Dark Prince by Michelle M. Pillow Read Free Book Online

to show weakness. His breath hit against her skin, skin that was too easily becoming excited by his show of power.
    Yusef’s nostrils flared. Glancing over Olena’s pale face, he smelled her fear. It didn’t stop him. He tried his best not to rip her treacherous head off, as he crushed her arm in his palms, bruising her flesh. Then, catching the scent of blood, he stopped. He leaned forward, sniffing at her neck.
    He continued to follow the scent of blood, moving down her arm. Discovering that the source was beneath his hands, he stopped. He fought for control, thinking he might have gouged her with his talon.
    The grip became less rigid on her arm and Olena could again breathe. When she opened her eyes, he was back as she knew him. She had seen shifters before, but never like him. He was so powerful, so strong. It did something wicked inside her to see it. Her heart was racing and not all in fear. She had the strangest urge to jump on him and kiss him.
    Yusef was staring at her arm. His face contorted with anger, he demanded hotly, "Why?"
    Olena didn’t waver in light of his voiced outrage. She could handle this better than his tenderness. The throbbing in her arm brought her comfort and normalcy.
    "You drug me, I drug you," she declared. "We’re even. Fair is fair."
    "What?" he demanded in outrage.
    Yusef let her go before he shifted again and ripped the delicate throat from her neck. His arms ached from his awkward night in the bath, but he wouldn’t give her the pleasure of seeing him stretch the muscles. "I never--"
    "Don’t lie," Olena said in warning. "I know exactly what was in that drink. A little Maiden’s Breath mixed with just a dash of Last Ember’s root. It makes the victim nice and malleable. Too bad for you, I know what it does and can fight it."
    "It’s a traditional drink," Yusef defended, "not a drug."
    "Nice tradition, dragon. Why don’t you just skip the drugging and get straight to the rape?"
    She didn’t think it was possible, but his look blackened.
    "Listen, we’re even," she growled. Her arm throbbed and she wanted nothing more than to grab it. She refrained. "You don’t try to drug me and I won’t drug you, deal?"
    "We do not rape," Yusef growled forebodingly, deeply insulted by the insinuation. His hair fell forward over his shoulders as his naked chest heaved. "The crystal chooses the pairing. With the crystal, the wine makes the mind open. That is why it’s against the law to come together this night. The woman’s will must be left free, so that she may choose freely. The wine helps to connect, to start the foundation of a good life. It helps to…"
    Yusef stopped. He didn’t want to tell her it opened the ports between their minds so that someday they would be able to read each other’s thoughts and feelings. Already he could feel the beginning stirs of her emotions, though they were too tumultuous to get a good reading on them.
    Olena raised a brow. "Pray, please continue with this lovely lesson on male dominated logic."
    Yusef frowned. Instead, he stated, "I smell blood."
    Olena paled. She tried to hide the look but he caught it.
    "You are injured?" Yusef asked, afraid he had done it to her in his anger.
    Olena looked towards her sleeve. A trickle of blood made the slow journey down the back of her arm. She gradually turned her hand so he couldn’t see it.
    "No," Olena lied. "I’m fine."
    "Let me see."
    "I’m fine," she said, growing uncomfortable. "Listen, it looks as if we are going to be spending countless hours together, so do you mind if we cut this pleasant little scenario until later? I didn’t sleep too well and I have a wicked migraine. Besides, a servant came by and said to tell you that the council is ready to see us as soon as we are dressed."
    Olena motioned to his clothes on the bed. Yusef realized he stood before her completely naked. He was beginning to feel a chill. She kept her gaze averted while he donned his clothing. Yusef would have laughed by the