or #team Paxton. Each one demands I write them better than their cousins, but I’ve told them that they just have to prove themselves once more as they head to the Underworld to bring back Mari.
Thank you again for your support. It’s a joy to keep writing for you.
<3 Meg
Join Meg’s Legion of Hellions
Like Meg Xuemei X - author of steamy paranormal & fantasy romance
SNEAK PEEK: THE DRAGONIAN’S WITCH
“I’m not sleeping with you!”
“You don’t have much experience with men, do you?”
“That’s not your concern,” I hissed. “And for your information, you have no idea of the rich, vast experiences I have. I ride men like—”
“Like what?” he asked in genuine curiosity.
“That’s also my business,” I said haughtily. “I’m just not riding you. Not interested at all.”
“You lie easily about everything else,” he said. “But when it comes to the affairs of men and women, you’re a bad liar.” He dragged a large cushion onto the bedroom. “You can take the bed, and I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“Why do we have to share a room?”
“You think I’ll give you another chance to sneak away after I spent four months finding you?” At my outrageous look, he added, “You haven’t earned my trust. Other kidnappers would tie you with ropes or chain you, but I wouldn’t want to do that. So suck it up.”
I kicked my boots off a bit too forcefully and fell onto the bed without any grace.
“Good night,” I said. “Try not to molest me.”
There was no need to remind him of that. If he tried to do something to me while I slept, he would only send himself to a painful death.
“You have no discipline, Freyja,” he said, starting to unload his weapons and carefully lay them beside the cushion, which stayed between my bed and the door. “But you’ll learn. Discipline is basic for a soldier.”
“I’m not a soldier,” I said, “and definitely not yours.”
“You are now,” he said. “You’re a member of my team, so act like one. First, you’ll need to earn back our trust and respect.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I said. “When did I agree to be recruited? And I don’t want your trust or whatever. I don’t even care if you like me or not.”
“That’s a bad attitude, Freyja,” he said. “That attitude will get you nowhere. For your own benefit, think smarter and get your act together. The sooner you lead me to the First Witch, the quicker you’ll get what you want.”
I huffed, then suddenly realized that Ares had found a way to irk me and have fun with it.
“I owe you nothing,” I said.
He shrugged. “You can argue about it all night if you want, but it won’t change a thing. I caught you, so you’re at my mercy. You should think hard about how to make amends after what you did today. I didn't blame you for insisting on a bath in the middle of nowhere and attracting the assassin army. If any of my men had died because of your impulsiveness and ruthlessness, their blood would’ve been on your hands. I haven’t decided what to do with you, but you should know every action has a consequence, as I’ve warned you.”
I was too tired to worry about that at the moment. I wouldn’t care if he beat me to death now. Exhaustion could do that to people. I bit my bottom lip. “What if I never find her?”
“Oh, Freyja, you will,” he said. “You don’t want to be stuck with me forever, or do you, my darling Freyja? Though I’m not an immortal, my lifespan can reach thousands of years. I can be really patient, but can you? Do you want to waste your shining youth on me while I drag you around on the road all the time? You won’t always have a warm bed and a full belly. And danger will look you in your pretty face at every turn. One of my half-brothers will always send more bounty hunters my way, and you’re in my close company.” He slanted a glance at me with satisfaction at my sour look. “And that should be your motivation.”
He pried off his wrist plates and flexed his arms; they were large and rippled with hard muscles. He started removing the sculpted armor that fit his body like a second skin.
As the armor came off and dropped to the ground, the prince was bare to the narrow waist.
The lamp light gave his massive shoulders an enticing, even mystery finish. It would be