I’m trying to be gentle. I’m trying to be good.
But all I’ve done is make her flinch.
She’s staring at me with those big, dark eyes. Equal parts hurt and hunger, and I hate myself for both. She didn’t ask for any of this—just a pawn in fate’s game. She deserves more than a beast too weak to wait.
Her scent is everywhere. Lust and sadness cling to the sheets. The air.My skin.
Each inhale is more dangerous than the last. If I stay here another minute, I’m going to mess this up for good.
I force myself not to reach for her.
“You should take a shower,” I rasp. My voice comes out too rough. “Your… your scent is?—”
Her eyes widen.
“Oh.”
“I’ll clean up the glass,” I say quickly, turning before I wrap her in my arms. “Just.. stay in the bathroom. Don’t come out until I say.Please?”
She doesn’t argue and disappears into the other room. The moment the door shuts, I exhale and almost collapse.
Thalûn, her scent. She smells like heat—like actual mating heat.
I shove both hands through my hair, clawing through the tangles like they're to blame. Blood runs down my forehead, and I realize I've gone too far.
One thing at a time, Andrik. Focus. Clean the glass. Don’t storm in there and press her against the shower wall.
I have three pieces of glass left when I notice something purple tied around the brick. It’s a ribbon, and beneath it, a note. Tied like athrahkinggift. Like it didn’t almost just smash my mate’s head. My blood goes cold, and I rip the paper free:
“She still screams so pretty. Next time, I’ll make sure you’re not there to stop it.” -Anonymous.
“Veyl'skar ves kai'virun—thrae'nai ves kael'morin narh. Ael'theln ves kaevûn thrae'saelûn—velûn kai'morin ves thrak'narn. Thrae'virun ves kael—narh veyl'skar ves thrae'lûn kai'saelûn.”( I'll rip out their eyes and make them watch as I rut her into my furs—until the bond brands her in my name. Only then will they know what her true screams sound like.)
My vision tunnels as I crumple the note in my fist. I shove the bathroom door open
“Lumi—”
She turns toward me, startledly as the steam curls around her like a veil, but it’s not enough. She’s completely bare. Water slicks down her skin, tracing every curve and pooling in places I can't look away from.
I choke.
Thrahk. Why did I come in here again?
Her eyes widen. One arm lifts on instinct, but not before I see everything.
“ I—I thought you wanted me to stay away from you?” she stammers, fumbling for a towel.
The bond slams into me like a god’s fist to my ribs, twisting everything in my chest.
“Why did you—” she starts again.
“The brick,” I rasp, swaying. I hold out the crumpled note with a shaking hand. “There was a message.”I watch as her face drains of color. She ties a towel around herself, but I’m not looking at her body anymore. All I see is her fear. Rage rears inside me, hotter than before.
Trembling fingers reach out and grab the note from my palm. She scans over the note, knuckles turning white. “God,” she whispers. “They were watching us.”
I nod once. My jaw aches from clenching so hard.
“I’m not scared of them.” She lies.
