Run screaming?
When he’d been making plans for their future, he’d imagined himself as he currently was—not as he would be. Yet his deterioration would continue, the years taking their toll.
Once again the hourglass was working against Sian, only now the sand spilled too quickly.
If he and Calliope shared more nights like the last, he would grow attached to her. But in the end, it wouldn’t matter how he treated her. Eventually she would spurn him.
I’ve already been forsaken by her once. Frustration rose up like bile. How could he endure it this time?
Maybe he should separate from her, lest he discover more that he liked about his mate. . . .
No! The idea of separating made his agitation spike.
Gaze wary, she asked, “Can I have some privacy to get dressed?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “We’re wed now. What need have you for privacy?”
“So much for my power—and your soft touch. I don’t even get to dress in private.”
He supposed he should make allowances for her. She was a fey raised in Sylvan, and their culture was much more reserved.
Right now he didn’t feel very charitable. If he couldn’t separate from her, maybe he should keep animosity brewing between them, anything to maintain a boundary. “There’s nothing I haven’t already seen at my leisure. Except your ass. You put on that robe before I could evaluate it.”
“Evaluate?” Her eyes flashed. “How would you like it if I evaluated you?”
“Go ahead. Of course, that would mean actually looking at my feet or my cock or my horns.”
“Less than a day, Abyssian. That’s how long I’ve had to get accustomed to you as my husband. Can’t you be more patient?”
She was right. But no demon wanted his mate to have to “get accustomed” to him.
“Change. Now.”
Shooting him a killing look, she tugged up her panties under her robe, followed by her skirt. She gave him her back as she donned her bra and shirt. She stomped her feet into her shoes. “Are you happy?”
Not once since you died, female. He frowned. Until last night.
THIRTY-FOUR
Their late lunch on the terrace was grueling.
As Lila and Abyssian shared their second meal ever—plates had arrived with both demon and Sylvan dishes—he continued to seethe. Because she wouldn’t look at him?
She was half-tempted to say, Whip out your dick, and I’ll examine it for hours if that’ll make you feel better.
He expected her to get used to so many things at once! She’d told him she adapted. And she was ready to, but give her a freaking nanosecond to keep up.
She’d noticed that he’d donned boots. Sensitive males. She supposed this would be a bad time to ask him what in this hell he was eating? The dish kind of looked like eggs—if they’d been painted by a modern artist.
The demon’s table manners were fine—his utensils were larger by necessity—but he and Lila would never be sharing a dish.
“Why aren’t you eating?” he demanded, seeming eager to resume their hostility.
Since she’d officially tied her fortunes to his, she wasn’t as keen to; cooperation was a more logical route. But she would go toe-to-toe with him if she had to.
“It’s Sylvan fare. Is that not even good enough for you, princess?”
She stiffened, hating when he called her that. “Are you always so moody?” Why did he have to spoil such a beautiful day? The ash had been tamped down by rain last night, and the late-afternoon sun was bright. When she’d gotten her first daytime glimpse of the Mercury Sea, the light had beamed across the water, reflecting off its silvery surface.
“Moody? Perhaps I already see the writing on the wall.”
“Which is?”
“I doubt you will ever be satisfied here.”
“So will you let me go?”
He leaned forward, his lips drawing back from his fangs. “Never.”
She leaned forward as well. “Then fucking satisfy me, Abyssian. It’s not difficult.”
“Ah, this I must hear. How would one go about such an epic endeavor?” He settled back in his chair, as if he expected a long-winded reply.
“Play up your strengths.” Like the way you made me feel last night. “And don’t be a prick.” The way you are this afternoon. “Simple enough for you?” She rose and headed for the terrace railing. Gods, that demon gets my back up!
Inhaling for calm, she gazed at the sea. Lila might not be getting along with hell’s king, but his kingdom called to her.
What creatures lurked in those depths? The tide was lower than before, revealing the shoreline. Was the beach . . . green? Algae must cover it.
She had wanted to explore the castle; now she could. She had wanted to know more about this realm. He’d said he would take her out—
Some animal breached the surface of the sea! When its red scales glimmered in the sunlight, she sucked in a breath.
Abyssian was beside her in a heartbeat. “What?”
“A sea serpent!” She pointed, but it’d disappeared.
“You saw one?”
“I swear. It was right there,” she said, her excitement dampening her anger. “I’ve read about them, but didn’t know if the accounts were true. They’re supposed to be like limbless dragons, right? Each one’s bigger than a train, weighing dozens of tons.”
With an unreadable expression, he said, “We should investigate.” He took her elbow and traced her.
She blinked, getting her bearings. They’d appeared on the green beach.
Not algae. Eyes gone wide, she dropped to her knees to scoop up shiny grains of sand. Peering at Abyssian, she said, “Jade?” She sifted tiny pebbles through her fingers.
Nod.
“Get the fuck out!” A jade beach. Why not? As she stood to kick off her sandals, her attention strayed past the demon. Purple and orange fish leapt from the water. They each had a horn like a unicorn! She sprinted closer to the seaweed-dotted shore.
Abyssian traced in front of her, one arm outstretched, the other pulling her against his back. “Tell me before you run away.”