softer this time.
Rain pounded my face, making it hard to keep my eyes open.
I didn’t respond, struggling against his iron grip.
“You knew.” His arse pressed down on my groin, while his legs limited the movements of my legs.
“Get off!” I bellowed.
His body heat engulfed me, chasing away the worst of the chill, sending heat to other places.
The crystal dagger appeared. Seconds later, the screaming in my head sent it back to whatever metaphysical space it occupied inside me.
“Fuck!” I roared.
More lightning showed me his fangs.
Okay. Time to answer the fucker.
“What—”
He brought his face closer to mine. “Did I tell you to speak?”
Ooo, he’d pressed my anger button. “I’ll speak when I want!”
He responded with a growl. “I lost another vampire because of you.”
Damn the flurry of guilt in my chest. “Can’t take responsibility for that one, sorry.”
Thunder. Lightning. The assault of the rain, the booms of the churning ocean smashing into the shore. They all made my chest constrict and my survival instincts rage.
This vamp wouldn’t get the better of me.
“How could you do this?” he asked, the tips of his hair brushing my face.
Really? “Fuck you!” Rainwater filled my mouth, forcing me to spit it out. “How dare you say this to me?”
He pressed his nose to mine. “I dare, elf. You’re nothing but a monster.”
I laughed. Him calling me a monster? Ha! Pull the other one!
His hot breath tickled my lips, and my dick responded with a happy pulse.
Shit!
“Get off me,” I said, struggling again.
“Not until I decide what to do with you.”
I should’ve felt something more than anger and rising desire. Where had the fear gone? My heartbeat raced, sure, but not because of abject terror, but because of anticipation.
Clearly, I’d hit my head too hard earlier.
“All this time, you knew,” he added. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Did we have to do this in this position? “I forgot.”
That only made things worse. He tightened his grip, pushing more of his weight on me, which my penis enjoyed, really firming up now.
“You forgot?” he whispered, his tone richly dark.
Thunder. Lightning. Too much rain.
“Remember who we are,” I countered, spitting out more rainwater. “Who we were.”
He growled again, his fury a hot wave. “I can’t be around you.”
“Then fuck off.”
Thunder. Lightning. His weight too much, making me too hard.
He stayed where he was, his nose still touching mine, his silky hair a tickle against my skin.
Thunder. Lightning. His arse grinding into my crotch.
“Are you fucking off yet?” I asked, as tightly wound as a coiled spring.
Make that a hundred coiled springs.
He didn’t answer, his scarlet gaze boring into me. I couldn’t look away, pining for the glimpses of his face the lightning gave me.
What to do here? Headbutt him and run? He’d catch me, and the sounds of the ocean were really making me question my sanity for wanting to take a dive into it.
Worst idea ever.
But I had to do something. We couldn’t trap ourselves in this soggy hillside stalemate all night.
Unless I did exactly that, dragging it out until sunrise. Then bye-bye vampire king if he failed to notice the ball of light rise too late.
My heart twinged from the suggestion.
Ugh. Stupid heart. Just because he’d made me cum, it didn’t make him awesome.
Right?
“The killer elf,” he breathed. “The killer elf who infects my life.”
Infects? Rude prick.
Thunder. Lightning. A heavy gust of wind.
Man, I wanted out of this wet hell.
“The killer elf,” he carried on. “The killer elf who…” He trailed off, the next flash of lightning showing me a face full of rampant hate.
Uh-oh.
“I despise you.” His icy tone sent shivers rushing everywhere. “The worst thing I ever did was spare your life.”
A vicious response bubbled to my lips, but I swallowed it.
Dooming your home world because you loved Aidan takes the crown for worst decision, was what I wanted to say.
Man, what a low blow, even for me.
“Great. Now can you get off me?” I replied.
“Why?”
“Because this is getting us nowhere.”
His nose remained pressed to mine. “Do you want to fight? One final duel to see who comes out on top?”
Unfortunately, it’d probably be him, seeing as I couldn’t get at the Heart of All. But if this was how he wanted to play it, then I’d happily give it my best shot.
“Say the word,” I retorted, lifting my head.
A flare of scarlet fury flashed over his face, followed by a growl.
I pushed my face closer to his, my nose bending. “Come on, Your Majesty. Let’s throw down.” My breathing intensified, a sliver of panic breaking through my bravado.
No answer from him.
Adrenaline kicked in, heat flushing through my body.
“If I’m going out, I’m going out swinging!” I yelled in his face.
Thunder. Lightning. His lips colliding with mine.
Whoa!