Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
The problem was, I didn’t entirely mind it.
Which presented another problem since my lack of disgust over this meant there was truly something wrong with me, and I would really need to think long and hard about that later.
“He was trespassing while I was swimming,” I managed.
A brow rose as Attes glanced between us. “I think I need to visit more lakes in the mortal realm.”
“You should,” Nyktos suggested. “Though I doubt you will find such unexpected treasure as I did.”
Treasure? There was a silly jump in my chest that happened before I could remind myself that if I took away the embers, a treasure was the very last thing Nyktos thought I was.
“Sadly, I think you may be right,” Attes said after a moment. “I doubt I shall find a treasure as…unique.”
Nyktos’s finger halted. There was something in Attes’s tone and the slight, almost secretive smile that graced his lips—something that caused tiny balls of unease to form in the pit of my chest.
“What’s your name?” Attes asked, his thumb tapping the arm of the chair.
Nyktos said nothing behind me, so I took that as permission to answer. “Sera.”
“Sera,” he repeated in a low voice. “No last name?”
It was doubtful that he could find many in the mortal realm who would recognize my first name. The last would be an entirely different story. I gave a coy shrug.
“Intriguing,” he remarked. “I think the others will understand why you’ve taken a Consort once they see her.” The Primal gave a slow grin, showing off that dimple in his right cheek. He winked at me. “I have a feeling many of them will find themselves wishing to adorn themselves with such an alluring accessory.”
Anger gathered in my chest for a second before Nyktos’s arms gave a warning squeeze. I’d likely projected that emotion right down his throat. Because…an accessory? There wasn’t enough common sense in the entire realm of Iliseeum for me to keep my mouth shut. “I doubt you prefer the taste of eyes more than your steed, but refer to me as an accessory again, and it will be you who feeds on them.”
The moment those words left my mouth, I almost regretted them. The Primal of Accord and War went impossibly still in the same way Nyktos often did. His glowing, silver eyes fixed on me. Icy, dark energy ramped up, brushing against my skin as it built from behind me. I was suddenly unsure which Primal I’d angered more.
Attes smiled, revealing straight teeth and fangs. “This one has bite.”
“You have no idea,” Nyktos murmured, and my head whipped toward him. His eyes briefly met mine as that damn hand slipped deeper between my thighs. His thumb gave a swipe, nearly brushing the thin undergarment there. “Behave.”
I drew back, my restraint cracking again.
“Has Veses seen her yet?”
Veses. My attention snapped back to Attes as the memory of the Primal touching Nyktos filled my thoughts.
“No,” Nyktos replied, his tone cool enough to chill my skin.
“Well, that will be a complication, will it not? One I would not envy.”
I opened my mouth, but Attes continued. “And you’ve had a lot of complications of late, it seems. I heard you had quite a few entombed gods escape on you.”
“I assume you had nothing to do with that.”
Attes smirked. “You should know me better than that. If I had a problem with you, I wouldn’t send one of my draken, nor would I unleash those entombed here.”
“No, you’re not the type to plunge the sword into someone’s back.”
“Neither are you.”
“Glad we have that in common,” Nyktos replied, but he didn’t sound glad at all. “What is it that you want, Attes?”
“There are many things I want, and very few of those things are available to me.” Attes stretched out a leg. His gaze dropped to where Nyktos’s hand was. “I’ve never seen you quite so…engrossed with another before.”
I almost laughed.
“You haven’t.” Nyktos’s lips brushed my cheek, causing my pulse to skitter in surprise. “I prefer to have her within reach.”
Only because he feared I would do something reckless, but not exquisitely reckless.
“I can easily see why.”
“And I can see you’re nowhere near getting to the point before I run out of patience,” Nyktos warned. “And I’m almost there, just so you know.”
Good gods, the way he spoke to the other Primal was shocking. I knew there was a hierarchy to the Primals, with the Primal of Death and Primal of Life being at the top, but still. This was the Primal of War.
Attes’s stare sharpened, hardening the handsome angles of his face. “You killed my Cimmerian. Those who came to your Rise.”
The swift change of subject threw me as Nyktos said, “They were not your Cimmerian. They served Hanan. And if you had such concern for them, you should have taught them better than to serve such a coward.”