Her hand slides down my torso until she peels it free.
Just one tiny lick would subdue my urges. “Just one taste.”
Metal presses against my lips instead.
Does she think her dagger would stop me?
The game of chase entices my predator.
Oh yes, she sees the truth in my eyes.
“Don’t make me hurt you.” She tilts the dagger up, parting my lips with it. One flick of her wrist and she could carve a permanent smile.
Denying this hurts more than her dagger would. I close my lips around the blade and kiss it.
“You need to stop,” she whispers. Instead of a detached tone, she sounds worried.
Where is the treat?
Wait, it’s me. I caused her alarm.
I stagger back.
Shit! I lost control. The magic between us consumed me.
I turn my back to her, too ashamed to look upon her. My ribs stab my lungs. I can’t take a deep enough breath. Denying this is suffocating me.
“It’s for the best, Titus.” She touches my back. Her words are a bucket of water on my flames. I flinch. Her hand drops.
“Is there a problem?” Tristen shouts as he enters the sparring field, having left his spot near the entrance.
Selene rasps a curt, “No.” Internally, she’s screaming.
I rush towards Tristen. “Give me a vial, please!”
“Titus,” he warns as he hands me a vial of blood.
“I’m fine.”
“Drinking this won’t stop what you feel,” he mumbles. His gaze shifts to Selene as he speaks to me. “You need to admit it.”
“What good would that do?” I rasp.
“It would make you realize we need to leave. What good is finding the Vitalis if you're marked as a dead man? She’s a fae, and she’s our queen; she can be nothing more to you. I’m… sorry. I wish it were different.”
My eyes skim down my unpolished armor, down to my dirty old boots.
I am nothing; unworthy of having a mate like Selene.
Tris is right. I need to ignore this, as Selene is.
I swallow down the blood, tasting nothing. My eyes met his. “I can’t leave.” All the answers are here. Tris knows this. He prefers risking it.
His lips formed a thin line.
“Again!” Selene shouts.
“I can spar this time,” Tristen offers.
