A boy stepped toward me—a beautiful dark haired, blue eyed boy. His complexion was flawless. He body was toned, and taller than me. He was wearing his hair combed to the side, but it protested and fell in his eyes. A memory brushed my mind, and I realized that he reminded me of Collin. Sneaky demon. Beautiful boy.
His dark blue eyes swept over me as his polished black shoes touched the earth, stepping closer. My spine was straight as he approached. I’d risen and dusted myself off as best as I could. The boy stopped in front of me. His voice was like honey, deep and rich, caressing me as he spoke, “Does this form suit your tastes?” he asked. My stomach fluttered, and I had no idea why. I shouldn’t have been able to feel anything, but I felt that. I felt the attraction to him. My throat tightened as he continued to speak, “The last vessel I had chosen was suddenly ripped away.” He smiled at me, as if impressed. As he spoke he circled me, his eyes touching every inch of my body, making me flush. Why was I flushing? What the hell happened to my emotional deadness? Kreturus seemed to bring it back to life. “You’re a clever girl, using her to help you. A woman scorned will do anything for vengeance.” He stopped walking and stood directly in front of me.
“You surrendered all your power to stand here and chat?” I doubted it, but I had to know. Flickers of emotions shot through me, but it was as if they were disconnected—like random fireworks streaking into the sky that weren’t part of the show. My arms had folded across my chest.
His eyes dipped to my breasts, lingering for too long. I dropped my arms, and his gaze returned to my face. I wasn’t sure what he was doing. I had expected him to kill me, but not this.
“Of course not,” he answered. “This place affects you, not me. I cast a powerful spell here after I found out what you were capable of.” He smiled, revealing perfectly white teeth. My stomach slid into my feet. His eyes slid over my face, “I underestimated you. A mistake I won’t make again. Especially not now.” He folded his arms and tilted his head. The black tux he wore fit him very well. It was impossible not to notice. Kreturus smirked. He noticed my eyes moving across his body. “Good. This form does please you. Now to make you, ah...” he paused searching for the right word, “more presentable.”
I was going to protest, but as I opened my mouth Kreturus’ magic had already started. A stream of darkness—thin as night—shimmered out of the air, and scrolled off a bolt as if it were fabric. I shrank back from it, but it followed me to the edge. Kreturus’ eyes were on me as the fabric began to wrap around my body, Jenna Marie’s pink clothing disappearing. One moment it was there, the next it melted into nothing and left me exposed. Horrified, my hands moved to cover my body, but the bolt passed over my chest before the last of the pink faded away. I glared at Kreturus. This seemed to amuse him. The fabric continued to dance around me circling again and again, taking the shape of an elaborate gown. The silky fabric had the otherworldly feeling of the tents the Martis were using. It was light as air, though it draped mound after mound of fabric across me. As the bolt moved downward, I felt the panels wrapped around my chest and waist constrict. The gown conformed to my body, hugging closely to every curve. When the dress was complete, the bolt faded from sight.
I stood perfectly still, feeling the breeze upon my neck as my heart sank into my throat. Kreturus walked to me with his hands clasped behind his back. He circled once, admiring the dress. “It suits you. Darkness with flecks of light.” He pointed to the fabric. It was darkness, the deepest, richest black I’d ever seen. It was as if the gown were made of shadows and lace. His finger rested on the neckline of the bodice that dipped down low. He touched a dark sparkling stone, and pressed it against my skin. His eyes locked with mine, waiting to see my reaction. But I did not move. I just stared at him. “Jewels cover your gown. Black diamonds. Black pearls. Black opals. This is a gown fit for a queen.” He removed his finger and turned from me. His arms folded across his chest, revealing his narrow waist. “I have forgiven so much and yet you still act distant. Cold.”
My eyes were resting on the view of the mountains and the night sky behind him. His words made me shift my gaze. “I don’t want this. I don’t want your presents,” I yanked the gown, shaking the skirt. “I don’t want you. The last time I saw you, I tried to kill you. What the hell makes you think that I’d be your queen? What twisted thing inside your mind thinks that I’d submit?” Anger reared inside of me. I tried to control it, but he made me feel out of whack. Why was I feeling anything?
As if he could read the question on my face, he answered, “Demon blood is powerful, Ivy. I don’t have to feed you mine for it to have an effect.” His arms unfolded as he turned from me, looking out into the night. The only reason he turned his back was because he didn’t think I was a threat. And with my powers voided by standing on this stone, I wasn’t.
I was trapped. There was no way out. My heart was racing in my chest, making it hard to stand still. The main question, screaming in my head, blurted out of my mouth, “Why haven’t you killed me? You could just take my power, and not deal with me. It seems much simpler. And I won’t have to look at you every day, and see what I’ve become.” My chest filled with remorse—his remorse. A feeling he placed inside of me. I tried to push it away, but couldn’t.
Kreturus was standing in front of me. His movement was so fast that I never saw him take a step. One blink he was out of arms reach and the next, he was nose to nose with me. I sucked in a shocked gasp, unable to step away. The edge of the cliff was too close. His beauty was breathtaking. A single slender finger tilted my face up to his, forcing our eyes to meet. I didn’t flinch away. My emotions were stabilizing. He was doing it. He was making me complacent.
