To Break a Demon Curse (King and Coven, #2)

by Madeleine Eliot

“No hair washing, no nakedness, and no sex,” I snarled, snatching the towel from his hands and storming off into the bathing chamber alone. “But those are all my favorite things!” he shouted behind me, laughing at my indignant slamming of the door between us. It was problematic that he was so attractive when he was joking and flirting. If I was going to do this, I would need to grow thicker skin and build a wall of iron around my heart.

“No sex,” I said adamantly, my cheeks heating a little at the look he gave me. “Or kissing, or anything romantic.” “Ah,” he replied, the smirk stretching into a broad grin. “Now I can’t in good conscience swear a blood bargain to that,” he said. “But I can vow to not touch you romantically until you ask me to.” “I won’t ask you,” I said, my blood heating at the idea of us together. I tamped the feeling down, confident that this was a vow I could uphold with blood.

“Gods, Red, don’t you see what this means for us?” he asked. “There’s a reason we found each other. A reason we share this power. A reason I’m so fucking drawn to you that I can barely think around you.”

“How about a Demon Queen? Is that a thing?” “Are you applying for the position, Elara?” he purred, stalking back toward me in a way that screamed of seductive intention. He stopped before me, tension rolling off him as he resisted touching me. “Because I will crown you and worship you as my queen today, if you wish it.”

“You look like a gods-damned queen.”

“I think you’re already wet and aching for me. And when you’re finally ready to admit that,” he added, the hint of his forked tongue skating past my jaw as he leaned in close to whisper in my ear, “I’m going to make you beg for it.”

“Remember this, Red,” he rumbled between kisses as I panted and moaned for release. “Remember how well we fit together when I finally share all of my truth with you. Promise me.” “I promise,”

“If I told you I love you, Elara,” he said quietly, still holding me fast against him, “would you run?”

Herne said gruffly, looking past me again at his friend and his mate. “You make him happy. Whole,” he said. “And for what it’s worth, you have my blessing.”

King Ulfric’s mate, a witch born of daemon and mortal blood, went on to have a daughter, strong in her mother’s magic and somewhat skilled in her father’s. However, the crown next passed to Agnar, Lord of Blood.

“Stay with me, Elara,” Carnon breathed, looking at me with an intensity I now saw carried all of his feelings, his love. “Build a life with me here. Help me rule and protect my people, our people. Stay.” I bit my lip as I met his emerald gaze. Whatever I said next felt like it would mean more, mean something permanent and binding between us, so I chose my words carefully. “Only if you catch me first.”

“Elara,” Carnon murmured, his voice a mix of awe and fear. “Open your eyes.” The cell was lighter, and I looked around to find the source of the light. Carnon’s gaze caught mine, and he nodded down toward my clasped hands. I was the source of the light, glowing faintly gold in the darkness.

“Your choice, my dear,” she said. “Your sisters, or the Demon King?” With a rasping voice, I said as loudly as I could, “I choose my mate.”

I had an inkling that the witch mirror Elara had found in storage had been theirs. A way to see each other across those wards. See, but not touch.

“There you are,” I said, still clasping her face and kissing her soundly as relief poured through me. Rage could be molded, honed. Rage could banish that bottomless pit of despair and guilt. I could work with rage. She whimpered, the fire dying as she lost her focus, and I broke away to gaze down at her, feeling awe and pride. “My love.” “Why?” she croaked. I knew she was asking why I had pushed her. Why I wanted her to channel her fire. Why…why I had failed her.

I pushed the last thought away and smirked down at her, giving her truth and love and a solemn, deadly promise with my next words. “Because, my love,” I purred. “You and I are going to burn your grandmother and her miserable Coven to the ground.”