Free Genesis Queen (The Road to Hell Series) by Gracen Miller Page B

against the banister.
    “Here.” He extended his arm, a bag resting in his palm. Contained within were the divination rocks linked to her life.
    Her gaze flashed to the offering, but she made no move to take them. “What is it?”
    “Your Azura stones. Use them and you’ll discover all I’ve said is true.” He resisted stuffing them into her hand.
    “After all that’s gone on between us, you gotta understand I have trust issues with you. Those”—she nodded at his extended hand—“could be one more round of manipulation, which you’re so good at.”
    “Everything I have ever done has been for your benefit.” He’d explained that to her in Hell. He thought she’d understood.
    “So you say.” Madison came away from the railing and her arms dropped to her sides. Her hands balled into fists, and her eyes pierced the predawn with her very Lynx pink eyes. “You walked out on me at one of my most vulnerable moments!” She inhaled, a ragged sound as if she struggled to temper her resentment. “I cannot dismiss how that makes me feel or how you always seem to have the right thing to say at the right moment. Here and in Hell.”
    An emotional Lynx could become dangerous. But affecting her feelings proved all was not lost between them. Kur stepped from the corner of the house, ready to defend the King’s wife. “Madison, do you really desire to rehash this in front of everyone?”
    She cast a fleeting look around the group, but held her tongue.
    “Phoenix, I like to think our time in Hell gave you insight into my intentions.” The Ark nodded as he pulled Madison against his side. Micah recognized the other man’s not-so-subtle claim on his wife. “Please tell Madison my objective is valid.”
    “I told her earlier I thought this was on the up-and-up.” Phoenix squeezed her shoulder. “You, however, need to understand Mads has a mind of her own. She makes her own decisions and comes to her own conclusions.”
    He whipped a hard glare in the Ark’s direction and narrowed his focus on him. Giving him advice about his woman rankled, especially when it wasn’t appreciated. He bit back a curse because he was discovering how very independent she had become since he’d left her. “Madison—”
    “I’ll take your warning under advisement. Either way, I don’t need or want your assistance.” She dismissed him by giving him her back and striding toward the door.
    Even though her confidence was sexy, she would require his assistance when the time came. Another bit of wisdom the stones imparted. He tucked the Azura stones she’d refused into his pocket.
    “Madison?”
    She halted. Phoenix stood by her side and faced him before Madison pivoted. Micah was pleased she had someone so powerful to guard her back.
    Before she completed her turn, Micah had moved to stand in front of her. He cupped her face, wanting to dip his head and claim her lips in a kiss that would rock her world. More than that, he would’ve preferred demanding she leave with him at that very moment. Goddamn those prophetic stones and what they’d revealed. This passive posturing he was forced to effectuate went against his nature. That, coupled with her obvious famine, put him on edge and turned him moody. “Allow me to drive away the hunger and feed you.”
    Had it been food she denied herself, she’d be skeletal from malnourishment. Phoenix had fed her well, but his messian wasn’t of the sustaining variety. She needed something hardcore and pure to chase away the starvation.
    She wet her lips and sent a hasty glance in Phoenix’s direction. A moment later she offered a very firm headshake. “No.”
    The King felt the very real urge to kill something, pound it into a bloody pulp. He hadn’t expected difficulties from her. Especially not after her actions in Hell. He’d been a fool to believe she’d make this easy on him now.
    He cleared his throat. “I realize your excitement to discover I was alive was a ruse.”
    “My pleasure