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Ah, her tongue orking again Soon he’d be treated to more of her lies But she wasn’t a master deceiver, not like he’d expected She had tells, and he was learning them
In his absence, she’d cleaned herself Her skin was scrubbed, looking rosier, highlighting the blue of her eyes Her raven hair was drying into glossy braids and big curls
He craved threading his fingers through that length
To see it strea over his chest as he held her close
Inward shake Without those gauntlets, she appeared arot her to the Skye, he’d see to it that she dressed appropriately
"Thronos, is there gold behind that stone?"
"Yes A te ceiling Even I found it wondrous to behold"
She sounded like she’dclosed, she sprinted for it The stone sealed shut before she could reach it "Open this again!" Her tone was frantic "Please!"
He didn’t answer, dise of the cave Behind hi around for an entry she’d never find
For once, he would ignore her He stared out at the horizon, taking in the stor strikes backlighting purple clouds So different from his home in the heavens
The Air Territories were a collection of floating islands, massive monoliths that hovered above the clouds His realm was crowned forever by seamless skies--unbroken blue or star-filled black
Skye Hall was the royal seat, but every island had its own city, each laid out with precision All the buildings were angular and uniform, with sun-bleached walls His home was a testament to order, an anchor for steadfast Vrekeners
Unlike this plane
The scene before Thronos was chaotic Yet he found it surprisinglyarresting Was there some kind of appeal to this entire domain?
His restlessness increased, that daet back to his anchor as soon as possible
"How did you open this, Thronos?"
He’d read the instructions Over this inter the glyphs was cowardly; he was no coward
This language ht not even be deue that only certain Loreans could read Perhaps only the worthy
Like hi would help him learn about this plane So he’d started at the outer cave wall, e, but he’d been able to glean that this cave was the entry to an ancient teon worship--and ritual sacrifice
This hadn’t alarons weren’t likely to roaone extinct in most dimensions
Then he’d come upon instructions to enter the temple, and had easily opened the door He’d found a scene that would prove to be his old Thronos had firsthand knowledge of just how much
He remembered a day when Melanthe hadn’t come to the meadow She hadn’t felt well the day before, and he’d been worried He’d flown to her ho to scent her room amidst the sorcery He’d scrabbled down the side of the abbey to a , peeking inside
A black-haired woold headpiece and crazed blue eyes was rubbing coins against her , "Gold is life! It is perfection!" She began to speak to each piece, as if she’d ossip
Chills raced over him He’d never seen a madwoman before, and he believed she was Melanthe’s own old: "Band it in armor over thy heart, and never will thy life’s blood part Gild your hair and face and skin, and no man breathes that you can’t win Never too much can a sorceress steal, those who defend she duly kills--"
Her eyes suddenly met his He jolted back, but she cried, "I seeeee you Co Visit a sorceress in her lair"
He sed, then eased over to crouch on the sill, ready for flight Behind her were piles of gold coins and bars, more than anyone could spend in a lifetio hungry?
"So you are the one who gives aze forever to the sky and floats when she walks--as if she’s still flying with you"
He was forever gazing earthward, as if he could watch over her
"Earthward, then, Thronos Talos of Skye Hall?"
The sorceress was reading his mind!
"It won’t last Melanthe will never be what you need her to be You can’t break hter, and that’s the only way she’d love you"
Thronos didn’t want Melanthe’s love, had no desire for it He would break her--but only tothis te answers out of her
From behind him, she cried, "Why would you keep me from such a place?"
He turned to her The distress on her face was priceless She was practically vibrating with eagerness He repeated her words: "Why not?"
Must get in! Behind this door was old than Lanthe had ever witnessed in one place Even the great Morgana, queen of the Sorceri, didn’t have that much in her possession
How could Thronos deny her?
Lanthe had already been on edge from his memory, then fro her body against it, raising her arms over her head--for more of her skin to touch the door that separated her froh
He ainst his He was the key! She had to convince him Think, Lanthe! What did he want froain "Please, you can’t keep round, one knee bent, a casual arold--Itone that eirdly arousing Even though she was filled with turain She bit her bottoo to sway hi into her
She hastened over to kneel between his legs He looked startled, but that didn’t stop his to accommodate her--so shebetween them made her hyper-aware of his body, of his heat His shirt was hanging on only by a low button, revealing his chest, which rose and fell with his shallowed breaths
When his Ada It was only seenerous Demons were notorious for their size I hope this one’s a show-er and not a grower, or I’m a dead woman