She jerked halfway up, and her head snapped forward. There was a brief glimpse of delicate yet sharp fangs before she sank them into Attes’s arm.
“Shit,” he hissed.
I jolted forward with a much more blistering curse as Kieran tossed himself over her legs. A low growl crawled out of her. Reaching between her and Attes, I grabbed her under the chin.
“Anytime now,” Attes gritted out.
“Bad Poppy,” I muttered, getting my arm around her waist. “Let go.”
“Yeah. Don’t think that’s working.” Attes grunted as I tugged on her. “I’m beginning to think you’re delaying this.”
“I would never,” I said, pressing my fingers into the hollows of her cheeks, reluctantly acknowledging that the Primal was holding back. He held himself still. Didn’t even try to shake her off. He went fromthat fuckertothe fuckin my book. Slight improvement.
Exerting pressure on the joints of her jaw, I forced her mouth open just enough to dislodge her. “There you go.”
“Thank fuck,” Attes muttered, drawing his arm away.
Pulling Poppy back, I grunted as she thrust her upper body forward once more, spitting a mouthful of blood directly in Attes’s face.
The Primal jerked with a curse.
“Great aim,” I murmured, relieved she hadn’t swallowed as I pushed her onto her back.
Attes shot me a dark look that didn’t last long as a low, raspy laugh parted her lips. He went rigid, his gaze shooting back to hers. “Hello,” he said as I planted my hands on her shoulders. “Kolis.”
“Why…am I not surprised to see…you here?” she said, rearing up with shocking strength.
“Fuck,” I snarled, pushing her back down.
“I was hoping you were dead,” she said in that strange, aching whisper.
“And the last time I saw you, you were impaled to the ground, looking dead.” Attes’s eyes flicked to mine, his gaze questioning.
I knew what he was seeking permission for. “Go ahead.”
“I’m ready,” Kieran assured.
She fought me, crimson streaking her chin as she fixed on the Primal. “I know,” she said, this time singing. And damn, somehow, that was more unsettling than the dry-as-bones whisper. “Iknow.”
I had no idea what he knew.
“Do it,” Attes demanded of Kieran.
Her lower body left the floor, lifting Kieran. With a curse, he shifted his weight down on her.
“I know!” she screamed, straining to look at Attes. “I know they weren’t of your blood.”
Attes halted, blood coursing from the wound that was already healing.
Her body shook with laughter. “I’ve always known they were his.”
The Primal paled as he stared down at her, frozen.
“Did you really think I didn’t know?” She tsked softly. “But don’t feel left out, old friend. I’m going to find every last one ofyours.” She twisted her upper half to the side, straining toward him. “And I will kill them.”
“Attes,” I snapped.
“But you,” she hissed. “I will make sure you live to see it.”
