Chapter 29 #2
Mikael holds his up, looking at me through the thin material. The only difference is his is styled for a male frame. “I’ll gladly wear it. I know you try to hide the glances you take, lusting over my body when you think I don’t notice.”
“You wish.” I shake my head and scoff. I start pacing around the room while we wait for the moon to rise.
“Oh Bryn—we’re bonded, and it has gotten stronger since you completed the last two trials. Stop lying to yourself.” He sets the robe down on the arm of the chair, running a hand over the material.
I stop in the middle of the room and turn to him, throwing daggers with my glare.
I should stab him in the heart again for good measure.
“I guess we’ll have to see who can resist the longest then.
Because you’ve made it very clear you can’t wait to have me.
Even though you’ve denied me twice. Are you going to make it a third? ”
“Yes… that’s right… You love a challenge. But so do I.” Mikael rises, and in smooth, deliberate movements he closes the distance between us. Lifting a hand, he pinches the tied end of the laces on my vest and slowly pulls, unraveling them. “So, that third will depend on you, my dear.”
I don’t move, don’t react at all, while he undoes each layer of string. When he frees the last one, he slides my vest over my shoulders and lets it drop to the floor at our feet. His hands follow the curve of my waist and hips, before his fingers deftly—and with agonizing slowness—untie my pants.
I hate him.
Hate that what he’s doing is turning me on.
I feel it in the way my body responds, how my heartbeat ticks up, and heat blossoms deep in my core.
But he will not win this round. I’ll let him undress me all the way. Then I’ll be the one to walk away.
Mikael tugs at my pants, unhurriedly working them from around my hips, before sliding his hands around, and resting them on the swell of my ass. The contact of his skin against mine is searing, making me squirm inside, but I remain still.
“There it is.” Mikael’s breath is hot against my skin. He leans down and kisses my neck as my undergarments fall, pooling at my feet.
I lift each foot, taking a step back and out of them. He matches my movement without missing a beat, staying within my space so there isn’t but an inch between us.
“I’m not done.” Mikael has a wicked grin as he grabs the hem of my tunic and inches it up, pulling it over my head. He drops it onto the pile with the rest of my clothes.
Hooking his fingers under my bandeau, he sweeps them around the corners of my breasts, before removing the only remaining article of clothing I have on.
My nipples are already hard. It’s a response to the cold air, nothing else. Most certainly not the way he’s looking at me.
He finally steps back, leaving me standing in the middle of the room as he grabs the thin material from the bed. When he returns, he kneels down in front of me.
Gently lifting the jeweled undergarment, he grips my ankle and lifts my foot, sliding my leg through the opening.
He does the same for my right foot, and as he inches it up, his hands run along the outsides of my thighs.
My traitorous skin responds, pebbling beneath his touch.
A cacophony of sensations and pleasure rolls through me. I almost let out a moan.
“Mmm…” He purrs.
I breathe in, and try to center myself, but my exhale comes out as a shudder. I might be a wet mess as he’s undressed and dressed me, but I refuse to let him know he’s gotten under my skin.
Whether or not he can hear my heart beating and pulse throbbing, I need to hold myself together.
I watch him, recounting all the remaining reasons I hate him.
He left me before the battle. He came back and thrust my life into chaos.
The hate is a farce, but he can’t win.
I will not let a man bring me to my knees.
“Are you sure you don’t desire me?” Mikael says as he nips at my hip with his fangs, and I suck in a breath at the tinge of pain. His tongue flicks against my skin. “Delicious.”
He looks up at me. Passion, devotion, and worship burn within those gorgeous gray irises. It would normally make me buckle and end this ruse—but not this time. I choose violence instead. “You’ve finally found the place you belong.”
His fingers wrap around the back of my thighs, gently applying pressure. “I’m at your command, my queen.”
The blond strands of his soft hair easily slide between my fingers as I grip it and pull his head back. “Queen, you say?”
