She scoffed at that. “And still rape me one night a week? No, thank you.”
“Did I rape you last night?” I studied her, watched as a flush painted her porcelain skin, disappearing into the translucent negligee covering her breasts. “Yes, I penetrated your mind, but I also provided you with peace. Then I feigned a show for the camera in my quarters while doing my best to maintain your dignity. And I only did that to appease your bastard of a husband so he would allow me to stay, thereby granting me access to you.”
Some of her fire died, not that she seemed to notice. “Access to me? Why?”
“Because you’re the key to bringing them all down, Valora.” I captured her gaze and held it, needing her to understand. “What you did to Lavios is child’s play compared to what I sense inside you.”
“But I have no powers.”
I gestured to her upper arms with my chin. “Then why are you on fire?”
She glanced down at the embers floating above her skin and gasped. I leapt backward as her body went up in blue flames, her eyes widening in confusion and horror. “What are you doing to me?” she breathed, her pale cheeks a stark contrast to the energy dancing around her.
“Nothing,” I said, forcing a calm into my voice that I didn’t quite feel. “Your emotions are taking over and creating a defensive layer.”
Panic radiated from her, the inferno growing.
“I need you to breathe, Valora.” It took serious effort not to dive into her mind and compel her into submission. But she needed to do this on her own, to realize it was her, not me, driving this force. “Listen to my voice, little bird. Your upbringing smothered your flames, but experience is awakening the storm inside you. Everyone has told you what to do, how to act, who to serve, while your blood qualifies you to be far more than a queen. However, you have to control it, not the other way around.”
“How?” she asked, tears streaking down her cheeks. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“You’re finally allowing yourself to feel,” I told her softly.
“I’ve always felt!” she shouted.
“Yes, but this week more than most, right? What Necros has chosen to do to you is a nightmare, one most women wouldn’t survive. But you’re not most women, Valora. You’re a queen. No, you’re a fucking goddess. You have every right to be furious and punish them for thinking they could belittle you in such a way. What’s happening now is your emotions taking over and forcing the outlet, but if you’re not careful, it’ll consume you, Valora. So I need you to listen to me and let me help you.”
“Why?” she asked, her voice crackling like the fire circling her being. “Why should I trust you?”
You shouldn’t, I wanted to say. “Because I’m the only one willing
to try,” I said instead. “I already helped you with Lavios. I can help you with the others, too. All I need is a chance.” It would be so easy to instill a sense of trust inside her, to take advantage of the link between us and force her compliance. But I needed to earn it, to strengthen the relationship between us to ensure that I obtained her love.
It was the only way to truly win.
And I never lost.
Valora remained quiet for a long time, a battle raging inside her as her skin blazed. That she kept it contained without igniting her nightgown or the bed spoke volumes about her ability. She didn’t realize it yet, but she already commanded her own spirit, ensuring her own safety.
That didn’t mean I trusted her not to engulf me in angelfire the same way she did Lavios.
Although, unlike him, I could vanish into smoke, which blended beautifully with fire.
If I desired a mate, Valora would be a fantastic candidate.
Alas, I was not destined for such a future. Only death.
I didn’t move, my eyes unblinking. The flames gradually died, her tears continuing to fall, until the blanket of heat suffocating the air completely diminished, and she collapsed onto the bed on a groan. Exuding that kind of energy took too much out of her.
“Valora,” I reached for her, partially afraid I might ignite another maelstrom.
“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered, broken.
My heart ached for her in that moment, for this female I hardly knew who had been hurt in ways I couldn’t even fathom. “I do.”
Her vibrant blue eyes lifted to mine, a pleading quality lurking in their depths, her wish for me to give her all the answers. “Tell me.”
I smiled and repeated my words from earlier. “We kill them all.”