Wow, she actually looks concerned.
“Then be honest with me. How are you certain it’s a location?”
Her tongue runs over her teeth. “Because Everett told me it used to be a kingdom. He rambled many things; some I can reveal, others I cannot.”
My nostrils flare with her sweet scent. “And why is that?”What are you hiding from me?
She’s good at masking her face so others can’t see her genuine emotions. “Everett told you if you were aware of the end, you would change it,” she says carefully.
I banish the air between us so our hips press against one another. Selene’s eyes widen, and the tips of her pointed ears turn a faint cranberry hue. Her lips part with a moan I wish I caught on my tongue. Her foot slides forward, trying to move her closer. She looks good covered in my shadow. “And do you know how this ends?” I urge. I can’t help it; I reach up and cup her jaw, tilting it up.
Her next breath is sharp, quick, and… full of lust I wish I could sink my teeth into.
“Titus,” I listen to Tristen’s warning and disregard it.
“N… no,” Selene says. “I recognize we all will have to make sacrifices.” Her words falter as her lips part and inch towards mine.
That’s it.
Deep in my gut, I know she’s my mate. We’re unfortunate that our mark remains hidden, but sometimes mating marks take time to appear. Other times, they scar your skin when your eyes first meet.
“Stop fighting me. You won’t win.” I flatten my palm over the curve of her ass.
There, she’s surrendering. She pushes up on her toes so she can kiss me.
Before it happens, before we both commit a high crime, Tristen shoves us apart. Selene gasps, caught off guard, then recovers.
He flashes his fangs. “Stop! Now!” he commands me.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Selene sneers.
Is she snapping at Tristen for stopping us, me for forgetting my place, or herself?
“I could ask you the same!” Tristen shouts as he steps between us.
The truth is painfully clear. I almost kissed the queen. It doesn’t matter that she was meeting me halfway. They would find me guilty and kill me.
“Are you my mate?” I ask. I need her to say it.
“Titus!” Tristan rushes me and slaps his hand over my mouth. His eyes beg me to take back the words, just as he did when I told him our parents died.
I grab his wrist and tug it down.Say it!I glare at Selene. Meet me halfway.
Selene covers her mouth and turns away. “I don’t love people, Titus. I don’t know how.”
Let me teach you.
Gods, I want to say it out loud. I want to steal her away, forgetting everything we have to focus on.
Did Everett anticipate this outcome? Did he warn her? Is that why she denies me?
She presses her palm to her stomach. “Tristen is correct. We need to be careful.” She slips on her infamous mask—cold, detached, and unreasonable. “Anything you believe you are feeling is just a fabrication. I’m sure bedding another will quell the sparks.”She coughs again. “Tristen, I will spar with you today. I need to be more mindful of the distance Titus and I need to have.”
“You want me to sleep with someone else?” I snort. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.”
Tristen hangs his head.
“I hear you, Selene, but I’m listening with my eyes, too. I saw you flinch. How long can you keep this deception going?” I fume. “How long do you think your fingers can keep the need at bay. You need me! Every inch of me, every part. Me, your mate.”
