His lips almost pulled into a smile. “Shouldn't I be asking you that?” he countered.
“I've never felt better.” It was the truth.
She felt as though if she looked at herself in the mirror right now she'd be glowing. Her body burned with simmering warmth, her muscles felt loose but strong. A thought struck her. It almost felt like when she drank her juice. She frowned and quickly forced the thought away. She didn’t need that shit right now.
She got up and started pulling her clothes on. She had to see her sisters and tell them about everything that happened, about their mother. When she came back from the bathroom she found him still lounged on the bed, his arms behind his head like a pillow, his legs kicked out long and slightly open.
Her eyes strayed to his cock and her lips suddenly felt dry. Her tongue darted out to wet them.
Lazily he said, “I wouldn't look at my cock like that. Unless you want to taste it.”
His deep voice sent chills down her body and just like that butterflies danced around in her stomach again. Hell, she even felt a blush color her cheeks. So much for keeping her cool.
“Um, I'd love to. Another time, I promise.” Even as she said it, she really meant it. She'd never tasted a man like that, and the thought of having him slide hard between her lips sent a thrill straight to her clitoris. “I just have to meet up with my sisters. It's important.”
Without a word, he started to dress too. Only he grabbed a clean suit from the closet, which was neatly pressed and ready to wear. He seemed a little distant from her but she'd expected that. To make a connection so fast to someone, especially to her, had to be hard on him. She almost chuckled. God, a penny for his thoughts though. She really wanted to know what raced around in the clever cogs up there. Did he plan to never sleep with her again? To force her out of his building once and for all? How would he react in a few weeks when her new moon hit?
A wave of arousal floated over her and she actually wobbled on her feet. She had no doubt that if he wanted to, he'd make her new moon experience incredible. But would he be her Protector for real? Would he pleasure her nearly every day like she'd need? The thought sent her mood spiraling down so quickly she plastered on a smile and strode to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
He looked hesitant, but when she stood on her toes he came down and kissed her, his hand sliding along her jaw, his thumb caressing her chin. She thought the touch felt completely possessive but she was sure her mind made that up to improve her mood.
With a little smile she said, “I'll see you later.”
He nodded without a word and she left feeling torn in two extremely different directions. God she hoped her sisters could help.
CHAPTER 24
Alrik paced in the study. Back and forth, back and forth.
He didn't turn when the door opened. He knew who it was. The swishing of her dress against the floor gave her away. The door closed then the soft clicking of heels approached.
“Well, this has all been interesting,” his mother said.
Alrik almost snorted. That was putting it lightly. “I'm having trouble grasping it myself.”
His mother took a seat and smiled up at him with painted red lips. “Please son, take a seat and relax.”
He shook his head. “I can't relax. Too much on my mind.”
“Oh?” Her eyes widened then she opened her reticule and pulled out a slender vial plugged by a cork. “Why don't you take some of this? You know it always helps you to relax.”
He waved her off. “I don't need that.”
She didn't say anything for a moment. “How did it feel to see Telal after all these years?” Her voice was calm and inquiring but he knew her better than that. Rather she realized it or not. He knew she must be fuming at Telal's unannounced encounter the other night.
Sighing, he went to the sidebar and started to pour himself a stiff drink. Then he cursed and just took the whole bottle with him. He paced, interchanging his steps with swigs of the strong brew.
“I don't know. What the fuck do you want me to say? Bad, mother, bad.”
She made a thoughtful sound. “What do you plan to do?”
He gave her a cold stare. “I already said it. I will not open the rift. They'll have to go to war with us if they want me to open it.”
She nodded slowly. “Good work, son. Besides after all this time, he can't just come back and try to claim the throne.”
He waved her off. “He said he didn't want it.”
Her thin eyebrow shot up. “And you believed him? My dearest Alrik, why else would he want to open the rift?”
This gave him pause. She was right. In a way, at seeing his brother he'd reverted to trusting his words, at least, to a degree. He couldn't be trusted. Not after his betrayal.
“Please, sit down and let's discuss this. Your pacing makes me anxious.”
Alrik stalked to the chair opposite her and sat. The restless feeling in him grew to a boil in a second. He controlled himself, forced all the uneasy feelings deep inside, and locked it up. But he couldn’t keep from drumming his finger on his thigh in an incessant beat.
“You are so tense. Are you sure you wouldn't like my elixir? I must admit even I had to take some after that little incident with Telal.” She smiled like she'd made a small joke.
Alrik shook his head. “No, mother. I've been thinking since Telal left. I know him and he won't let this rest. He's always one to see things through. I'm going to give the order for to prepare for war.”
She folded her hands neatly in her lap. “What if I have a better idea?” Her lips pursed to try to hide a smile.
Alrik drank from the bottle, some of the alcohol spilled down his chin. “What is it?”
Her eyes snapped for a second at his bored tone and then they softened as a little smile coming across her face. “Send the dargens.”
He froze. “What?”
“That's right!” she clapped her hands together like she'd just discovered some great idea. “Send the dargens after him. They will end this before it even begins.”
His mind ran away with the idea. The dargens were the shahoulin's best trained demon assassins. Alrik had them created, trained, and bred them years ago as a precaution. The best fighters in the land were dargens. They were mostly used to kill idummi when they breached across their homeland. Their training made them dangerous killers of both magic and weapons.
“They'd have to make it past the Atal Warriors,” he said, lost in thought, a dark part of him growing giddy with glee.
“Pssht, the warriors will stand no chance against the dargen. Besides they'd love a challenge such as this. Just the thing to boost their spirits and the spirits of the people after that...awful interruption.”
“Kill Telal...”
She nodded. “And the woman. She was powerful. I'd have them both taken out. Should be fairly simple as it looked as though they were together.” She grimaced as she said the last as if she had a bad taste in her mouth.
“I'll think on it.” He leveled his gaze on hers to show him he wouldn't budge on the matter yet. He knew his mother and knew she'd expect one-hundred percent agreement right away.
Her eyes caught his, then narrowed, a look close to horror on her face. She stood in a fury. “Your eyes!”
Alrik shrugged. “What of them?”
Mother ran a hand through her hair with a shaking hand. She sat back down. “It’s nothing. Nothing. You're that upset about it? What does it matter?” He stood and returned the vial back to the bar.
When he turned back, she had the smile in place but her eyes were hard and unyielding. She held out that slender vial for him. “Take this and do not argue with me Alrik. I am your mother, and I know what's best for you. Besides, you've always said that it helps you to think.”