In retrospect, he probably shouldn’t have done that. Woman had this thing about being thrown, but her anger couldn’t penetrate his wonder as he stared.

Once again, she stood from the water, soaking wet and sputtering, the gown clinging to every curve of her body.

Utterly beautiful.

So very tempting…if he ignored the anger sparking in her gaze.

“You jerk. I can’t believe you did that.”

“I’ll do it again if you keep insisting we escape.”

“You can’t punish me for wanting out, and don’t think you can stop me from looking.”

“Look all you want. You won’t find anything.” Or so he assumed. He’d never really searched all that hard.

If there were an exit, would I take it? A day ago, he would have said no; he had everything he needed. What a delusion. Her arrival had changed everything. Especially now that he remembered everything.

“How many other caves are there?” she asked.

“Dozens, hundreds. The place is a catacomb of tunnels formed by shifting rock, dragonfire, and lava.”

“Dragonfire? Is that a real thing?”

“Very. But not all dragons can do it. Each color has a different bend on their power. Fire is usually a Crimson Sept thing.”

“And what about you? What’s your super power?”

“I don’t know.” Lie. Ever since he’d ascended, he’d been practicing out of sight. Playing with his abilities and trying to hone them. It wasn’t enough to own a weapon. He had to know how to wield it, too. He also needed to test its strength.

“Samael claims he can turn invisible. Some kind of deflection of light that allows him to move unnoticed.”

Fascinating. Remiel hadn’t managed that feat yet. “And you’ve seen him do this?”

“No. But, if he can, it might explain how my uncle fell from the balcony with no one around to push him.”

“Parker deserved it.”

“True.”

“What else can Samael do?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. He didn’t talk much about the shift. At the time, I didn’t really care.”

In other words, she was busy doing other things. He frowned. The jealousy burned hot. Anger, too.

He wanted to shake her for not realizing whom she’d placed her lips on. How could she not reject the touch of another?

The same way you rejected those Anastasia sent to seduce? his insidious conscience reminded.

A man had needs, and in his defense, he’d thought her gone from his life. She wasn’t even a memory when those encounters had happened.

And yet, now, he felt such shame.

Then he mentally punched himself good and hard. He wasn’t about to start feeling guilty. The fact remained that they were both ignorant of the truth.

What is the truth?

She’s mine.

“Have you thought about using some of your super Golden powers to get out of here?”

“No, because not all of us are in a hurry to leave. I rather like it here.” He didn’t remember much of the outside world, having spent much of it in a lab, but he knew enough to realize it was fraught with danger for someone like him.

Danger sounds like fun.

Not as much fun as a long nap.

I wish someone would eat you.

His inner voice seemed a little testy.

“How many big chambers like this are there? Is the room I arrived in the only one with a shaft to the surface?”

“Why does it matter if there is another route or not? It’s not as if you can travel them. You seem to have a dislike of close spaces, and there are many smaller areas than this.”

She swallowed hard. “Smaller?” She straightened. “Whatever. I see what you’re doing. Trying to imply that I’m too scared to do it. Maybe I am.” Her chin tilted. “But screw fear. If you won’t help me find a way out, then I’ll find it myself.”

Such bravado. He quite enjoyed it. He found her crushing fear of before much harder to handle. She should fear real things, not intangible possibilities. Didn’t she know fewer people died spelunking than those that flew?

“Go ahead and explore. I really don’t care.” He did care, but he wasn’t about to mollycoddle. He wouldn’t disrespect his angel like that. “Good luck finding a way out.”

“That’s it? Good luck?”

“How about send me a postcard if you do find a passageway out?”

Her brow knit. “And exactly what will you be doing while I’m being proactive?”

“Having a nap. Someone rudely interrupted my last one.” He let the water buoy his body, and he floated. Eyes closed meant he couldn’t avoid the wave of fluid washing over his face. He blew it out of his mouth porpoise-style.

“Asshat.” Another wave of water got him up the nose. The snorting and coughing forced him to stand.

Feisty little brat.

Respecting her was one thing, but she took the sassy bit a bit too far.

I should remind her of who I am.

The sloshing of her steps meant she was almost out of the water when he looked. Looked and saw how her buttocks moved, slender in shape, the waist only a tiny indent, but he liked the lithe lines. It gave her a sinuous grace.

That’s mine.

It sure was, but if he touched it, she just might tear his arm off. She didn’t appear happy with him at the moment.

Let that anger give her the courage she needed to handle the caves.

“I can feel you staring,” she sang over her shoulder. “Take a good look because it is the last time you’ll see it.”

“I wasn’t looking.” Lie. He screwed his eyes shut.

“Sure you weren’t. See you later.”

“Alligator,” he said, continuing the rhyme.

No reply.

As a matter of fact, he couldn’t sense her at all. Surely, she’d not left the chamber that quickly.

A rapid glance around showed not a trace of her. He exited the water and inhaled deeply, parsing the scents and noting hers—a lovely mix of so many colors—returning to his main housing area.

She hadn’t gone far.

She’ll be back.

No way would she go off on her own. He might have helped her find some of her courage, but a fear like hers wouldn’t be able to handle the truly confining chasms and jagged, lava-bored holes.

He returned to the water to soak and relax, the picture of insouciance for when she returned.

Minutes ticked by. He counted them in his head.

Not back yet. Perhaps she lounged naked and waiting for him in bed.

Somehow, he didn’t think that too likely. More likely, she’d chosen a tunnel to explore. There were a few branching out of the main chamber, hidden by more hanging tapestries. He hated drafts. His bargain with Anastasia for them was more than worth it.

It was dark in those tiny slits. Had angel found his stash of flashlights and batteries? For some reason, they kept sending them down, not realizing he didn’t actually use them.

More time ticked by. Seconds that moved slower than flowing molasses.

So freaking slow.

And she didn’t come back. His skin wrinkled, pruned into ragged ridges much like an old human.

She’s not coming back.

At the realization, he finally strode from the water, a nubile god without anyone to admire him.

Eschewing a drying cloth, Remiel stomped back to his main habitat.

I am going after her.

No, he was going to have a proper nap. A quiet rest.

She didn’t need him to save her.

Let her have an adventure, realize the futility of escape, and understand that they needed to make the best of their circumstances.

Yeah, tell her she’s stuck because that’s an awesome way to trap her.

It wasn’t trapping.

You’re not giving her a choice.

Fuck choice. He’d never gotten much choice, unless shitty and shittier counted, so could these weak morals bugging him please fuck off?

Dragons didn’t abide by the same compassion humans and other cryptos did. They were the center of everything.

I am the most important dragon in the world.

And yet, he was alone.

It didn’t feel good.

Without the spell of forgetfulness, he remembered why he’d made the deal, the reason he’d finally given up.

And the basis for that appeared determined to abandon him.

Let her.

He didn’t care.

He didn’t care so much he took his time putting on pants. Took several moments to choose a shirt. But he rushed putting on his shoes and grabbing his knife.

A walk past a certain tapestry made him realize which tunnel she’d chosen to explore.

Snakes weren’t the only dangerous things down here. And his angel had a mighty fear of—