Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

Xarcon deserves, so that Xarcon, so that I, and my own, can rule—as we always should have.’

A few more graceful steps narrowed the space between them further.

And although part of Siraay was intrigued at the history Chezran had revealed, she refused to be so easily swayed from her question, which she repeated now. ‘Why?’

She thought her unrelenting persistence might annoy the lord. Maybe reveal a weakness.

But he merely smiled appreciatively.

‘Because there is a bigger threat out there. Bigger than Xarcon, bigger than the combined might of Kaslon. And only I have the knowledge, and the will, to defeat it. Only I can do what must be done.’

Siraay looked into Chezran’s eyes. There was not one shred of doubt in them. He was committed. And she wanted to know more.

‘What is the threat?’

Chezran shook his head. ‘More on that later. At the moment, it is enough that you know such a threat exists. And that our world, as it is, cannot hope to defeat it.’

‘And you believe that only you can prepare us to fight back against this threat.’ It was a matter-of-fact statement.

The lord answered by crossing the rest of the space between them quickly, moving so swiftly and smoothly that he was almost in front of her before Siraay had registered his motion.

His next action was even faster—one of his hands was gripping the back of her neck before she could blink, forcing Siraay to fight down all the urges in her that wanted to react defensively.

To knock that arm aside and break it into pieces, as she would have done with any lesser male if they tried to exert such authority over her.

Chezran, his height causing her to look up a little, stared fiercely into her eyes. ‘From the moment I saw you Change, I knew we could force this world to kneel before us.’ His face tilted lower still, his gaze roaming across her face. ‘Fight with me. Help me take down those who stand in our way, so that, together, we can do what must be done.’

Siraay arched her neck and back slightly, the movement pressing her body up against his broad chest as she glowered at him. ‘Is that a request or a command … my lord?’ She rolled his title around on her tongue, letting him hear the stiffness in her voice, feel the tenseness in her body. She would not be ordered around. They would be equals, or they would be enemies.

The grip on the back of Siraay’s neck tightened, just enough to cause pain, and Chezran leaned down to whisper in her ear, ‘Whatever it takes.’

The lord’s grip swiftly altered as he abruptly crushed Siraay to him and pressed his lips urgently against her own. So much was in that kiss. Longing, strength, cruelty, control …

Siraay leaned harder against Chezran, her hands coming up to grip his shoulders tightly as she let her lips pull back just far enough. Then she bit him sharply on his lower lip, tasting blood.

He responded by grabbing her shoulders and spinning them both around and back several steps, pinning her back swiftly against the closest wall, his strength and speed making his movements a blur.

Siraay let out a soft gasp of pain as her back and head hit the wall, but that was all she got out before Chezran was kissing her again.

She crushed herself against him, just as hard, her hands twining in his shoulder-length, dark hair.

Then she heard the sound of one of the doors to the council room opening …

Chezran’s wrath at the interruption was a thing of beauty to Siraay.

‘What is it?’ the lord growled, his bottom lip bright with a droplet of blood.

A guard stood just inside the partially opened door, his face lowered, and turning pale, at his lord’s angry tone.

‘My apologies, lord, for disturbing you; however, one of your archons is here to see you.’

‘Who?’ Chezran’s growl was deeper this time, and Siraay knew he was losing patience with the guard. Maybe she would get to see him in action after all … her eyes creased with pleasure at the thought. He was cruel, powerful, and he wanted her. Perfect.

‘It is I, Lord Chezran.’

The new voice stopped all of Siraay’s thoughts. She knew that voice, even though it sounded different now. More … confident. Unerring. She turned her eyes, which had been amused an instant before, to the figure by the door in disbelief.

It was Loce.

***

Siraay stared.

Loce.

Alive.

And calling Chezran ‘my lord’ …Siraay’s mind spun as all her memories of Loce fought to realign themselves to fit with this new information.

Meanwhile, Chezran’s displeasure was quickly disappearing. ‘You’re late,’ he snapped, stepping away from Siraay and turning more fully towards the door.

Loce. An archon. Siraay’s mind was still spinning furiously, but it was catching up. Loce was a spy. The spy, as it turned out.

Contempt bloomed in Siraay’s mind. She and the others in the Resistance had never guessed. All that time, running, hiding, making plans. No wonder the Faction—or the Xarconians, as she now knew them to be—had always been just a step behind.

Chezran gestured for Loce to enter the room, and Siraay’s stomach tightened in annoyance at the untimely interruption. Still, probably a good time to slip out anyway, before she gave Chezran too much of a taste in one sitting. After all, her goal to maintain influence with him would be fed by a number of things. And if she had to use her body to help achieve that power … well, it was no different from using her other abilities.

And besides, there was a lot about Chezran that attracted her.

So she slid away from the wall, her boot heels clicking as she sauntered past him. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’

Chezran nodded, glancing sideways at her. ‘Come to the training hall, first thing.’

She nodded back and proceeded towards the doorway.

Loce shifted to the side, averting his dark eyes as he dipped his blond head respectfully, but not before she saw his eyes widen a little