Finally, he was making me want to not claw off his face, air-dry it, and use it as a smoothie coaster.
Hmm.
Lots of daydreaming about curing flesh into jerky-like stiffness today.
I knew I should have eaten before we left the house.
“The wards stay.” I brooked no argument. “Any daemon too weak to cross them isn’t my problem.”
The air of a challenge left Stavros grinning and earned me a warning glance from Asa.
“Why agree to a meeting,” Asa interceded, “if you never intended to grant our request?”
“How could I resist an opportunity to meet your lovely potential mate?” Stavros, who was never getting another highness out of me, quit walking. “By all accounts, Rue, you are clever, wicked, and cruel. You’re aware my son shares none of those qualities? His mother spoiled him. Emasculated him. Ruined him.”
That high-pitched whine returned, filling my ears, deafening me to whatever he said next.
“Your father was a remarkable black witch. Legendary. Even among our kind. Mixing my blood with your heritage can only result in cunning offspring with the potential to crush other worlds under their heels.”
Had the director taken the same no-nonsense approach with Calixta? Or had breeding been her idea?
You know what? Scratch that. There are things kids don’t need to know about their grandparents.
“Sever your fascination with my son.” He smoldered at me. “Together, we will topple empires.”
Apparently, history really did love repeating itself. Me? Not so much.
“As much as I would love to never in a million years take you up on the offer, I’m with Asa.”
“Allow me to castrate him, and you may keep the boy.” He smirked. “A gift to my future bride.”
White noise screamed in my head. Tension coiled in my muscles. The world bled into shades of crimson.
As the chains began to drop away from my black witch core, I knew—I knew—I was going to attack.
And I would kill him.
But that would put Asa on the throne, so…
Priorities.
With great effort, I leashed my worst impulses, smoothed my features, and sank back into my skin.
“Look at the time.” I checked my bare wrist. “I have heads to put on pikes at home, so we’ll be going.”
“Think on my offer.” Stavros smiled then, hot and honey sweet. “I’m twice the daemon he is.”
“Biologically? Yes.” I toyed with a lock of Asa’s hair. “But he’s dae. The best of both worlds.”
A soft breath parted his lips, telling me no one had ever stood up to this bully for him.
Their loss. He was mine now, and I wouldn’t let anyone hurt him. Especially not his dillweed of a father.
“Thank you for your time, Father.” Asa slid his arm around my waist. “We’ll be going now.”
“Perhaps I’ll visit.” His father’s eyes simmered where Asa and I touched. “To test those wards.”
The warning was plain for me to hear, and the threat to me and mine made my blood boil.