“I’d hoped you’d like looking at me every day. I chose a form that suits you, so similar to the one you yearn for. Possibly better, is it not?” He arched an eyebrow at me. I didn’t answer. “A living vessel is preferred, though not required. You’re correct. I could destroy you, but I prefer to have you for a companion, to rule by my side and share our power.”
Lies, sweet lies dripped from his lips. My mind knew he wasn’t telling me the real reason, but I couldn’t look away from his face. I couldn’t think. The depths of his eyes went on and on. I blinked once, trying to remember this was a boy who Kreturus turned into a puppet.
“If you refuse me again, though,” his eyes instantly burned red, like coals stoked in a fire, “I will drain your power from you. You’ll become a Valefar—one of the demon kissed. A mindless slave that does my bidding for all eternity. The fate I am offering you is much better.”
“And then what?” I asked, taking a step back closer the edge. Heights made me dizzy. The drop off the side went straight down. “I accept, and you use my power—for what? You already destroyed the earth. You wouldn’t be content with that though, would you? You’re planning something. Something more.” I glared at him, as my heel slid backwards. There was less than an inch between me and a sharp plummet into oblivion. I swallowed hard, trying to tear my gaze away from his face. My mind felt hazy. My fingers wanted to see how silky smooth his hair would feel in my hands. Warring within myself, I pushed those feelings back. Silencing them. I stared at him.
He arched a dark eyebrow. His feet were planted shoulders width apart, his arms folded, “I’m trying very hard to make this painless, Ivy, but you keep pushing away my attempts at kindness.”
“Forcing yourself on someone who doesn’t want you is not a kindness, Kreturus.” He smiled when I said his name. Rage flowed through me in response. It spread within every inch of my body. The wind caught my hair, tugging it gently. I saw the tips turn to violet flames. Akeyleah started. I could feel power building in muscles, but it was snaked away by the ground. I stared at the demon, feeling my eyes turn violet. Intense heat filled me, but I had no idea where the power went.
He smiled at me, taking a step forward. “Such beauty. And anger. You are truly perfect. And so selflessly feeding me your power.” His hand brushed against my cheek. Butterflies exploded in my stomach. My knees felt weak. Kreturus was doing it. And the sensations were becoming stronger.
I couldn’t stand there another minute. I couldn’t wait for him to take me away, and use me, or turn me Valefar. I’d rather die. A smile snaked my lips. My muscles tensed and I threw myself backwards before he had a chance to grab me. I fell off the cliff and disappeared into the night.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The wind rushed past howling as I plummeted toward the ground. Pressing my eyes closed, I tried to focus and effonate, but my powers seemed fried. When I called them it was like trying to snap on a lighter that was out of fluid. There was only sparks. No surge of strength. Nothing.
Fear raced through me as I tried to focus, calling the power to me with increased desperation. But nothing came. My stomach was in my throat as I fell, head-first into the night. Rocks jutted out of the side of the mountain. They were too far away to try and grab hold. Wildly, I looked around, reaching for something to stop the plummet. But there was nothing. I’d die. I’d die and my power would crash into Collin. Kreturus wouldn’t get a drop. The wind tore at my hair, pulling it behind me like a streamer on a kite. It left a glowing purple path in its wake as I fell. The moment the ground came into view I thought I’d puke. The gown billowed around me, feeling like it was going to be torn off, but it clung.
Closer.Nearer. Faster. The earth grew larger and larger. A scream erupted from my throat. My eyes pressed closed as I covered my face with my hands, anticipating the instantaneous impact that was less than a second away. My nails dug into my skin without meaning to. Everything was always without meaning to. I regretted that my life had so little intention. It was literally swayed by the breeze. And now it was too late to change anything. Peeling my eyes open, I screamed as my face was less than ten feet from the rocky earth. The second my nose touched the rocky terrain, gravity stopped thrusting me downward. My dress billowed around me as I jerked to an abrupt stop, floating like I was in a vacuum. Shocked, I twisted my neck trying to see what happened.
Kreturus stood next to me, his voice bringing tears of frustration to my eyes, “Did you think I would let you fall? After all I’ve done to secure you, did you really think I would let you smash yourself upon the rocks?” Irritated, he grabbed me by my neck and raised my face to his. Cold blue eyes narrowed behind dark lashes. Breathing hard, he demanded, “Stop this childish attempt at defiance. Chose. Now. Valefar or Queen?”
With a sudden rush, time unfroze and the momentum that my body had lost returned. The layers of my skirt flittered down, lying properly in place. His fingers loosened around my neck as he returned my feet to the ground. My mind was screaming, telling me to do anything I had to do to escape. I couldn’t accept his offer—either of them. But, for once in my life I was going to choose. I’d choose. And if I chose wrong, I’d deal with it. But there was no way I was going to sit by and just allow things to happen to me. It was time. Life didn’t usually give me a choice between something that was likeable and something that sucked. That ability to choose and accept the consequences was the difference between a cowardice and courage. Determination shot up my spine, as wave after wave of thoughts flew through my mind. I’d decided. And I’d live the consequences for the rest of my life.
