King’s Seduction

s me as I stalk outsid

ness this. I’m not frightened, adrenaline and anger weighted beneath me as I twist my hand around to my back, the open slit in the dress allowing me to swiftly pull the knife out, clu

gh I don’t let that trip me up. This man, this Summ

t move, I charge forward, pushing my forearms against his chest until I’ve driven his back into the cobblestone wall, snow raining down on us from a higher point as I press the blade of my knife against his throat. He freezes, not looking frightened, but I’ll take some satisfaction in

’t as frightened that a knife is pressed tauntingly against his neck as I would like, despite the fact that I could

o the wall with my knife, my free hand pressed against the icy wall. Glancing down, I watch him swallow, the blade so close to piercing skin to reveal his Summon

as he refuses to remove his gaze from mine, the sting

than any other rebel, and yet he insists he can be trusted with such ease, like I should know this already. Marek won’t ki

” I growl, tightening my grip on the handle of the k

you," he assures me, hi

ope he cannot read my eyes and see how sad I am reciting that. I don't want him to think that his betrayal stil

their focus from my gaze. He may not be threatened by my knife, but I know it bothers him that I would have such a fas

re word

my waist, twisting me around in a movement so adept, so swift I can hardly register it, until my back is pressed against the wall behind me. I gasp, my foggy breath blowing stray

knife still clutched in my hand. His other hand is pressed against the wall b

kly he unarmed me. “This is just a joke to you, is

oks at me as flashbacks of our night in the barn reappearing, my cheeks heating in response. Irritated by my reaction, I

, the intent in his voice firm. “I’m here to talk, not

in the snow. My eyes fall upon his right hand, my knife clutched in his fist. I hadn't even realised he had gotten it from me. More frustra

k, and neither is pressuring him for information. He will feed me what he desires in his o

to you. To

his would be the last place I would assume you would be," he admits, shoving his hands into his tr

ngle my head, unflinching. I know better than to think he cares about whether I'm alive or not, assuming he

mutter quietly, turning

re frightened of him than Vaia and her rebels. Does she plan to use his power against us? Maybe he is lying, trying to gain my tr

eant to bel

e you are,” he exhales, pushing off the wall. I sti

urmur breathlessly. He's done a wonderful job of it already tonight, leaving me flushed and embarrassed

r me again, as if he may have missed it the first time. Injured? Does he know that Vaia stabbed me a

able to help myself as I straighten

esires made you decide you wan

y resurrected. He looks as though he didn't expect that he would have to explain to me about why he decided to align with Vaia a

, shoulders tense and rigid suddenly. “Th

eyes flicker with something else entirely. What is he risking by being here?

ling the truth, he won't hurt Tai. When he doesn't reply, I rele

a.” I glance back at him, trying not

tch

gh. Fear blossoms within me. The threat of Vaia and the rebels is nearing, whether Marek is telling the truth or not. For whatever rea

t like yo

," he demands, taking another step forwa

n handle seeing him a second time. If he were to vanish from my life completely, it

houlder as if fearful he is fearful our conversatio

ends, uncovered my entire backstory, meaning he likely knows where we live. Now he's a threat, e

rying to sound firm, but I just sound breathle

ing around the corner, the only evidence he was there in the flutter in my heart, in the