A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire 1)

My gaze dropped to the floor. “I wouldn’t be able to seriously hurt you.”

“True.” He didn’t relax his hold. “But I don’t for one second believe that piece of knowledge would stop you from trying yet again.”

It wouldn’t. Except attempting to harm him again wouldn’t further my duty one bit. “I’m not going to do anything. I promise.”

“That sounds about as likely as a cave cat not clawing through the skin of the hand that attempts to pet it.”

I inhaled sharply and then jerked at the sensation of those coarse hairs against my breasts. “Are you afraid of me, then?”

“A little.”

I let out a rough, biting laugh. “Nyktos? The Primal of Death, afraid of a mortal girl?”

His breath teased my jaw. “I am not foolish enough to underestimate a mortal, female or not. Especially after what I just saw you do,” he said. “And don’t call me that.”

I frowned. “Nyktos? That’s your name.”

“I am not that to you.”

I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be offended by that or not, but whatever. Calling him Ash was far easier than using the name that meant death.

My gaze skipped over the floor to where his arms were folded across my chest. His skin tone was several shades deeper than mine in the sunlight, and smooth under the dusting of hair. “You don’t have scales for flesh.”

“What?”

Tavius’s taunt still echoed in my thoughts as I closed my eyes, and I felt my control slip once more, letting out something other than anger. It was a rawness that came in a rush. “You rejected me.”

His hold loosened.

“And worse yet, you didn’t even realize who I was, did you?” I said, not faking the hoarseness in my voice. I wished that was an act.

A wake of tingles erupted as Nyktos’ arms slid away from me. Warm air rolled over my back and shoulders. “I always knew who you were.”

My eyes flew open, and I turned to face him. “You did?”

Quicksilver eyes fixed on mine. “I knew who you were when I stopped you from getting yourself killed when you went after those gods.”

He…he’d known and hadn’t said anything? He knew and appeared surprised by my anger?

“You knew who I was then and said nothing? You knew the night we found that body and didn’t say a word? And the night at the lake?” A tremor worked its way through me. “You knew then and didn’t tell me what the name Ash was short for?”

He bit his lower lip as he glanced at the still-impaled body. “I have a feeling if I answer that question honestly, you will be inclined to go back on your promise.”

“I’m already halfway there,” I snapped before I could stop myself. I stepped forward, lowering my voice. “You made a deal. You didn’t fulfill it, Ash.”

His jaw locked as his gaze returned to mine. “Why do you think I’m here now?”

Chapter 21

Why do you think I’m here now?

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The floor felt like it was trembling under me again. It took several moments for me to fully register what he’d said. What it could mean. “You…you are here to fulfill the deal?”

“What other choice do we have?” Ash stated. “I cannot leave you here, not after this.” He extended his arm to Tavius’s slumped body. “Princess or Consort, you murdered an heir apparent King.”

I blinked. “You were getting ready to kill him.”

“I was.” He looked back at me. “But I am a Primal. Your mortal laws regarding killing pieces of shit men do not apply to me. You wanted his death.” His silver eyes brightened. “I do not doubt for one second that you earned it.”

I had. Many times over. But… “You’re only fulfilling the deal so I don’t face the executioner’s block?”

“Is that now just occurring to you?” His brows furrowed as incredulity crept into his tone. “Wait. It is. Do you not value your life at all?”

I didn’t even bother answering that.

Barely leashed anger simmered beneath his skin. “You killed him believing that I would leave you to face the consequences?”

“I’m sorry, but why would I believe anything else? You refused to hold up the end of the deal you made.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

A harsh laugh burst from me. “I know exactly what I’m talking about. I was ready to uphold the end of the bargain my forefather made. It was you who failed to do so. But it is the—” I stopped myself before I revealed my knowledge that the deal he’d made came with a time limit. If he realized that I knew that, he could discover that I knew even more. I forced the next words out. “It is I who paid for it.”

That muscle in his jaw ticked. “How exactly have you paid for it, Princess?” he challenged, and my spine stiffened. “You were given back your life, were you not? Your freedom to choose what to do and not do with it. Something I already know you value very highly.”