“If you’ll have me.” His gaze holds such intensity that it surprises me, like there is more to this game we’re playing, more to the meaning in his words.
But they do mean something else.
If you’ll have me.
They’re a plea—he’s literally begging on his knees—for me to take him back.
To love him again without conditions.
Without hesitation.
I push the thoughts aside, because that could very well be part of his plan to win.
“I’ll consider it.” I let go, and he rises, then picks up the robe and slips it over my head.
“Well, what an experience that was.” I press my hands against his chest. “Too bad you won’t get the same. It really was something.”
I walk away, swinging my hips as I make my way to the balcony.
It overlooks the temple grounds and the hills beyond that are peppered with grand trees that have been there for thousands of years. Mikael joins me, wearing his dark blue robe that hides more than my pearl-colored one.
He leans against the railing, facing me, smirking. “The whole time I was getting dressed, I was hoping you were going to come back.”
“Why would I ever do such a thing?” I chide.
He pokes me in the ribs, and I can’t help but laugh.
“This is ridiculous. Wearing these outfits.” I motion between us. “Also, you know I hate the cold. When the sun goes down, I’ll be freezing in this. Yours looks thicker. Maybe we should swap.”
“I don’t think that would look as good on me.” He shakes his head, laughing.
“Probably not.”
“I wouldn’t think too much about it. The priestess said everyone else will be wearing them and, for all we know, we won’t even be bothered by it when the trial starts.” He tries to reassure me.
I shouldn’t care—and I certainly don’t with him.
It’s just another thing forcing me to strip down my barrier because the priestess spoke true when she stated we hide behind our choice in clothing and weapons.
I dress and present the way I want to be seen: the same deadly, famed warrior I used to be. Not the broken woman I became.
“What do you want to happen at the end of our journey?” Mikael asks after a moment of silence.
“I think it’s too early to know what I can want.” I look out at the view, not wanting to see how my response affects him. I know what he wants. He’s made it very clear. “I don’t know if we can expect much at the end of the journey.”
“Why not? Why won’t you let yourself want something? Let yourself think you’ll have a better outcome than you currently have?”
“Because I don’t want to be let down by what I want.” This time I do look at him. “It’s the best way to not get hurt again.”
“Bryn…” he starts, but a loud knock interrupts him.
Good, because I didn’t want to have that conversation.
The priestess opens the door. “It’s time.”
She leads us on the same path, taking us back up to the main platform. Torches have been lit, framing the walkways and the edges of the terraces. We reach the top just as the last of the sunlight fades.
“With the moon’s light, the full effect of the serum will take place.
” The high priestess joins us on the platform.
“We are here to oversee your journey, but not to interfere. You must find your way to the mirror of your desire. Your desire may be a deadly sin, or simply something innocent. You must live in, accept, or overcome them.”
“What does that even mean?” I want a straightforward answer, someone to tell me exactly what they want me to do. Mikael’s hand slides along my lower back, and it instantly soothes me.
“If you cannot help yourself, then no one can,” she replies, then her gaze goes beyond us.
I turn to see the moon slowly rising over the temple. It’s a sight to behold, the way the light illuminates the temple in an effervescent glow.
“You may see each other tonight, but you will not be facing this together. You each have your own path to take. If you can’t find your way out by sunrise, then there will be no reward.” The priestess’s voice surrounds us, coming from all angles.
“Where are we supposed to go?” When I don’t get an answer, I turn around to find they’re all gone.
As the moon continues to rise, patrons from all species, in various shapes and sizes, flow into the temple, all wearing the same robes. They fill the platforms and mingle with each other, talking and laughing.
When the full moon moves into position above the temple, the effects of the serum hit. A tug throbs within my core, then spreads through my veins.
My vision wavers.
The sky shimmers before my eyes.
I no longer feel Mikael’s touch. I blink, and the throbbing is gone.
Instead, a weightless void consumes me.