“I went to the grave.” The words come out slowly. “I used forbidden magic to see the female alpha’s last moments.”
She stiffens. “Forbidden magic?” Her voice rises slightly, worry flooding through the bond. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now,” I assure her, though the memory of coughing up all that blood is still fresh. “I wanted to find out what had happened. I needed to know.”
She searches my face, her hands moving to frame my jaw now. I can feel her concern, sharp and immediate.
“She didn’t suffer, Daciana.” I hold her gaze, letting her see the truth in my eyes. “Your friend died peacefully. She didn’t even know what was happening. The vision just…faded. Like she was falling asleep.”
She sucks in a shuddering breath, tears gathering in her eyes. “Good.” Her voice breaks. “Good.”
Relief washes through her—I feel it through the bond, profound and raw. She has been terrified that the wolf had suffered, that her guardian had been in agony.
“I saw something else,” I continue. “The person who killed her. I couldn’t see his face, but he has a scar on the inside of his wrist. An old burn mark—ugly, puckered. The kind that comes from a deep burn. It seemed like a scar left from ritual magic.”
She wipes at her eyes, and I see her mind already working through the implications. “I’ve never seen a mark like that on anyone.” She pauses. “But I’ll talk to Astra. Lucian, Seth, and Leon will know who has that mark.”
Leon.
I stiffen beneath her. Jealousy flares hot and vicious in my chest.
“Are you jealous?” There’s the faintest hint of amusement in her voice despite the tears still clinging to her lashes.
And then, I snap. I flip her over in one smooth motion, pinning her wrists to the bed on either side of her head. She gasps as I loom over her, my body caging hers.
“What if I am?” The words come out edged with possession, with the primal need to make sure she understands exactly whom she belongs to.
Her pulse jumps beneath my fingers, but her voice is steady. Certain. “I bear your mating mark.” Her eyes hold mine. “I’m yours. Nobody else’s.”
My wolf rumbles in approval. I lean down, pressing my lips to the curve of her neck. Right where the mating mark burns brightest. Then, I bite down.
She cries out—a wanton, pleasure-drunk sound that fills the room. Her back arches as she presses her body against mine. Through the bond, I feel her pleasure spike, sharp and electric, mixing with my own satisfaction.
“The night is young,” I murmur against her mouth, my hands already trailing down her body. “And I have a lot of catching up to do.”
The expression on her face—pleasure-stricken and surrendered and entirely mine—makes my chest expand. It’s as if a huge, gaping hole I didn’t know existed has suddenly been filled.
If only I can keep her like this, by my side, safe in my arms.
Forever.
The summons comesthe next afternoon.
A sharp knock on the door rouses me from a light doze, Daciana still warm and soft against my shoulder. I feel her stir, mild curiosity bleeding through the bond.
“Daciana.” The voice is formal, clipped. “The King requests your presence in his study. You and Alpha Kieran.”
I open my mouth to respond, but Daciana’s hand clamps over it. She leans over me, her hair falling like a curtain around us.
“I’ll let Alpha Kieran know,” she calls out, her voice steady.
I wait until the footsteps fade before pulling her hand away from my mouth. “Why didn’t you let me answer?”
She looks sheepish. “It was automatic. I didn’t think ‘my mate is in my bed.’ I thought ‘a man is in my bed.’”
Pleasure floods through me, hot and possessive. I slide my hand around her nape and pull her down for a deep, slow kiss that has her melting into me, her body going soft and pliant.
“Every time you forget I’m your mate,” I murmur against her lips, “this is how I’ll remind you.”
