Arranged marriage. Kira stared, her jaw hanging loose.
“You will be married to Joshua Woods tomorrow.” The Elder Priest smiled as though she had just told Kira she was now a billionaire. “Congratulations, Miss Smtihson.”
“Congra…” All the air left Kira’s lungs. “Joshua?”
Chapter 4 - Joshua
“You bastard!”
Joshua fought back a wince as he looked up toward the door. He was in his office at town hall, with papers in front of him as he had been trying to pretend to work. Kira slammed the door shut as she strode inside. Her blue eyes flared with anger as she smashed her palms onto his desk. The loud smack must have hurt her, but she was clearly too angry to care. Her lips pulled back into a snarl, and if he didn’t know better, Joshua would have thought she was seconds from shifting and tearing his throat out.
“I take it you spoke with the council,” he said, keeping his voice as neutral as possible.
“You fuckingbastard!”
Joshua leaned back in his chair. His wolf growled, torn between taking Kira’s anger as a threat and wanting to soothe her. He inhaled deeply, fighting the tension that crept through him. He’d known she wouldn’t take kindly to this turn of events. He hadn’t realized she’d be this furious, though. He had mostly thought she would avoid him.
“It wasn’t my choice,” he said first off. She might not believe him—and her snort proved him right again—but it was the truth. “The Council decided that we’d be matched together.”
“And you can’t say to them why?” she spat.
Because if I said no, you would have been paired with Michael, and I’d never be able to be in the same room as him again. Because I have to keep you safe. Because I want nothing more than to hold you right now, even if I have no right to love you.
Joshua would have preferred to keep his distance. Give her space and avoid her as he had over the years. But the demon threat was too strong, and there was evidence that a marriage would help Kira’s powers grow stronger. He sorted through his own thoughts to find an appropriate answer to Kira’s question. She didn’t know that he knew she had magic.
He’d discovered it by accident. He had seen her and Gwen heading off into the forest together, and he’d been struck with a sudden, wild fear that the demons were going to attack them. So he followed, keeping himself hidden but close enough to help should the situation require it. That was how he’d seen them practicing their magic, with Gwen coaching Kira on some simple spells.
He’d watched, fascinated, but it also settled a heavy truth in his gut. With Kira gaining powers, she was a prime target for the demons to attack. With her magic being so new, she couldn’t use it to protect herself yet. If she developed it further, she’d be able to fight the demons. So, of course, they were going to try to kill her before she accessed that magic.
But he couldn’t tell her that, not without revealing he’d been watching her. “The Council made a convincing argument.”
“So you’re marrying me so I can become a broodmare, popping out your children?” Kira demanded.
Joshua winced. “For your safety. You will be safer within a mate bond. We don’t know much about the demons, but there is evidence in our histories that the witches married shifters for their protection. I believe that Gwen and Rafael’s marriage strengthened her ability to use magic. It might do the same for you.”
Kira slumped into a chair, fire still in her eyes but her shoulders sagging now. “So you’re going to pretend that it’s for my benefit?”
“I’m not pretending anything. This situation sucks. I don’t want to hurt you, Kira. But with things being the way they are…” He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “You have to admit that the likes of Jenny Carps will treat you better when you have me standing beside you.”
“I’m not concerned about Jenny Carps.” Kira frowned at him. “You said I’ll be safer in the mating bond.”
Joshua nodded.
“I’m not your mate.”
At that, Joshua winced. He quickly broke eye contact. Even if he had rejected her in the most brutal way possible, she was his mate. She always had been. It was why he had to reject her so harshly, because otherwise she might try to change his mind about being with her, and he wasn’t strong enough to resist. He leaned his elbows on his desk as he tried to order his scattered thoughts.
It was different now. He knew better; he was stronger. She hated him, and that would only work to their advantage.
“A marriage union can often spark the bond,” he finally said. “And even if it doesn’t, the marriage will still connect us. It will be enough.”
Kira sucked in a deep breath, looking pained.
“There’s one more thing.” Joshua met her gaze again. “The matter of children.”
“I—”
Joshua held up his hand. “Please, let me finish.”
