Page 16 of The Never Queen

“Fine,” Darling says with a huff. “Then Vane should go.”

But I know what she’s doing. They share the shadow. If he goes, she can weasel her way into his head, which is pretty much the same as going herself.

“I’ll go,” I say and nod to Kas and Bash.

“Now?” Bash asks.

“Now,” I echo.

We’re still several hours away from daybreak, but I don’t want to risk waiting.

The twins are up and already heading toward the door. As I pass Vane, I tip my head back, gesturing to Darling. “Make sure she behaves.”

She snorts, loudly.

“I’ll make sure,” Vane says, the cigarette burning between his knuckles.

8

WINNIE

Vane lights a cigarette, flicks the lighter closed on the curve of his thigh. He tips his head back, pulls in a hit on the cigarette, then exhales smoke at the ceiling.

Without looking at me, he says, “Start running.”

Excitement pools in my belly and sinks to my clit immediately. It takes no context at all for me to know what he’s asking of me. But still I play the game.

“Why?”

He levels his gaze, pinning me with his bright violet eye.

A shiver wracks my shoulders.

“You’re going to start running, and I’m going to chase you, and when I catch you, I’m going to press your face into the dirt and fuck the brat out of you.”

It takes only words, suggestions, from him to have me buzzing and pulsing and ready.

“Get up, Darling.”

The cigarette burns between his knuckles.

“Now.”

I stand. Swallow. “Do I get a safe word?”

He takes another drag, then breathes out the smoke through his nose. “Do you need one?”

The challenge is apparent in his tone of voice. When it comes down to it, he’ll know if I’ve had enough. But the game is not to ever reach that line.

Vane just likes to test me and I like to be tested.

“I’m counting to ten,” he says. “Best get moving.”

My tongue flicks out, licking my lips, adrenaline already pounding through my veins.

“One.” He takes a hit.

How much distance do I want between us?