There are some sexual situations in this chapter. If that’s not your thing or you are a younger person skip over the sections that will begin with “-“.

“How do I destroy this dagger?” I ask Rift, although what he’d just said to me flows inside my soul like a delicious honey.

“There is no possible way to do so,” Rift tells me, “I wouldn’t destroy it if I were you. Suppose another Cursed was born and this Cursed wanted to use their power to take over the world? You’d want it then.”

“I guess you’re right,” I say, I place it back in its sheath. “So you want me to trust you?”

“Yes,” Rift responds with a nod, “I believe I made that clear.”

“Then, tell me how I can find my father,” I say, my eyes narrowing. “I believe his return is the only way to fix this. He can prove my innocence. I know he’ll believe me.”

“I do not know where he is, but I may know how to find out,” Rift says.

“How?” I ask.

“Let me drink your blood.” Rift steps toward me, like a predator.

“Excuse me?” My eyes widen, and I step away from him.

“I really can’t explain it, but by drinking your blood you’ll enable me to see where all the Cursed beings are in this world,” Rift states, “My mother drank your father’s blood long ago so she’d always know if any Cursed were born.”

“-“

“Um, okay,” I close my eyes. This is kind of horrible and also my beast is purring at the thought of Rift’s mouth darkened with my blood.

Ugh, my beast is a savage creature whom should never be trusted.

“Do you want me to cut myself or–?” I stutter, I need to approach this abomination as civilized as possible because I’m a princess and a princess shouldn’t give her blood to a dark mage so readily–

Warm pressure of Rift’s hands grip around my neck, and my eyes open at the power in his touch. He kisses me on the lips and I return his kiss, tongue tasting his, body heating with desire.

His teeth tug on my bottom lip. “How about taking some blood right here?” he murmurs against my mouth. “How would it taste from right here?”

A shiver goes through me. My hands lay flat against his chest, his heartbeat is pounding and his body tensing under my touch. His grip around my neck tightens, but not so I can’t breath, it’s a possessive hold rather than painful.

My wings spread under the cloak, moving it from covering me. “What if Helle and the others come back?” I ask hoarsely.

“Then we shall have to take this somewhere private,” Rift says, his voice husky with need, and amber eyes glowing.

As his eyes glow, a dark mist surrounds us so it’s almost completely dark save tiny glimmers of light casting dramatic shadows on our forms. I gasp when in our passion Rift backs me up against the mist and instead of falling through I find it to be soft as a spider-silk pillow.

“I’ve created an illusion, no one can see us now,” Rift whispers, “what do you think? Not too dark?”

“It’s perfect,” I murmur, my right hand falls to his groin, gripping him and moving my fingers over the bulge of his arousal under the fabric of his clothes.

Rift growls in appreciation and kisses me again. He releases my neck and instead fondles and tugs at my breasts in two handfuls, kneading the sensitive flesh until I’m dripping with heat. Damn, he’s so good at that…

I arch my body into him with one of my knees raising to press against the side of his waist, opening my body to him. He takes it as an invite, one of his hands falls low, his fingers intrude upon me, until I’m breathless with need, on the edge of finding pleasure.

My right hand remains at his groin, while my left hands works to unbutton his shirt, but I can’t do it fast enough. I’m clumsy with lust. My cheeks redden when instinctually I use the talons on my wings to rip his shirt down the front.

Rift lets go of me suddenly so I growl in objection at his departure. He smiles at my objection. “You’re very eager, my dark Princess,” he purrs with a huge grin, before shoving the cloak I’m wearing from my shoulders, exposing my nakedness to him.

My wings stretch away from my back exposing everything to his view, and his gaze upon me is intent, savage, and worshipful.

“You’re breathtaking,” Rift mutters, lust dripping in his tone. He grabs my upper arms, pulling me to him. The heat of his tongue is against my neck, and then lower to my breast where he flicks the tip of one of my hard nipples once. “A fucking work of art,” he rasps against my skin.

Mmm… Rift, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear that from someone!

He shrugs off his torn shirt and tosses it aside. My eyes take in his body, both sensual and masculine, his dark auburn hair and glowing amber eyes from creating the illusion around us only increases his allure.

I fly into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and my wings fold around his back. My hands curl on his shoulder and I open my mouth to run my tongue over his neck and jaw, tasting his hot flesh.

He grips my chin and brings my lips to his mouth, meeting his tongue with my own.

“Do you really want to mess with a Cursed?” I growl. A bitterness creeping inside me over the years of male scorn while living with my people.

“If by mess with, you mean screw her silly?” Rift growls back. “I assure you, when I’m done with you, you’ll never be free of me, so a better question is: are you sure you want to mess with me, Princess?” His hands are where my wings branch from my spine and he grips at the base of them. If it were anyone but Rift I’d be self conscious with someone touching them, but for some reason it maddens my passion for him.

He wants all of me.

I rub my core over the ridge of the bulge in his pants, moaning in delight while I kiss him.

“Give me your hand,” Rift murmurs against my lips.

I raise it to him, and he kisses it, then his tongue runs on the inside of my palm.

Oh, so nice… my eyes roll back, my core clenches.

Rift bites down. I cry out at the sharp pain, it’s hard enough that I’m sure he’s caused me to bleed. Immediately he relinquishes his bite-hold.

“Are you okay?” he asks me, my blood staining his lips.

I bite my lip and nod. “Y-yes.”

“Keep rubbing that pussy against me, turn that pain into pleasure,” Rift growls, and he goes back to kissing and licking my hand until the pain ceases and I’m moaning once more, humping against his arousal, and coming to an abrupt, wanting climax.

“Want you… inside me,” I moan as my sex spasms, empty.

Mate. Let Mate have me.

Rift groans and stops kissing my hand. Letting me off of him, and gazing at me with my blood smeared over his chin, he tugs my hand to his groin to hold it against the bulge of his erection. “You want this?”

“Yes,” my voice is husky. Oh, yes.