His mouth opened and closed again. Hope lived, died, and was resurrected in his eyes. “You seek pleasure from me?”
“I’m demanding it, as requested.” She dipped her gaze over his body and licked her lips. “I think we can both agree that after putting me through all that pain, you owe me pleasure. Soooo much.”
Suddenly, he materialized directly in front of her. He cupped her cheeks and—cursed, then jumped backward, severing contact. His features contorted. “There’s something else you should know.” Hands fisted, he stared down at his booted feet.
Ugh. What else could there possibly be?
“There’s a chance I...absorbed Laban. That he is one of the prisoners you heard screaming in my head.”
“Oh.”
His gaze lifted, meeting hers, projecting hope, fear, regret. “And that is the reason you have come to believe I am your consort.”
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Laban...trapped inside Roux... Her desire for the Astra an illusion born of a deception... No. Just no. “That can’t be right.” But...it kind of made sense and proved Erebus had lied that day in the forest.
What if Rouxwasright?
Widowhood had been different for Blythe compared to other harpies. The familiarity in the beginning. The desire to keep living after a consort’s death. The lack of repeated hallucinations. Craving—claiming—another male.
Shock punched her again and again, leaving her cold, shaken, and yes, heartbroken. What did this mean for Blythe and the Astra? For Laban? For Isla?
“I haven’t seen or spoken to him,” Roux continued, braced for a blow. “I’ve hunted for him without success. Until we have a face-to-face, I won’t know for sure.”
“I’ll go back in,” she rushed out. “I’ll find him.” And if she got trapped inside the warrior, like before? A risk she must take. To think that she’d abandoned Isla, ventured to a prison realm, and repeatedly fought for a chance to kill the male who might be playing host to her daughter’s father... Blythe nearly vomited. “We need to know the truth.”
He offered no reaction at first. No emotion, his expression under strict control. Then he nodded. A clipped bob of his chin.
“Momma, Momma! I did it! I’m here!”
The familiar voice hit her ears, a riotous mix of joy and horror bombarding her. Please be a hallucination. A memory. Something! Heart thudding, she spun. No, no hallucination. She could do nothing but watch, eyes widening, horror amplifying, as little Isla flew across the room and jumped in her arms.
27
THE COMPLICATION
Roux could barely believe his eyes. Blythe’s child. Here in Ation. The complications this presented... The danger.
More pallid by the second, the harphantom met his gaze, her baby blues vulnerable and wounded. Inside him, muscles clenched on bones. Only moments ago, she’d blown his mind. Not the least bit upset over his behavior during the torture session but charmed. And now that she knew his suspicions concerning Laban? How would she treat Roux? Deep down, he knew the revelation had changed everything—for them both.
He rubbed a fist into his too-tight chest. Most of his life, he’d felt as if he lived in the shadow of someone else. As if he were Mars, but not Mars. Blythe, Roux’sgravita, was supposed to belong to him and only him, and he might have to share her with another male?
Whose name would she scream in bed?
“Whatever happens,” he vowed, lifting his chin, “I will protect the girl with my life.” As though she were his own. In a way, she was, yes? “No harm shall befall her.” Roux would stop at nothing to keep his word. No matter how the harphantom felt about him. No matter what she decided to do regarding their situation.
The assurance helped alleviate some of her fears; bit by bit, her color returned. Inhaling deeply, she set the small girl on her feet, crouched, and cupped her cheeks. “How long have you been here, love?”
“I just got here.” Isla cast her gaze to Roux and smirked. “Told you I’d see you soon.”
He should have listened. Something he’d learned: when a harpy threatened you, believe her. “That you did. But how did you know where to find me?”
“Yes,” Blythe said with an enthusiastic nod. “How did you know? For that matter, how did you get here? Did anyone hurt you when you arrived? If they gave you even the smallest scratch, Momma will do murder.”
Isla rolled her eyes. “No one hurt me, ’cause I’m superpowerful. And Grandpa Bus is the one who told me ’bout seeing Roux. He visited me after we left the Astra’s body, and he asked me a whole lotta questions ’bout him. But he didn’t open the door for me until today.”
“Grandpa Bus—” Blythe sucked air between her teeth.
“Erebus,” she and Roux hissed in unison. Their gazes met. They nodded stiffly. Because they both understood. They were a team against the evil one right now.