Free Princess of Lust (For the Love of Evil) by Ann Mayburn Page A

beautiful tonight. Well, she always looked beautiful but he appreciated the extra care she’d taken with her appearance. With full bell sleeves, the almost transparent navy blue dress distinctly showed her nipples, though her mound was still covered by a golden sheen of dragon skin that revealed more than it hid.
    When she had first stepped out of her carriage, with the sunset burning ruby and orange in the sky behind her, he’d been rendered speechless by her beauty. More than that, the knowledge she’d dressed this way to please him made the dominant side of his soul growl in pleasure. Now that pleasure turned sour as he realized she hadn’t dressed up to please him, but rather to aid her in getting him to agree to her desires. No, that seductive gown was her version of armor, something she wore to do battle.
    Kirin shot him a reproving look from his side of the dinner table and turned back to Natalia with a smile. “I’d love to help Gregor in any way I can.”
    Knowing he sounded like a jealous idiot, but unable to stop himself, Raum glared at his concubine. Tonight, Kirin wore a traditional toga secured at the shoulder with a golden clasp. The pale platinum garment brought out the deep natural tan of his skin and highlighted his fighter’s body.
    The thought of Gregor touching Kirin made Raum’s blood boil.
    “I forbid it.”
    Natalia slid her hand across the table and gently removed the shattered wineglass from his grip. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
    When her big cobalt-blue eyes gazed into his, he could already feel himself wanting to give in to her request, wanting to do anything to make her happy. Tonight, she wore her long, dark hair in an elaborate series of braids secured with little diamond pins. The diamonds looked like stars scattered about her hair, and he wanted to take them out one by one and watch that silken bounty spill over his body. He loved her so much, would do anything for her, but what she asked raised every territorial, demonic instinct he had.
    “If you don’t want me to hurt, then take your request back.” Kirin made a noise of disgust but Raum held up his hand. “Silence. I want to hear Natalia tell me why I should allow a man who hates me, who wants me dead, the honor of bedding my beloved concubine.”
    Natalia flushed and pushed her plate of untouched food over to the side. He had gone to great lengths to make this evening perfect for her, wanting to erase the ugliness of the past few days and give her a chance to heal. When he’d received word her sullen, angry concubine would be staying back at the palace while she came to visit Raum’s estate he’d been overjoyed. Finally, both he and Kirin would get some alone time with the woman they both loved. Now he couldn’t help but feel betrayed, knowing the only reason she’d come alone was because she had an impossibly huge favor to ask of him.
    Long, flowering vines trailed from the crystal chandelier overhead, filling the air with their sweet perfume. His staff had outdone themselves with a meal fit for a king, and Kirin had been in a playful mood all day, eagerly anticipating her arrival. Truth be told, his own mood had been lifted by the thought of spending the evening with the woman that would someday be his blood mate.
    “I thought demons didn’t get jealous,” Natalia said and glanced at him through the fringe of her lashes.
    Dark currents of amethyst and emerald moved through her normally sapphire-blue eyes, and Raum could feel the demonic side of her nature rising. It made her more dangerous, and yet more alluring.
    Her words stung and he leaned into his high-backed chair, conscious of how closely Kirin watched them. Yes, he was jealous, but not for the reasons she thought. He was jealous Gregor had the one thing he wanted more than anything in the world, a soul bond with Natalia. True, their bond was the one of mistress and concubine, but the human male still had access to parts of her Raum did not.