Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

His eyes softened ever so slightly. “Hmm,” he mused and finally released my chin. “Is that what I have to look forward to? You biting me?”

I searched his eyes for a moment before minenarrowed to slits. “Yes. Are you going to kill him?”

He rose a brow. “Do you want me to kill him?”

“Mine first,” I pushed, feeling the anger finally ease, my heart slowing. I was safe again. As safe as I could be standing in the presence of the God of Nightmares.

One corner of his lips flicked up. “What exactly do you want to know, baby?”

I felt my skin buzz, his promises of truth whispering through me. I honestly wanted to know what he would do. I didn’t know why, but some sick and twisted part of me just…I wanted to know what he would do to the Prince of Terigard after forcing a kiss on me.

“Would you wrap him up in a pretty little bow?” I asked, my cheeks warming. I felt embarrassed as soon as the words left my lips, and that embarrassment forced my eyes away.

Trick grabbed my chin and tilted it back up. “Don’t look away from me,” he commanded softly. “Your darkest thoughts are my deepest desires, Kyra. Never look away from me when you speak them.”

I swallowed, the heat in my stomach growing, everything fading from my mind at the look in his eyes. “Tell me,” I demanded, my voice a bare whisper.

That hunger filled his eyes once more, and I didn’t know why or how, but I felt him barely holding onto his control. “It would be slow,” he purred. “He’d be begging for an end before I even began. I would pick up where you left off so he knew exactly who I was doing it for. I’d grab his tongue and pull it out. Slowly. I’d keep pulling and pulling, listening to his screams as they filled the room, and I wouldn’t stop until I felt it tear awayfrom the hyoid bone.”

My mouth went dry as his eyes bore into mine.

“And then I would use a knife,” he went on quietly, his eyes falling to my lips, “and carefully peel his lips from his flesh. How did he hold you?”

I cleared my throat, pressing my thighs together. “Um, he grabbed me around the back of my neck and around my wrist.”

His eyes flamed. “So then I would move onto his hands,” he continued, stepping closer. “I’d rip each fingernail away slowly. When his nails are gone, I’d use a blade and make little slits across the tips of each finger and then I would begin the slow and painful process of peeling back his skin. After that, I’d begin removing his bones.”

Trick reached over and took my right hand. He lifted it up between us, spreading out my fingers, taking my index finger gently. “I’d begin at the top,” he said, “and work my way down. There are 27 bones in each hand. It would last me about five minutes, ten if I really took my time.”

I tilted my head ever so slightly, my heart racing, my skin far too hot. “Just because he forced himself on me?”

“Because he thought he could take what was mine,” he mumbled and then kissed the tips of my fingers. “Do you want me to kill him?” he asked again, voice deadly.

“Yes,”the sick voice in me said.

“No,”the rational voice in me begged.

They would know who I was harboring though, if I said yes. They would come after us without hesitation if they found out thatthe man they wanted dead was obsessed with the sister of the boy they wanted on the throne.

That would put Mark in even more danger than he already was, and I couldn’t risk that.

I shook my head, despite every bone in my body begging me to let him do it. “I can’t.”

Trick’s thumb grazed over the palm of my hand. “Very well. We need to go back, Angel. You have two children wondering where you are.”

My eyes were drawn to his lips, my heart thundering through me. Just like that, he wouldn’t do it. Just because I said no. “Would you…you would really kill him just because he kissed me?” I asked again, eyes lifting to his.

Trick slowly slid my hand over his cheek. Warm, soft but prickly at the same time. “I’d wrap up his dick in a pretty little bow just for you.”

I searched his eyes, seeing the truth in their depths. Holy fuck.

“Take me to the cottage,” I finally said, running my thumb gently over his cheekbone. “I can’t have the children rearranging my things.”

He smiled as if he saw a shift within me, and we Jumped.

~~~

I watched from the roof as Cole and Mark threw snowballs at each other two days after standing up to Evanora. It was the first real snow of the season and seeing them playing together made it worth the stress offinding him the last few things I needed for winter. Besides, it didn’t seem like the guards were still hunting for me. I wasn’t sure what her game was, but it did make things a little better when I went out.