City of Thorns (The Demon Queen Trials #1)(53)

As he finished the kiss with a nip to my lower lip, he pulled back. The look he was giving me was molten, hungry. His expression was positively primal, like he was about to rip my dress off, throw me up against the wall, and fuck me right here.

Was that the look he was giving me, or was that what I wanted to happen?

His breath sped up as he pulled down the strap of my dress, just enough that he had a good view of my hard nipples. A growl rose from his throat, and I saw his fangs lengthen like he wanted to devour me.

This was all very out of character for me, but I wasn’t exactly stopping him as he reached down for the hem of my dress and slid his hand beneath. My gown was dragged upward as he traced his hand higher, exposing more of my skin. “Are you going to get cocky, love, with the two most powerful men in the city fighting over you?”

“Get cocky?” I said, because I was Mortana. “I know my worth.”

He tilted me into him, my hips shifting in his lap. One of his hands stroked slowly up and down over my ribs. I could feel his magic, his heat, through the thin material. My breath was hitching, my pulse racing as his other hand slid around my upper thigh. He was touching me like I belonged to him, but his expression held a certain reverence that I hadn’t seen before. The seductive scent of burning cedar curled all around us, and desire coiled tight within me.

His eyes darkened to black, and I sensed he knew how much I wanted this. He was responding to me as much as I was to him. He brushed his knuckles over my thigh, the sensation so maddening I could no longer think straight.

I should probably stop this now.

I mean, we were in a room with other people, for crying out loud…but my breasts ached for his touch.

From behind me, I heard the sound of a throat clearing, and Orion’s hand tightened on my ass like he was claiming me. He whispered into my ear, “We got the king’s attention.”

A cold tendril of disappointment coiled through me. Right. Had this been about the information?

With my cheeks flushing a bright red, I turned my face a little to see King Cambriel looming over us. “Mortana and I were not finished with our discussion.”

“The thing is, Your Majesty,” said Orion sharply, “I don't really give a fuck.”

I gasped. Was the king going to kill him for that impudence?

With me in his arms like an indecent bride, Orion rose. I felt as if the rest of the room had fallen away. It was just me and Orion now, his dark eyes shining with desire.

Without another word, he carried me outside. The sea wind chilled my skin, rustling my hair as Orion walked with me over to the balcony. Clouds had slid over the moon, and shadows swallowed up the night sky around us. The only light out there was from the party and the glittering phosphorescence of the sea.

My emotions were drowning out rational thought completely. My breath hitched, and I simply repeated, “Where are we going?”

“I thought I should take you out of there.”

“On the balcony?”

“I don’t want to give you over to the king. I want you in my bed, naked and moaning my name.”

“Okay,” I breathed. “Let’s do that.” I frowned at him, my heart still racing as I clung to his neck. “Why are we on the balcony? How do we get down from here?”

“You’ll see, love.” With me in his arms, he climbed atop the railing, and my heart stuttered in my chest.

Now, the sea breeze outside was whipping at us, and panic made my heart race. “Are you crazy?”

His dark eyes locked on mine, and he held me close against his powerful chest. “Do you trust me, love?”

“No.”

His beautiful mouth curved in a dark smile. “You’re very wise in that regard. But do you trust me at least not to kill you until I can bring you somewhere where I can make you come?”

“I guess?”

I tore my gaze away from him and glanced down at the ocean glittering far below us. Didn’t he say only the Lilu could fly? He wasn’t Lilu. “Wait—”

Before I could get the rest of my sentence out, he leapt from the balcony, and we started to plunge through the air.





Chapter 30





The sea wind whipped over us as we fell into the darkness. Orion was still holding me tightly against his powerful chest, but we were falling toward the sea.

What the fuck, Orion?

Then, with a sound like a snapping bone, our fall stopped sharply. With a slamming heart, I gripped Orion’s neck, catching my breath as I stared at the dark wings that spread out behind him. His feathers were tinged a deep silver at the tips, and they seemed to glow like moonlight. “What are you?” I breathed.

“Magnificent,” he murmured.

Stunned, I stared at him. “No, really. I thought all the Lilu were dead besides Mortana. And that only the Lilu have wings.” I just stared, trying to come to grips with what had just happened. “The female Lilu were succubi. So you’re—what, an incubus? You’re an incubus. Can you fuck me to death?”

Wickedness gleamed in his eyes. “Is that a request?”

“No, it was a concern.”

“I promise to keep you alive.” He flashed me a heartbreakingly beautiful smile. “Now you’ve seen the real me. And you’re just about the only one.”