“How did you control your beast for so long?” I was shocked that he would hold on for that length of time. Max had also told us that the most dangerous part of mating fever was that no matter how uncomfortable it was for the male, it was much worse for the beast. The beastneededa mate or he would eventually turn into a raging maniac, a monster that would take over the Atlan’s mind and become obsessed with killing. Anything. Everything. Striking out. Desperately trying to stop the pain in both mind and body.
“We have no mate. I made the only choice available.”
“The choice to die?” Lost in that killing haze, there was no hope for the Atlan beasts. They were locked away in places like this, to be executed. If they weren’t on Atlan, they were killed out in the field by their own friends. Sometimes by a family member. Brothers killing brothers. Fathers killing sons. Horrifying. “But you’re still in control. There is still hope.”
“No. We will die. We must.” His voice held no guilt. His gaze was steady, honest. He hid nothing. I did not see shame at his horrible actions or an out of control, homicidal killer. I saw…humility. Discipline.
What was up with this Atlan?
I glanced at the damn clock again. I was wasting time trying to argue with him or convince him to tell me what had happened to him. The idea of Kovo dying in a few hours made me want to kill something, or someone. That was not happening. None of this was. I was in here with an alien I barely knew but couldn’t stop wanting to have sex with. For a week. Straight. Maybe longer, if he was as yummy as he looked. I did not believe he was a criminal or a murderer. A traitor? No way. Just, no. He wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t out of control. He didn’t look or act guilty. Or ashamed. Remorseful. Nothing.
Something did not add up.
I’d raced in here like a lunatic because I refused to give up hope.
If I didn’t do something now, right now, I never would. Courage? Draining out of my body with every second I delayed.
Shit.
In one smooth motion, I grabbed my gown by the waist and pulled the entire thing off over my head. I was naked with a giant kneeling before me.
Naked.
“I am your mate, Kovo. You are mine.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but I placed my finger over his lips to silence him.
“I don’t care how long we have.”
Lie.
“If I can only have you for a few hours, then I’m going to make them count. I want to touch you. I want you to touch me. I want to kiss you, and I want your cock inside me.”
Truth.
I leaned forward, every muscle in my body trembling with nerves. I was going to kiss him. These warlords were lusty bastards, weren’t they? I was naked, here. He was trying to be honorable, hadn’t touched me yet.
Was I going to allow him to get away with that?
No freaking way.
I moved slowly, afraid I would startle him. Which seemed nonsensical. Me, startling a beast. But I knew he was holding on by a thread and I intended to break it.
Lips soft, I claimed his mouth, hands resting on his shoulders once more. I touched nothing else. His hands remained at his sides, but I stole a peek and found them to be in fists. Knuckles white. His neck muscles snapped into thick strands as if he were being attacked.
With a sound of pain, he tore his mouth away and turned his head to the side, to escape me.
I tried not to let it bother me, but I’d never exactly taken off all my clothes and literally begged a man to have sex with me before. Being rejected like this hurt. Made me feel stupid. I had been so sure if I could get close, tempt him, he would be unable to resist.
Guess the joke was on me. He’d fought mating fever for ‘years’.I was not sexy enough to—
“Mine!” The word was not spoken, it was bellowed by a deep, deep voice I’d never heard before.
One large hand wrapped around my waist, the other circled one thigh as Kovo lifted me off my feet and moved until my back was against the wall. He held me there and transformed, or completed his transformation into his beast. Jaw grew wider. Shoulders broader. Muscles seemed to swell up and make more muscles, and more. He got taller, too. Every single part of him grew. But it was the eyes that made my heart skip a beat, resume, then pound so hard I thought my ribs might bust open.
Facing me was not a calm and collected man. This was a raging beast and I’d thrown him the proverbial bone.
Me.
