OF DARKNESS AND CROWNS: A Goddess Wars Novel, Book 2
Caben’s POV
Excerpt
I block her blow and come at her from above, forcing her to deflect my
attacks at an awkward angle for her petite stature. My smile spreads. “We can
dance like this all night, but I’d rather our time be spent more usefully.” I
lunge and slash, making it tiring for her to defend herself. “Take me to the
goddess relic, and I’ll let you and
your empress live…for the time being.” I grunt as she snakes a cheap shot to my
wrist.
She’s not amused by the
slight damage she’s inflicted. Rather, as her gaze traps my broken skin, she
looks mortified. Everything I’ve waited for is falling apart. I can’t have her
die at the end of my sword while mourning the loss of her prince. She needs
anger. Wrath. Disgust.
Those are the emotions
that will drive her to face me full-on and not hold back.
I could end this
now—slice her open and turn my back on her forever. Find the relic easily for
myself and what else I came here for and then be gone. But something inside me
refuses to accept a simple defeat. Not from the woman who has tormented my
thoughts with weakness and regret.
She’s the last thing in
this world that threatens my power. And I refuse to destroy her in this state,
only to have her haunt me from the grave. I need a worthy foe—a vicious
opponent—to defeat.
Not a heartbroken girl.
“This won’t do.” I growl
as I back her against the wall, my swings becoming sloppy with my rage. As if
she knows what she’s doing to me, she smiles. The first one I’ve seen in so
long…and she’s beautiful. Heart stopping. It infuriates me.
I shout and thrust my
sword, knocking hers aside as I move into her personal space. Realization
washes over her face, and she quickly brings up her arm to guard against my
fist. I stop short, my balled hand an inch from her cheek.
My breaths are hot and
quick as they leave my mouth in heavy puffs. My gaze flicks over Kal’s shocked
face, her trembling lips. And my fingers uncurl. I press closer and trace my
fingertips along her soft skin…
Kill her.
With a jerk of my head,
I hush the dark goddess’s voice. Then I seize Kal’s wrist and slam the back of
her hand against the stone wall. She’s as stubborn as ever, keeping a tight
grip on her weapon. I knock her arm against the wall again. And again, until
she releases a cry and her sword clatters to the floor.
I drop my own and grab
the arm still held up as a shield, then pin both her wrists to the wall. “Look
at me,” I order, my tone giving away my frustration. Impatience grips my
nerves, and I drop one hand to grasp her face, forcing her eyes to meet mine.
As she drinks me in
hungrily, like she’s only just now truly seeing me, something stirs beneath my
skin. The white power crackles over my hands, healing the wound on my wrist,
and Kal’s eyes widen.
The last time she
encountered my power, when she was trapped by the glowing tentacles, she
suffered tremendous pain, I’m sure. And though something inside me is screaming
to unleash that power on her now, I rein it in. I don’t want our dance to end
so soon.
As the power recedes,
leaving my skin unblemished, I caress her face. Run my palm and fingers along
her soft flesh. Down her jawline. All the while, her eyes hold me, ensnaring
me. This is her power—her spell over
me. It’s the reason why she must die.
I have to be free of
her.
Yet, I can’t help
wanting to inhale her, taste her, quench my thirst of her one last time. And
maybe that will even spark the fury within her to fight. Bring the old Kal
back, the one who would rather put a blade through a man’s heart than be victim
to his charms.
Pushing my body against
hers, I revel in the feel of her curves, and know that I’m lying to myself.
It’s completely selfish what I’m craving, but the lie is all too tempting. Just
like her.
I lower my head and
place my lips to her neck, breathe her in. Then, trailing them along her slick
skin, my tongue flicking out to taste the mix of sweetness and salt, I move
next to her ear. Her breaths deepen, pressing her sultry chest to mine.
“Let me in, Kal,” I
whisper, loving how my words cause her to shiver. “It’s what you want.”
Pulling back, I lock
gazes with her. The desire in her eyes urges my lips to trap hers, and I move
in. Wanting to caress them as much as the yearning demands to hurt them.
“Caben,” she says, low
and breathy. I halt my descent. She bites down on her lip, and my arousal
hardens painfully against my pants.
“What, love?”
A slow smile curls her
lips. “Fuck off.” Then she spits in my face.