Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

She hadn’t missed one thing, not yet.

Cole walked over and crouched down to a piece of concrete covered in foliage. He brushed it to the side, revealing what she wanted him to see.

Dozens of scratch marks doused in dried blood.

“This world will know true darkness. Not by witches or demons or evil gods. I will show them what true nightmares are made of.”

And I held true to that promise.

Cole straightened, his expression dark, cold. “The prisoner mentioned the witches specifically. Why?”

Kyra shrugged, walking over. “I don’t know.”

She had lied. I could smell it wafting from her skin, but why? What did she know? What did she believe?

She passed him, clearly done with the trip. “Come on. You’re going to help me thieve today.”

I smiled at how controlling she was, but she needed a break from it. She needed to let go, feel freedom for the first time, and I would make her do just that.

Cole looked after her. “That’s a big risk, taking me into the city.”

She looked back and rose a brow. “Scared?” A daring look only interrupted when the ankle she had been limping on gave out and she fell.

Cole caught her before she hit the ground.

“Careful, Angel, I can’t promise I won’t burn the ground that hurts you too.”

But as I watched them, I found my eyes narrowing as he helped her stand, their eyes locking, her breathinggrowing shallow as she looked at his lips, clung to his shirt.

It was instant, the smell of their arousal. I could smell the way it grew, hear her heartbeat skip, his thud.

I bared my teeth, watching as Cole got her feet under her but didn’t move away. “Do it,” I dared them, my voice a low snarl. “Fucking do it.”

There was hesitation in her eyes, doubt, questions, confusion.

Cole wasted no time as he slid one hand around her waist, the other sliding down, as if he had been waiting for a second to make his move. All he needed was a single opening. He didn’t even need to smell her arousal, proven in this very moment. He was so desperate to fuck the human first that he didn’t care if she was aroused or not, he’d make her aroused.

In our younger years, he had taunted about it. About fucking someone from each species. It became a sort of game for him until he decided to fuck Rose.

But since her death? It was like he had no ambition. He didn’t want tobewith her, he just wanted to put another notch in his belt, win a game no one else was playing.

I didn’t care about that particular game. I never wanted to be a part of it, and Cole could fuck whoever he wanted, play whatever game he wanted to play. Butmy girl?He was addingmy Angelto that endless list of aimless conquests?

“Punish him,”my magic snarled.“Rip his ribs out one by one and slide them up his fucking ass.”

Another snapof my bones.

I jerked my neck to one side, gripping my hands so tightly, I felt the skin break. I forced my eyes open and watched them. Stalked around them so I could get a better view of her.

Whatever he made her feel, I’d make her feel more. When I was done with her, sex would be ruined for anyone else for the rest of her fucking life. She would never forget me. She’d beg for more. She would be so fully consumed by me, there would be no ounce of need left towards anyone else. No memory of anyone she had been with.

I would own every fucking piece of her. Past, present, and future.

I wouldruinher.

She was still considering everything as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders, the other clinging to the shirt at his chest as he reached down between her legs. No build up. No kissing because all he wanted was to feel her wrapped around him. I knew what kind of lover Cole was. I had seen it time and time again. He was gentle, caring, but sometimes he forgot the most important part.

You had to play a bit before it happened. He was selfish in his pointless conquests. He wanted what he wanted, and that was it. He didn’t take the time to learn about what his partner wanted. Never made sure they were responding to him.