Lord of Embers(The Demon Queen Trials #2)(10)

I held his gaze. “No.”

Slowly, his hand brushed down my throat to my chest. Heat radiated off his body, warming my skin. His face was close to mine, his breath ghosting over my lips. I could feel my cheeks flushing.

Long silver claws shot from his fingertips, and my heart skipped a beat. The tips of his claws were already piercing the thin fabric of the little white dress. All his muscles were rigid.

I couldn’t tell if he was using all his strength to stop himself from killing me or to convince himself that he needed to.

Holy shit. The threat of imminent death sharpened my senses.

And I wasn’t just Rowan the mortal anymore. I wasn’t Mortana, either—but I was a fucking succubus. I had power now.

I reached up and touched the side of his face. “Orion,” I murmured.

“Why are you pretending to hate me?”

Nearly imperceptibly, his features softened. His eyes grew dark all at once, and his lips parted. His claws began to retreat, but his knee remained firmly between my thighs.

I brushed my thumb over his lower lip. His sharp intake of breath did something to me, made my muscles go taut and my thighs clench around his knee. His midnight eyes swept down my body to linger on my breasts. I was sure he was remembering what I looked like naked, and for a moment, I felt like I was completely bare before him. I moved my hips forward a little.

Around us, the air grew humid, sultry, and I let my head fall back against the wall.

Entranced, Orion slid his hand higher again to cup my throat— gently this time, just below my jaw. Now, his touch was reverent. His thumb brushed over my lips like I’d done to him, and I took it in my mouth, sucking on it for a moment. Another sharp intake of breath from him.

That ice-cold expression had left his eyes, leaving behind a smoldering possessiveness.

This was the moment to act.

I slammed my forehead into his nose, and he dropped his grip on me, staggering back. I brought my heel down hard into his kneecap, buying myself some time.

Ru n , Row an . T h at’s w h at you d o best.

Just when I reached the door, I felt his powerful arms wrap around me—one hand around my throat, the other clamping my arms to my sides. Fuck.

His claws were gone, but his iron body had me locked in a vise-like grip. Dread shivered through me. Something I’d said had flipped a switch in him earlier—the thing about the tattoo. Or something about snakes. Whatever it was, it had been exactly the wrong thing to say.

“You could be powerful, Mortana,” he said quietly. “But I think you’ve forgotten how to fight like a demon. And in case your question was real, I don’t know that I hate you anymore. I don’t think I feel anything for you at all. It’s hard to hate someone you no longer respect.”

For a moment, his words hit me so sharply, I felt like I could hardly breathe. I don’t think I’d realized until now how absolutely desperately I wanted things to be right between us. Because the sad truth was, I hardly had anyone else left.

“Is that so?” I tried to keep my voice steady.

“This new version of you has been nothing more than a tedious inconvenience. You are neurotic, dull, and unskilled at everything.”

Rage erupted. I jammed my heel hard into his calf—once, twice. But this time, I had no effect on him. It was like slamming my foot into a stone wall.

Shit. That move killed in my self-defense classes.

I might be strong as a demon, but Orion was a force of nature, a demonic god hewn from stone and fury.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I shifted my body, trying to break free of his grip, but his arm only tightened around me.

The side of his cheek brushed against mine. “Mortana,” he whispered.

“It’s not just the oath, or the fact that you murdered my family. It’s not just your sadism. No, on top of all that, you are my rival for the throne.

You are the other demon with the mark of the Lightbringer. You always knew I bore the same, didn’t you? And that’s precisely why you delighted in tormenting me in the dungeons.”

I kept struggling against his grip, but I wasn’t getting anywhere.

“You were the one who killed King Nergal, weren’t you?” I said.

“Only an heir could do it. I know it wasn’t me. And that’s how you blackmailed Cambriel.”

“Good summary.” His deep, languid voice betrayed not a hint of exertion. “And once I figure out what is keeping Cambriel alive, everyone will know that I’m meant to be on the throne. That I’m meant to be king.”

If I could keep him talking, maybe I’d figure out a way to stay alive.

I turned my head, my cheek brushing against his. “But you

are

destined to rule? Or am I? It must make you wonder, since there are two of us.”

His body was growing hotter. “You were born before me. I always assumed I was a correction of a terrible abomination.”

When someone was delusional or psychotic, you couldn’t argue with them outright. They’d just think you didn’t understand them. You had to work within the boundaries of their belief system. “Fine. I was born first.” I reached behind, sliding my hand under the hem of his black Tshirt, and stroked his abs, just above his belt. By the sigh he let out, I thought it was working. “The thing is, Orion, when I saw you in that bar in Osborne, you were desperate for one thing.” I moved my hips against him gently and heard his intake of breath. “You wanted to know how to kill the king, because it’s the only way the city will accept you as a ruler. Out of curiosity, have you tried to kill him before?”