Two weeks.
My mate has been in the hands of monsters for two gut-wrenching weeks, and it has taken every shred of my self-control not to raze the universe to the ground. Every part of me is screaming to storm the castle and drag her back to my side.
Then, testing my control even further, my clever little kitten learned how to shield her emotions from me.
She shut me out.
I don’t doubt that somewhere in her self-sacrificing mind, she convinced herself that she was protecting me. But her silence was driving me to madness.
Until yesterday.
I wassofucking close to finding her, only to be stabbed with pain so intense, I nearly blacked out.
Only, it wasn’t my own pain, it was hers.
Leon destroyed the mate bond.
The only thing that soothes the burning rage threatening to consume me is the soft hum that still dances through my veins.
She might not be able to feel me anymore, but a piece of her soul is still bound to mine, and I can feeleverything. Her despair is staggering, like her light is on the verge of blinking out forever.
“If you take this choice from me, then you’re no better than they are.”The memory of her words haunts me.
Over and over, I’ve reminded myself that she is choosing this fate. The thought causes frustration and regret to spear through me, and I fight the urge to kill the next person who looks my way.
My kind-hearted, brilliant, infuriatingly selfless kitten keeps choosing to sacrifice herself in order to save the others around her. She doesn’t believe she’s worth the sacrifice.I needed more time with her to help her realize that she is fucking everything to me, and that even without the bond, she’s still the brightest spark in my dark universe.
Time I didn’t have.
Time I’ll never have.
I’ve tried to respect her wishes, but I can’t do it anymore. I’ve never shied away from being a monster in her eyes, and I will gladly accept her hatred at the memory of me if it means she is free while she does it.
Damien escorts me down the packed corridor. The Council’s castle is teeming with guests, all eagerly waiting to spot the happy couple. Ragna leads the way, her shifter dominance ensuring that while people give us curious looks, no one, especially not the guards, stares for long.
The Council is under the impression that Ragna is having a private meeting with me to ensure I’m attending the ceremony in peace.
They have no idea that a week ago, she found Magnus and demanded an audience with Morgana and me – an audience we granted.
One Week Prior
“Why are you siding with us?” Morgana asks, suspicious as always.
Ragna levels us with a piercing look. Morgana looks down after just a moment.
Fucking shifters. The more powerful they are, the more dominance they exude.
I force myself to meet her stare, even as my body urges me to look down. The action takes a considerable amount of my power. A few moments later, Ragna dials it back. Some of the tension leaves my shoulders.
“You maintained eye contact,” she notes, with a slight smile.
“I’m a Destroyer. Of course, I maintained it.”
I don’t know what kind of powerhouse is inside this Council leader, but it still doesn’t match the infinite well of power inside of me.
Ragna lifts an eyebrow. “Your mate did as well.” She smirks before adding almost as an afterthought, “But she did it without using any of her powers.”
Morgana’s quick, indrawn breath matches my own surprise, but I keep my reaction locked down.
