Read Colliding Worlds Trilogy 02 – Implosion for Free Online Page B

fought the urge to take a step back. Another step closer. She lifted her chin in defiance, forcing to look up to maintain his gaze. He reached out. His thumb caressed her cheek.
    She jerked away, both at the unwelcome invasion and the traitorous sensation. Other than Roden, she’d had no contact with another living being in months. Add that to him being what her soul
thought
it needed made her body crave what her mind abhorred. “Don’t ever touch me,” she snarled, pulling her hand to her cheek.
    When he came closer still, she found herself backed against the wall. His hands went up, locking her in like steel bars as he pressed them against the wall on either side of her face. “Does it bother you that you like it?”
    She could’ve kneed him in the groin or shoved him away. But it wouldn’t have changed the fact that he knew her weakness and wasn’t afraid to exploit it. Instead, she stood there, watching him, her breaths as shallow as his were deep, as though he was taking in her very essence with every inhalation. He leaned closer, his heat branding every cell. When he spoke, his words were a whisper, his breath tickling her ear.
    “The Grand Lord wants you because … ” The words came out husky and slow and tapered off, as though he’d meant to seduce her using only sound.
    She swallowed and used every ounce of strength to remain stoic.
He’s bluffing. He can’t know.
    “He wants you because you’re his daughter.”
    The smallest gasp.
No!
Fear and revulsion locked her in place while the words shook her to her soul. Scrambling, she jutted out her chin. “I’m a Sephian, Roden. Try again.”
    With her body still caged by corded arms, Roden pulled his head back just enough to scan over her, causing shivers to dance across her skin. He smiled. It was that casual, crooked half-smile that made him sexier than ever. That same smile spoke of a highly intelligent adversary. She hated that smile almost as much as she hated him.
    “You’re a good actress, Lea. Even I wouldn’t have suspected if it weren’t for the
tahren
pull. You inherited many of your mother’s traits. Many, but not all.” A finger touched her cheek where she knew her
soullare
was most on display. He watched her for several moments, tracing the marks, as though lost in thought. Then his features turned hard, and he frowned. “I’ve seen the scars.”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she threw out, and couldn’t help but notice that she didn’t sound convincing, even to herself.
    The next instant he forced her against the wall. His thigh pressed between her legs, pinning her. He yanked up her shirt, tugging it free from her pants. As his hand slid under the material, she struggled in earnest, only to freeze the instant his fingers touched her back. The exact spots where phantom pains still haunted her and where fantasies of taking flight prickled at her dreams. The scars were so old that they were no more than two faint hairlines, but they stood as the sickening truth of her life-long secret.
    Roden’s jaw clenched. His fingers pressed harshly into her skin as he ground out his next words. “Tell me, what kind of mother would carve the wings from her own babe’s back?”
    His hard look dared her, giving her the strength she needed. She shoved him back. He made no move as she put space between them.
    “How dare you judge,” she bit out. “My mother saved my life. Exactly what kind of life do you think a hybrid gets to have?”
    His brows furrowed. “Hybrids were common on Sephia. There is no sin in that. All children were cherished.”
    “Hybrids were cherished by
Draeken
. To my people, hybrids are brutal reminders of rapists and of slaves with no rights,” Nalea corrected.
    Roden growled. “Yes, there are criminals of every race. Criminals that deserve to be put down. But don’t forget that I grew up on Sephia, too. And I saw for my own eyes many love matches between Draeken and Sephians, most without