The Warlord by Gena Showalter (free ebook reader for pc .txt) 📕

As she writhed against him, thoughts fragmented, the rooms in her brain shutting down, one by one. Her body took the helm. The promise of bliss beckoned.

He pushed her into the wall. Cool tile drew a gasp, but hot man added the moan. Leaving her off-kilter, he slicked his hands over her breasts, circled her nipples with his knuckles, then plumped and kneaded the mounds.

“I want to do things to you,” he growled into her mouth.

As she quivered, excited by his claim, he stilled. Rage overcame his expression, confusing her. “Roc?”

He peered up at the ceiling and roared, “Not now!”

What? Had she hurt him? “Roc?” she repeated, plucking her claws free of his flesh. She grimaced when she spotted beads of blood. “My bad.”

He lowered his head and rested his forehead against hers. “My apologies. I wasn’t speaking to you. A phantom horde has overtaken the kitchen, and they’re here to feed.” The more he spoke, the stiffer he became. When he lifted his head, fury darkened his expression.

“I’m not to blame,” she stated bluntly. And what a nice reminder: never mix war and pleasure.

He got his huff on. “I laid no blame at your door, Taliyah.”

Please. “You laid all blame at my door, Roc.”

He glared at her as he summoned more of those trinite posts. One in each corner, trapping her within the stall.

“How wonderful for me,” she said, batting her lashes at him. “Another prison.”

“In here, you’ll be safe while my soldiers dispatch the phantoms.” His gaze moved beyond her, and she realized he’d just received another telepathic communication. Whatever he learned didn’t brighten his mood. When he focused on her again, he got snippy and said, “Does it gratify you to know we’re dealing with your snares and ambushes?”

Well, well. Now he outright admitted he blamed her. “Yes,” she replied truthfully, “it does.” Cool air enveloped her wet body, chasing away the warmth. “But I didn’t bring any phantoms here.”

He opened his mouth to respond.

“No,” she snapped. “Don’t contradict me. I’m not working with Erebus, and I’m not controlled by him. He told me he wanted me to destroy you for him. I informed him I would destroy you for me. I’ve never once done his bidding. The guy’s a prick. When I commit a deed, I own it. I want you to know I’m the one responsible for your upset. My snares and ambushes are a fine example.”

He frowned, but he didn’t comment.

Forget assuaging the aches. His attitude was inoculation enough. Smoldering? What smoldering? She’d already moved on. Now she needed to figure out why she’d vomited the berserker’s soul.

The problem wasn’t the man’s origins. Once, she’d gone on a berserker bender.

Mmm. She remembered it well. Their power had been intoxicating. The sweetest wine.

Inner shake. She’d never sickened with a berserker. So what happened today?

“I want to believe you,” Roc said, and he kind of sounded...defeated. “That’s the crux of the problem.”

“Dude. Are you seriously feeling sorry for yourself?” Taliyah gifted him with a rude hand gesture. “You know what? Screw you.”

He stared at her as if she were some great mystery. News flash. She was pretty much an open doomsday book. Harm her people, and she ensured you paid. The end.

His eyes glazed as another message came in. Whatever was said, his aggression deflated. “The horde has been dealt with.”

“Proof I didn’t send this ambush. No one died.” Um, maybe don’t antagonize the guy with the wing-pinner? Strength had never been so important, and they both knew it.

He thrust his hand through his wet hair. “I can’t trust you.”

“Like that’s a shocker.” She sighed, choosing to release the worst of her irritation. “Look. What’s happened can’t be undone. We called a truce yesterday. Let’s call another one today. Twenty-four hours. That’ll give us time to ask each other questions. Tit for tat.”

His remaining aggression slowly dissolved. “I don’t know how this is possible. How you are a phantom, yet also...you.”

She considered telling him about her connection to Chaos, then caught the gleam of the posts around the shower stall and clamped her lips shut. Roc didn’t trust her, and she didn’t trust him. For very good reasons! For one to survive, the other had to die. Maybe. Probably. What if there was another way?

Stupid thought? Impossible? Whatever. She’d ponder it later. Today, she’d get to know her enemy...who looked adorably, frustratingly lost all of a sudden.

What are you doing? Stop. Adorably lost? An enemy in any form was still just an enemy.

“Whatever happened to your Hall of Secrets idea?” she asked.

He scoured a hand over his face. “I’ve yet to receive a report from Roux.”

Her nose scrunched up. “What kind of information do you think you’re going to get?”

“Something!” He slammed his fist into his palm. “That’s all I need.”

How easily and quickly he swayed from one extreme emotion to the other. But was it good or bad for her?

Taliyah exhaled as her thoughts whirled. Things had changed between them, so she must change, too. From now on, she and Roc were going to be constant companions. Antagonizing him, as she’d done before, wasn’t the wisest course.

Want better results? Pick better battles. “Let me reiterate that I am a phantom, but I’m not controlled by Erebus. If you’ll give me a chance, I think I can prove it.”

He opened and closed his mouth before waving her on. “I’m listening.”

“Can we agree that there’s something Erebus will never, under any circumstances, order a phantom to do?” Actually, she thought her father might rage. “He doesn’t want anyone to make you happy, even for a moment.”

Clipped nod. “We can agree.”

“Well, think back. I’m sure you’ll remember a specific moment in our history when roses were in bloom and you came like a geyser all over my belly.”

Again, he opened and closed his mouth. “This is different. You are different. He knows what you mean to me.”

She went still. “What do I mean to you?” No. Unnecessary question. Moving on. “Why do you think