He stroked my back, and I ran my nails along his abs, pleased when he shivered in response.
The gold glimmered on my arm, contrasting with his darker skin beneath mine.
“Why the bond, Samael?”
He tensed, and he was silent for a long moment. Then his arms tightened around me.
“That night we first met, I thought to humiliate you. And with you, the Mage Council. It is not often that I’m surprised by my own cruelty. That night, I was unable to look my reflection in the eye.”
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
“Our bond is only reserved for bondmates. Those who choose to tie themselves to each other for life.”
I slowly pulled away from him. “But why? You hated me.”
“I enjoyed the fact that you would forever feel me at the end of the bond. I could easily block you, and would suffer none of the effects of the bond myself.”
“Diabolical,” I murmured. “But wouldn’t that mean you would never be able to take a real bondmate?”
He shrugged. “I never felt the need to form that kind of bond with a woman.”
“Seems like short-term thinking to me, but you do you, boo.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “At first, our bond was a way to put you in your place. To take you from Albert and make you do my bidding. And yet I had the strangest urge to listen to the words that leapt from your sarcastic mouth. I would attend meetings and wonder what you would think of my plans. As I watched you over the coming weeks, I became more and more sure that the bond was the right choice.
“When I realized who you were, I was… elated. Not only did I have the means to kill Lucifer, but I would need to protect you until you were strong enough. I had a reason to keep you close. To keep you safe.”
He stroked my hair, pushing a tendril behind my ear. “I believe my deeper instincts knew you on some level the moment I saw you. Call it fate, or intuition, or whatever you like, but never have I done something as foolish as create a mate bond before. No matter how furious I have been over the centuries. Bael knew. So did Vassago. Ag didn’t want to know, but he saw what was happening.”
I had a lot to think about. I laid my head back on his chest, and we were both silent for a long time. I opened my mouth and then snapped it closed. Samael pinched my chin. “What is it?”
“Why me?”
“Excuse me?”
I lifted my head. “I’m not being insecure. At least, I hope I’m not. I’m just curious. You could bone any woman in any of the realms. You’ve probably already worked your way through half of them. What made you so into me?”
Samael smiled and pressed a kiss to my neck. “Perhaps because you’re so charmingly unaware of your own attributes.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know and like myattributesjust fine.”
He laughed. “Ever since you gave me back my mother’s bracelet, I’ve wondered what she would think of the man I have become. She was gentle and kind. She would go out of her way to help others, and she tempered my father, ensuring that he never gave into his brutality, like so many male demons. She would like you.”
He’d told me that once before and I shook my head. “I’m not gentle or kind.”
“Not gentle, perhaps. But your kindness pushes you to take risks for those you love. It makes you take on a missing person case, while juggling both your sister’s grief, and the investigation into the fire. You’re not soft and graceful, but that wouldn’t have pulled me in the way you have.”
I opened my mouth and he gently placed one of his fingers over my lips.
“You’ve never been impressed by my status. Or anyone’s. You treated the unseelie king the same way as you would any suspect you came up against in the course of an investigation.”
“He’s a dick,” I muttered.
He ignored that. “Once you give your loyalty, you don’t rescind it. And you sacrifice for those you love, even if it hurts you. You’re beautiful, you’re strong, and you make me wish to be the kind of ruler you’ll be proud of one day.”
Tears filled my eyes. I attempted to blink them back, but one of them dropped to his chest. Samael jolted as if he’d been shot, his arms pulling me further up his body so he could see my face.
We didn’t say anything, but he gently wiped the tears from my face until I’d managed to get a hold of myself.
