Fatal Desire by Valerie Twombly

left alone.”
    She lied. Had that been the case, he would not have found her in his room. He inhaled. Something else mingled with her fear.
    Her desire.
    It flooded him and caused his cock to thicken. Without clothes, his shaft jutted forward. Fuck it. Let her see what she does to me. “You belong to me.”
    Her tongue flicked out and ran along her bottom lip. He wanted to claim her mouth until her body trembled. “I belong to no one.”
    A smile played across his lips. He bent closer and sucked her earlobe into his mouth. She tasted as exotic as he imagined, like spiced lemons.
    She moaned.
    He gave a nip. “Oh, but you do. You are mine, and I will have you one day.”
    “I thought you were going to find a way to break the bond so you could find another?” Her question came in a throaty growl.
    “I lied. I may have set you free, but I will never break our bond. I will find a way to have you and when I do…” He ran his tongue along her neck; her pulse raced. “You will scream my name in pleasure.”
    Her chest heaved, pushing her breasts farther into his skin. Her nipples pebbled through her thin shirt. He swallowed hard and forced himself back before he stripped her, tossed her on the bed and fucked the hell out of her. He reined in his power.
    “Run Lileta, before I lose control.”
    She vanished, but he sensed her still in the house. Still, she refused to leave, which could only mean one thing.
    Lileta wanted him too.
    He pulled on a pair of jeans, finding it difficult to pull the zipper over his erection. He needed to find the guardian king Aidyn, and see about locating Qadira. She was the only hope he had if he wanted to claim his mate and not die in the process.
    * * * *
    Odage pushed the goddess along a narrow passage. He was frustrated that Lowan didn’t simply snatch her and suck her into Hell like he was always doing to him. Something about doing things the old-fashioned way and not stirring up too much magic.
    With a Wendigo in front and one behind, his comfort level was off the scale. These spawns of Hell towered over him, flashing a mouthful of razor sharp teeth. One wrong move and he’d be dead. He shuddered to think what Lowan could possibly want with Qadira. Did he plan to use her to get to Zarek somehow? He was surprised hell hadn’t rained down from the heavens already. Zarek had to know his wife was missing by now.
    They’d been walking for several hours when the passage ended at a door. The Wendigo pushed it open and motioned them through. Lowan stood on the other side and greeted them with a smile.
    “Ah Qadira, welcome to my home.” He grasped the goddess’s hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles.
    “What do you want, Lowan, you snake?” Venom dripped from her voice, and she jerked her hand from his grasp.
    He placed his palm over his heart. “I’m crushed. I invite you into my home, and you call me names?”
    She gazed through slits. “Somehow, I missed the invitation. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll free me.”
    Lowan laughed. “Your husband does not frighten me. Perhaps if you play nice, I will consider letting you leave. In the meantime, my minions will do my bidding for me.” He produced a silver dagger, grabbed her wrist and sliced. Blood dripped to the floor, hitting it with a splat and sending white acrid smoke swirling into the air. A small hole now marred the perfect marble. Odage’s eyes widened, he had no idea her blood was capable of such destruction.
    “See what your blood does here?” He motioned to the Wendigos. “Fill several vials and take them to the fractures.” He smiled and brushed a finger down her cheek. “You, my lovely goddess, are going to open the fractures and let the evil spill out.”
    She fought her captors to no avail. A demon made another slice and began filling several vials with her blood. Odage grimaced. No turning back. Had it not been for his daughter, he would have never subjected Qadira to this. Even with his mind