Hannah Rorer’s Reviews > These Infinite Threads > Status Update

"Marry me, When I'm finally free, I give you leave to kill me at your leisure and take Tulan for yourself."

Alizeh stiffened, disbelief roaring through her, even as the nosta burned hot against her chest.

"You can't be serious," she breathed.

"My kingdom," he said softly. "For your hand."

"what if I made it worth your while?"

"What? How?"

"My mother offered you a deal, which you accepted," he said. I'll offer you a better one."

"Marry me," Cyrus said, a spark of heat in his eyes. "Become my queen just long enough to sate the devil's demands. Once he' satisfied, he'll discharge me of a tremendous debt. When I'm finally free, I give you leave to kill me at your leisure and take Tulan for yourself"

"Cyrus," she said suddenly.

He halted at once, meeting her eyes.

Why, exactly, did you make a deal with the devil?"

Cyrus blinked slowly, visibly thrown by her question. "I thought you didn't care," he said. "I thought you said I was no doubt suffering the consequences of my own sins."

"And are you not?"

"I was desperate. And stupid."

"And I'm not sorry," she added bitterly, turning to face him. "I'm not sorry I made a deal with your mother to murder you."

Cyrus’s lips twitched, his eyes flashing. "I'm not sorry I throwing you off a cliff."

"Excellent," she said, matching his anger.

He only smiled in response.

Still, a degree of tension seemed to leave his body, relief prompting him to finally step back. Cyrus looked shaken as he turned away, staring at the wall, the ceiling, the floor - anywhere but at her face.

When he met her eyes again, his were bright with unvarnished feeling.

"I need you," he said roughly. "Don't run away from me."

Cyrus was still breathing hard, his chest heaving between them. "But I'm not going to hurt you."

Again the nosta verified his words, and Alizeh felt some of the pressure ease in her lungs.

"Do you believe me?" he asked.

Alizeh nodded.

"I hate you," he whispered.

Alizeh blinked, her heart pounding too hard in her chest.

"I know."

He leaned in then, his gaze fixed entirely on her mouth. "I hate everything about you. Your eyes. Your lips. Your smile." His words grazed her skin when he said, softly, "I find your presence insufferable." The nosta flared hot against her sternum.

"Okay," she said again, her pulse skyrocketing. That's okay."

Cyrus abruptly crashed into her, sending them both hurtling before they finally slammed together, him pinning ber to the wall so hard she gasped, air leaving her lungs in a rush.

Alizeh froze.

She was trapped under the unexpected weight of him, the crush of his hard body, the column of his throat a mere inch from her mouth. His closeness was so overpowering it dulled her senses, slowed her mind.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Cyrus called out, frustrated.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I can't kill you before you actually believe me?"

Kamran'd wanted to unravel her slowly, strip her down to nothing, press his face to her heated skin and live there, devour her. He'd never admit aloud that he'd done as much in his dreams, losing himself in her over and over, only to wake in a fevered, painful state of frustration. She had gouged a hole in him from which he feared he’d never recover.