sex, revulsion making the hair on the back of his neck stand. He stared at Auro, taking in his appearance.
He had his familiar dark garb on, his shirt was unbuttoned partially at the top, and his feet were bare. They really must have been at it, he thought with a curl of his lip. Not once had he seen Auro even partially disheveled.
Red marks shown beneath the shirt, the imprints clearly claws.
“I told you, and the woman, what you must do. What more is there to explain?” he asked, cautiously. He placed himself in front of the mirror, pale hands nimbly picking at his buttons and placing them inside the small holes. The damning red marks disappeared, hidden by the dark silk of his shirt.
Talon stared at him. It felt natural, but so natural that it was almost unreal, a dream almost. His nails dug into his biceps, reveling in the pain. “What happens when I fuck her?”
The blunt question seemed to have startled Auro. Then his lips pressed tightly, his crimson eyes staring at Talon through the mirror. “I don’t reserve the right to tell you.”
Talon’s eyes flashed. A dark brow rose. “So, someone is above you.” He knew the statement would make Auro angry, and that’s exactly what it did. Auro turned on him, his eyes like fire and teeth like daggers.
“I take orders from no one! This is between my brother and you. I refuse to tell someone so lower than me as you about his plans. To do so would sully all he has worked for,” he spat, his hand curling.
Talon waited for the slap, for the sting. His hackles rose, knowing that if Auro laid a hand on him, it would be ripped off...just like the rest of his limbs. Talon’s teeth flashed, snarling. “I will not touch her —”
“You will —”
He held up a hand, snarling, “Unless I am freed.”
Auro’s eyes held an indecision that made Talon feel like there might be hope. He unclenched his hands and set them on the counter, the setting so unreal between them that it almost made him believe it was a dream, once again.
Talon saw an unreadable look come into Auro’s eyes. Then his lips curled into a sneer. “And what about the woman —”
“I could care less. Do with her what you will,” he said, waving a large hand. The color on his neck seemed so heavy, it was like the world was weighing on him. It was a cruel reminder that he could do nothing to Auro.
The shock was quickly hidden by malice. Auro’s hands clasped in front of him. Talon stared at them, his arm pulsing. “Anything?”
Talon shrugged, ignoring the itchy feeling in his throat. “I will be free. She will be no use to me at all.”
“The price of you leaving...” Auro looked at him, a calm facade covering his face. “Alright. You may be free after coupling with her — but you will watch her die before I allow you to leave. Lyne will not know of this,” he said, lip curling dangerously.
Talon shrugged. “Seeing her demise would be no bother to me.” Liar.
“You know the ways of wooing a woman, I presume?” Auro asked, changing the subject. He saw the guarded look in Talon’s eyes. He scoffed. “How do you plan to take her if you cannot woo her? My pet, this would go with much more ease if you did not force her...”
He paused for a second, looking at Talon through the mirror, considering. “If you had more strength, though, you could overcome her weakness and take her...”
Talon may be a murderer, he may be a traitor, he may be whatever Lyne sneered at him, but he was not a rapist. The woman meant nothing to him, and taking her body would not change that. He refused to take an unwilling woman.
“I understand that you are a barbarian. But if you wish to be free, then put on a mask. Pretend that you are someone else. Convince her that you —” he sneered — “love her, or at the most care for her. The sooner you take her, the sooner you will be rid of her, and us.”
The promise of freedom was too much for Talon to pass up. Jamie was nothing but a pawn, a piece in a dangerous game. She would not be a loss to him.
Auro’s smile made his back stiffen.
“You have until tomorrow night to make this happen.” He left like a phantom, his words a