I blinked rapidly. Banishing the erotic visions that conjured. And the anticipation of my lustful heart.

“Unless you want to admit that I make you sodden?”

I breathed more heavily as I decided.

He froze waiting.

“Fine.”

“Yes?” He prompted waiting.

“I’m-I’m-I…”

“Say it, Baby Girl.” He gave a lopsided grin. “I know you can do it.”

I hate him.

More fiercely than a fire burns hot.

If I could flay his skin off while a million men beat him with spiked clubs, I’d gladly do so!

“I’m moist.”

“For me?”

I flinched but gave one deep nod.

He gave a triumphant laugh and dropped my skirt. Releasing my arms enough I could retreat several steps.

“Why don’t you do whatever you’re going to do and go away!” I shrieked hatefully.

“Why is it all our conversations, start with you trying to piss me off and end with you furious?”

“Because you’re the most dreadful, atrocious, traitorous being in all of Ferus!”

“Traitorous, am I?”

I could see I struck a nerve.

“You know you are.” I tilted my body sideways and gave him a fierce look over my shoulder, prepared for him to come at me as I challenged him.

“You would think so.”

“I know so.”

“You don’t know anything, Baby Girl. Nothing past your nose. You’re still a scared little girl. Running from everything you don’t understand.”

Because everything I don’t understand wants to screw me or kill me, or keep me.

“You mean you.” I retorted. “And you’re mistaken. I most definitely understand you. I know what a greedy, self-serving son-of-a-bitch you are!”

“You!” He pointed at me. “Are lucky I do not fuck you where you stand for spitting such filth at me.”

“It’s not filth.” I said viciously. “Pure truth. Your kind just can’t stand to hear it.”

“Don’t make this about what I am.”

“It’s not.” I tossed my head wildly. “It’s about who you are. A man without character.”

“Woman!” I could feel the rage in the word shaking the trees, though he’d not raised his voice. It was so low it cautioned me that this path would go nowhere good.

But I couldn’t stop.

“It doesn’t matter how many times you take me, Gray. Nothing will prove you’re anything but impotent in my eyes.”

He tossed his head back to laugh outright. Flashing perfect square teeth. And those razor sharp incisors beneath the fullness of his lips.

“Impotent, am I?” His shoulders heaved.

“As I said. You’re lucky…”

“Yes, yes…Or you’d take me where I stand.”

“I like how you keep calling it ‘take’ you. Like I force you. It’s amusing how fast you forget that you’re melting, begging, skin heating, pushing and pulling at me trying to get more. And it is I that walks away.”

“Well, that is what you’re good at!”

That made him wince.

“You’re determined to get me to raise a hand to you. You’d have succeeded by now, Baby Girl. Were it not for the fact that I know full well you’re stupid, stubborn pride, already landed you beneath some lusty monster that ripped away at you. I’ll not follow that.”

“Follow?” I lifted a brow. “You’re there king…Or you almost were.”

I knew what I was doing. I knew I was twisting knives. But I was trying to get more distance in the gap between us. Inching back to the trees where I thought I might have a chance of vanishing in them before he could get a hold of me.

He called me on it.

“What are you doing? Planning to bolt again? Don’t waste your time.”

He stalked over to sweep up a long blue cloak. “Best run fast. My knights wake in a few hours. And the sun is already weakening. We’re coming for you, Baby Girl. And with my men, all that we might’ve been will be gone. You’ll be a bit of property for the king that I’m taking back to present.”

“Like a good hound, aye?”

“Keep poking at me, Baby Girl. None of it will matter.” He cleared the distance between us and caught the neckline of my dress in a loose fist. Dragging me closer so he could put his face in mine. “One way or another, you’ll be mine.”

“You could’ve had me, Gray. You lost your chance.”

“I’ll have another.” He said confidently.

“I’ll burn myself alive first.”

“You won’t get the chance. I’ll keep you locked away so tight, no one knows where to find you but me and you’ll never have a possibility of escape. No way out, except through me. Then we’ll see how sweet you can be, won’t we?”

“Go fuck yourself!” I shrieked.

He laughed coldly and walked away. Weaving through trees and heading back toward the canyon.

To get his damn army.

I looked up and realized I really was running out of time.

I knew now I’d gotten all the sleep I was going to get. I need to get moving.

I got up and brushed the weeds and leaves from my dress. Taking off walking. I travelled most of the day until I came across a main road. Seeing a little boy riding down the road from the market, I looked up and levelled my green gaze on him.

Like a magnet, he was drawn to me. Slowing his horse and staring down. Unable to look away as his horse passed.

I reached out and touched the horse’s neck. Making it neigh and bob its head uncomfortably.

I usually unsettle them.

The feeling was mutual, but I needed to cover some ground now.

And fortunately, the effect on horses was not isolated to me.

Eternus can’t ride them.

Equine breeds could sense the hunger of the Eternus and shied away.

Which means I could get away on one.

The boy’s eyes dilated as he fell under my sway.

“May I have your horse…” I breathed the words. The wind seemed to catch it. Making it echo and vibrate through the woods.

He fluttered his eyes as though he might fall asleep.

I knew his vision would be blurring. Unable to focus on anything but me. The sight of my face. The sound of my voice.

“Yes.” He barely whispered. Sliding off.

I leaned over him. My blue cloak sliding over the fine material of my dress.

“You will get home safe.” I said to him. “You will stop for nothing until you are in your mom’s arms again.”

He nodded. “Yes. Safe.”

Without thought, I reached out and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. Bumping his elbow. My fingers just brushing a bit of skin.

His eyes flared orange, like flames burned in them. He turned on me, sinking in small vicious teeth.

My arm instantly poured blood. Seeping down the edge.

He clutched my arm desperately. Clinging to it so tightly, I doubted I’d be able to shake him off.

The blood began withdrawing up my arm and soaking back into my forearm. I felt myself instantly weakening. I was trying to draw a long breath of air, but it felt like I was stranded in a bubble where air couldn’t reach. I realized that it was being stolen from me. Flooding through my body as it forced my energy out of me and into the child. My veins were now channels for air to push out my very being. I’d felt this before and knew what it meant.

He’s an Eternus.

My touch had just sparked his monster.

I scooted my hand up so the cloth of his shirt was between my hand and his skin again.

“Look at me. Look at me.” I urged him. Gasping for air and spitting the words as quickly as I could.

He finally rolled huge brown eyes up toward me. They were nearly black, but my reflection caught in them.

I swayed slightly side to side and saw that his head followed the motion.

He was entirely focused on me. The feeling of suffocating slowed and though I was still dizzied, I no longer felt locked in place.

“Let go, Little Man.” The boy, about ten or so blinked blearily and then gave one slow nod. Releasing me all at once.

“Good. Good job.” I backed away. Taking several quick steps but ensuring I didn’t blink to keep his gaze locked on me.

Then I turned away, freeing him of my hypnotic gaze. I heard his young footfalls behind me as I mounted the horse, not toward me but running away. Touching the saddlebag, I heard the hopeful jingle of a bit of coin.

“Boy!” I called, turning the horse.

I caught up to him. Dropping the bag on the ground next to him. “Take this home to them, Little One.”

He nodded. Picking it up and cradling it to his chest. His lip quivered. “I’m-I-I’m sorry…I don’t know…I…”