Chapter 17 #2
“I think this has been an enlightening conversation,” Dolgeraus said with a smirk.
“Make the right decisions, human.” His gaze flashed over her shoulder.
“And I think you can infer the consequences should this little chat reach the wrong ears. I’d hate for something to happen to you in the Dreadmoor. ”
Kalypso’s jaw ached with how hard she was holding herself back, particularly as a familiar presence filled the space behind her.
“Get your claws off her, Dolgeraus,” Ozirax drawled.
The blue demon stepped back, hands upraised. “Enjoy your evening.”
With a final smirk toward her, he turned and walked away with a stiff leg.
Kalypso glared after him, threats pressing down on her shoulders. She barely noticed Ozirax take up her arm and hip, barely felt the sway as he guided them into the next dance, until he grunted.
“I’ll let go of you if you stop crushing my spines.”
She blinked, then glanced at where her makeshift claws had clamped onto his exposed forearm. The lowest spine was crushed in her grip. Stretching her fingers, she attempted a softer hold but didn’t shove away his touch from her side. “Sorry.”
Ozirax’s eyes narrowed, and then with the next pulse of the drums, he pulled her against his chest, leaning in close while keeping the ruse of an intimate dance.
“Spicy, you never apologize.” His nose grazed her cheek as he leaned away just enough to meet her eye.
“If he upset you, I will gladly sever a spike so you might peel his skin from his body for the disrespect. Your claws are much too beautiful to be tarnished by his blood.”
Kalypso held his gaze, the blackness unflinching as he kept her close. Unwavering with the promise.
He would remove one for her. The first weapon he’d offered her, he’d still believed she might use it against him. Now, he was offering… himself.
As a weapon for her to use.
Here he stood, speaking a promise of violence into her ear, stoking the fire within her, as he held her tenderly among demons who would use this moment against him. Who would shred his career apart without another thought.
There was a thumping in her chest, deeper than the pulsing drums around her and more intimate than her heartbeat. An ache that should have terrified her, and maybe it did, but right now, perhaps it was the first time that her rage winning out was a good thing.
She didn’t know where Dolgeraus had gone, what he could see, so she lowered her head to his shoulder. Her arms wrapped around him, hiding her mouth as she whispered, “How safe is Kat?”
Thank the gods that Ozirax was already on edge. His voice was low, face buried in her hair and close to her ear. “No one will touch her. I’ll see to it personally if you wish.”
“Not yet. Dolgeraus is blackmailing us, and I don’t want him to suspect.
” A low growl emanated from his chest, and instinctively Kaly reached up and laid her hand on the back of his neck.
Sure enough, the spikes pushed against her palm.
“Easy, cactus. His threats are still credible, but he’s made it clear if you send in your application to Harrox, he’ll ruin your career. Tarzul has evidence against you.”
She filled him in on the conversation, even the evidence that he’d lied on his reports for her. But he didn’t flinch, didn’t deny it or call her out on the truth. There was only a momentary pause as she finished, and then Ozirax shrugged. “Then I won’t submit it.”
Kaly leaned back with a frown. “You’re just going to let him win? Become captain and let him continue to threaten us?”
“Those are serious threats, Kalypso. It’s not about letting him win.”
“Then what is it about?”
He frowned, turning them slowly on the dance floor. Just when she thought he might answer, he closed his mouth again. But it wasn’t resignation or fear hidden in his eyes as he avoided her gaze. It was something more.
Something he’d been avoiding.
And wasn’t now just the perfect time to let the rest of her walls down?
“Oz,” she pressed, playing with the ends of his hair to keep him calm. Or maybe to keep herself calm. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He readjusted his grip on her waist, letting out a tense sigh.
“I don’t think I want to be captain.” Kaly blinked, and so did he, like the admission surprised him.
“I don’t think I ever wanted to be captain.
I didn’t even request the application. The squad nominated me because it was a requirement, some others in the guard dropped my name, but I never… ”
“Your father gave that application to you.”
Oz nodded. “Last time I visited. Every time I went to fill them in, I just felt dread. Not to mention that lettering is dizzying as fuck to look at. But the thought of trading what I do now for sitting behind a desk and formal dinners? Petitioning rich assholes for money? It’s not what I want and…
I don’t think I’ve admitted that before, even to myself. ”
Kalypso blew out a slow breath. “Okay.”
His brow pinched, chin dipping to meet her eyes. “What?”
“You don’t want to be captain, fine. Don’t be.”
Ozirax huffed a laugh. “You make it sound so simple.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Kaly, he threatened you. Your sister. Me.”
“Yes, I’m aware. But his threat finally got you to admit you fucking hate this.”
“What?”
She gestured around. “Seriously? You put all these demons to shame. You talked half of them in circles, and I bet you can’t recall a single word because you were bored as fuck.
Do I think they should all be on their knees, licking your boots for a fraction of your intelligence?
Yes, including your asshole of a father.
But I also know that the moment I arrived upset, you were ready to bail.
At the first mention of Dolgeraus ordering you not to apply, you were fucking relieved. ”
The purple demon shook his head. “How—”
“I said you’d make a difference in the guard, Oz.
I never mentioned being captain.” Her smirk was one of cool confidence as his mouth parted in shock.
“Everything I said was the truth. You are good at this, but you are exactly what the guard needs right where you are. And that’s exactly where we need to be to get our revenge. ”
It wasn’t until a couple bumped into them that she realized they’d stopped dancing, but Ozirax didn’t seem to notice. He stood there, staring down at her with… that same look as right before he’d abandoned her earlier that night.
But this time, instead of stepping back, his grip tightened. One hand lifted, slipping across her cheek and into her long hair.
He tipped her head up, lips just a breath away from hers. “You’re going to make that fucker pay for his threats, but only after I rip out his claws for daring to touch you and leaving his drunken stench behind.”
A shiver of delight slipped down her spine. “Cute, how you think I’ll let you have a turn.”
“Are we ready to bail this time?”
“Are you smuggling bronzeberry scones in your pockets?”
“No.” His breath gave away his lie as he left a chaste kiss over her lips. “One.”
He definitely had more than one. And she was definitely going to steal it.