“Yes.”
For a moment, she simply stared at him, uncomprehending, before the slow creep of horror stole across her expression. Her voice broke when she said, “That’s how my father died, Vik.”
Gods, he wished he could take the fear out of her — just pluck it out with his fingers and crush it in his palm. “I know, sweetheart,” he breathed, closing the distance between them to press his lips against her forehead in a hard kiss. “I know.”
Everyone knew what happened to Theron Solbourne. It was in the history books, after all.
Theron Solbourne was Thaddeus’s twin and at the height of his brother’s tyrannical rule, he challenged him for the sovereignty. The citizens of the EVP were terrorized by the shadow Patrol, Thaddeus’s secret arm of the military, and the Five Families who ruled the biggest cities were in open rebellion. At any moment, it looked as though the EVP would explode in a hail of bloodshed.
Though they were identical twins, and despite the fact that Theron was fighting for his mate and his unborn children, he was no match for the sheer, coldhearted ferocity of Thaddeus II. Where Theron still had a measure of love left for the sovereign, his brother had none.
He showed no mercy, no recognition that it was his brother under his claws. Theron died a brutal, bloody death, and left behind a pregnant mate traumatized by his loss.
Viktor couldn’t imagine how it would feel to Camille to know thathermate might find himself in a similar position, though in vastly different circumstances.
“Whatever happens, I will not die, Cam,” he promised her. “This is just a fact of life. Andreas is getting old and he’s let anger make him irrational. If it comes down to a fight between us, I’ll win it.”
Camille’s fingers spasmed on his stomach. Her blunt claws scraped his skin when she whispered, “I can’t lose you, Vik.”
“You won’t.” That he knew with absolute certainty. He had not waited twenty years and come this far to lose her now.
She leaned forward until her lips grazed his cheek. “Then I can handle everything else. I’ll learn what it means to become part of a pack. I’ll follow you anywhere you go. I’ll even stop wearing heels if we move somewherereallyrural. I don’t care.” Her breath hitched. “I just can’t watch you die, Vik.”
He wrapped his arms around her and crushed her to his chest. His heart slammed against his ribs as the enormity of the moment hit him all at once.My mate wants me.
She wasn’t just signing up to be with him, but to be part of his pack, to stand by his side as they charted a new course into the future. Relief made his head spin.
“I wouldneverask you to stop wearing heels,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “Not in a million years, Cam. I like watching you walk in them too much. Though I do think you’d look pretty fucking hot in a pair of hiking boots.”
He felt her smile against his jaw. “Yeah?”
Sliding his arms down, Viktor dared to slip his hands past the lapels of her silk robe. He smoothed his palms over her ribs and down, until he could dig his fingertips into the soft flesh of her lithe hips. “Gods save me,” he muttered, drawing her closer. “Are you not wearing any panties?”
She scraped her fangs against the corner of his jaw. “No.”
Viktor swore he felt all the blood rush past his waistband in one huge rush. Thumbing the bows of her hip bones, he growled, “Wait, you weren’t wearing anything underneath this when that elf was here?”
What was once a gentle scrape became a not-so-gentle nip. “Didn’t know he was coming over, remember?”
Didn’t matter. The possessive beast that lived in his heart only understood that a rival had been very, very close to his vulnerable, alluring mate, and that couldn’t be borne.
So long as her neck remained bare, she could be stolen from him, and that was utterly unacceptable to every part of him.
Viktor skimmed one of his hands up, feeling the smooth expanse of skin and finely made bone of her side. Margot had done a magnificent job of healing the rest of Camille’s injuries, it seemed, so he didn’t have to worry about hurting her.Good,he thought, moving his hand back down to her hip.
Without warning, he hoisted her up, guiding her to wrap her sleek thighs around his hips. Camille squeaked and clung to his neck as he began to walk them back to where he knew the master bedroom must be.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, clutching at the back of his shirt. “I’m heavier than you!”
He gave her thighs an appreciative squeeze. “Yeah, and I’mstrongerthan you.”
It didn’t matter that she had those elvish bones — dense like heavy metal — he’d carry his mate if it pleased him. And itdidplease him. The sway and bump of her body against his, the tantalizing view of all that naked skin under her open robe, the knowledge that he was only minutes from finally,finallyclaiming his mate was almosttoopleasing.
As they passed through the double doors that led to the master bedroom, Camille dug her fingers into his hair and nuzzled his ear. “Are you? Are youreallystronger than me?” she purred.
Fuck me.
Viktor nearly stumbled. Her scent permeated the lavish bedroom. Fresh desire perfumed the air. Her blunted claws scratched at his scalp as she traced the shape of his ear with her lips. It was all enough to make anyone weak-kneed. “I…”
