I’ve called to him, begged him to take me beyond the thresholds of this world. All he’d have to do is remove me from the realm of the living and into his domain. That’s it. He wouldn’t even have to worry about me breeding. So, there’s more to this story than whatever thisFallen—currently staring at me—has offered.
“I know everyone is tired,” Alaric says. We just finished dinner— well, Brice and I did. Now we’re settled in the living room, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. The night outside is pitch black, but none of us need the light to see. A few candles flicker around the room, their glow casting soft shadows, while the fireplace crackles quietly, its warmth filling the space.
What I wouldn’t give to just sit alone here with Kai…
I sigh.
“We need to discuss what we are going to do next,” he continues.
My eyes shift to Sydni, seated on the couch with Brice beside her, his arm draped casually over her shoulder. When I returned from shopping—what a godsdamned headache that was—Kai filled me in on their conversation. Brice’s loyalty to my princess has spared his neck… for now.
Everyone has their hard gazes on me, and all I want to do is justnotbe the one to make this decision. “As you said, we should just relax for a while.” Catching Kairhyse’s gaze, he nods. “I’m not a runner, but I need time to figure out how to kill a Succubus.”
And I really, really… want to rest.
Alaric groans, an exhausted sigh following. “It isn’t possible to kill Tali.”
“Then how do we deal with the problem?” Kairhyse asks, irritation clear in his elevated tone.
“I’m not entirely privy to that knowledge, but maybe we can come up with the solution together.” I hate that Alaric looks directly at me with longing eyes. As if wanting to add,“alone, under the sheets, just us…”
I stifle a gag.
“I’ve heard a Demon’s Mark has the ability to subjugate their partners, but not entirely sure how that’s possible.” Alaric seems bored.
“My father, her Mark, is dead. Next.”
“What about burning her body?” Sydni offers.
I shake my head. “We just rise again.”
“Please…” Kai murmurs. “Don’t tell me you know from experience.”
I’ll keep that one to myself.
“Plus, she’d have to sit in fire for several hours, and I promise she won’t just lay down for it.”
The thunderous growl from my monster behind me says I need to shut the fuck up.
Alaric sighs. “Let me add that we are specifically talking aboutTalinot being capable of being killedby you.”
My eyes narrow, and I shift my position uncomfortably. “Thensomeone else in this room can kill her?”
He shakes his head. “Unkillable by mortals.”
I look at Kai. “Uh…”
“You really don’t know anything about…” he cuts himself off, likely because I’m shooting daggers at him with my glare. “Mortalshavean expiration date.” Okay that’s a cold way to put it, I like it. “Immortalscanhave an expiration date. Eternals, such as Fallen and Demons, do not have an expiration date.”
“You said mortals,” I retort.
“Mortals and immortals can die. Let me rephrase. Only eternal creatures can kill another eternal creature.”
“So… you,” Kai says.
He shrugs his shoulders. “If she hadn’t been Marked, yes, I could have.”
“But again, my father’s?—”
