A cunning smile graced D’Chel’s face. “Your bond animal?” He gestured toward Rune. “And your mate?”
“Well, you got one right.”
The god’s eyes flickered dangerously. Apparently, he wasn’t used to making errors—or having them pointed out.
“Let them leave,” Aislinn continued, holding his gaze. In a sudden flash of insight, she deployed a risky gambit and added, “I was visiting with Perrikus the other day, but one of the Old Ones showed up. Ruined our fun.”
Surprise fluttered across his far-from-human features. Good. Let him try to figure out which side I’m on. Lots of humans, starting with the ones who had helped open the gateway during the globally synchronized surge, fueled the dark ones’ powers by their adoration—and lots of sex.
Fionn clamped a hand around her wrist in a viselike grip and tugged. “Come on,” he snarled. “We’re leaving. Now.”
“I’ll find you later,” she murmured. “Bella needs you. Take Rune.” She held her breath. Would D’Chel let them go if she stayed? She hoped he’d find her interesting enough to release the others. After all, most humans who followed the dark didn’t have much power. Perrikus had wanted children with her.
“I am staying with you,” Rune growled.
Aislinn clamped her teeth together so hard, she was surprised they didn’t shatter. It went against the grain to force Rune, but she had to see him out of harm’s way. “You will go with Fionn and Bella.”
Anger, disappointment, and betrayal flashed from the wolf’s eyes.
Fionn’s gaze moved from her to D’Chel. Giving her a terse nod, he moved toward where she’d left the bird. Rune followed him, refusing to meet her gaze.
“Nicely done, human.” A lascivious smile lit D’Chel’s face as he drank her in. His hand snaked out, stroked her face, and then moved familiarly down her body. “Your loved ones are out of harm’s way—for the moment. What will you barter for their continued safety?”
“I am under the Old Ones’ protection.”
Full lips drew back in a sneer. “So what? Besides, I don’t see them racing to your defense.”
His unnerving gaze shaded back to coppery-green and bored into her. A jolt of lust so hot that it made her come where she stood turned her knees to jelly. At least the sexual tension ratcheted down a notch or two, but not for long.
His gaze never left her face. He smiled knowingly. “We could have a lot of fun, you and me. You’re a ripe one.”
He pulled her to him. Close up like that, she saw flecks of silver in his ever-changing eyes. She also saw how alien they were. Despite his humanoid form, he was anything but. His perfect body felt cool against hers when he slashed his mouth atop hers. He drew heat from her until she started to shiver and pulled away from his mouth and his roaming hands. Away from the length of him pressed against her crotch.
“Would you take me against my will?” Her teeth chattered. All the heat leached out of the world. Holy crap! He’s going to drain the life right out of me.
“I am a god. I take what I want.”
He reached for her again. A feral gleam shone from the depths of his eyes, desperation for something to warm him. She wondered how many thousands of years old he was.
I have to do something before I freeze to death. She hadn’t understood before that if he entered her, he’d steal everything warm and living. What would be left? Not very fucking much.
Sudden terror energized her. Because it burned inside her all the time, Aislinn drew fire. She made the surface of her body hot, so hot that D’Chel yanked his hands away. She stumbled and nearly fell.
“What are you doing?” he demanded. “Stop that at once.”
“You’re cold. I’m hot.” She panted with the effort of holding her magic. So long as she kept it within and didn’t turn it to energy for spells or fighting, it would heat her. Apparently, he couldn’t touch her when she was like this.
He tried again, laying a cold hand against her breast, but he snatched it away at once. Barely contained rage built. She saw it in the set of his jaw and his narrowed eyes.
“Let’s just agree that we made a mistake,” she suggested smoothly.
“I could blast you out of this world with a thought.”
“I don’t think so,” she replied evenly. If he could, I’d be dead now.
His man-form wavered. A cobra stood before her, weaving its dance of death. Before it could strike, Aislinn mobilized the magic simmering inside her. First, she called invisibility, and then she jumped, ameliorating all traces of her destination.