“I prefer guard dog, actually,” I smirked when Rani glared. “Why don’t you ask her? I’ve made myself clear on what I want from her. She’s the one lying to herself. And me.”
As I knew it would, my comment struck a nerve, and my bond growled. Shoulders hunched, she tried to limp faster. Thankfully, the doors to the classroom were in sight, and we reached them before the overwhelming urge to throw my injured bond over my shoulder reached uncontrollable levels.
“Can you grab us some seats?” Eryn asked, then handed her bag to Rani. “I need to have a word with him.”
“I’ll bet you do,” Rani sing-songed then disappeared into the thin trickle of early arrivals.
I tried not to let Eryn’s reluctance get to me. Really. Our fledgling bond was weak, but there. She had feelings for meeven if she denied them. I just had to encourage her to give those feelings a chance.
“Wearen’t going to happen.”
Well, that wasn’t the direction I had in mind.
“I appreciate the protection, I do, but you shouldn’t expect anything from it,” Eryn warned.
She thought I was doing this for a reward? I didn’t care if she denied the bond for the rest of our lives, I’d still protect her. The very thought of anything happening to her made me sick. I couldn’t imagine a world without her in it, even if it was nowhere near me, not after meeting her.
“I don’t expect a single thing in return for my protection. That’s not how this works,” I growled, leaning closer so we wouldn’t be overheard. “I’d be right here, defending you, even if you never let me touch you again.”
“Good.” Her eyes widened and she swallowed, some of her earlier bravado fading. “Because you’re never going to touch me again.”
Her gaze dipped to the side, and I smirked. Liar.
“We’ll see.”
Pink bloomed on her cheeks. “I mean it. We’re not bonding. I don’t trust you.”
The smirk left my face. I didn’t care how long it took for her to accept the bond. I could be patient. But her not trusting me? Not okay. Without her trust, I was nothing more than an overbearing creep—one with completely honest intentions, but a creep all the same.
“You will,” I swore, and her eyes lifted to mine once more. I tried to let her see how much I meant it. “One day, I’ll be worthy of your trust. That I promise.”
Ezra was on guard through dinner, so it was hours later before I returned to campus. My stomach lashed at me, pissed I hadn’t fed it yet, but it could suffer a little longer. Once I sawEryn safely back to her dorm, I’d head home and order a pizza or something. Nothing like processed grease to get me through a night of grading papers.
I approached the Commons, prepared to suffer through the smells of food I didn’t have time to sit and eat, but was pleasantly surprised to see my bond waiting for me out front. My brows rose, and I scanned the immediate area. Why the fuck was she alone? A flash of platinum blond hair in the window showed an eagle-eyed Ezra watching from a safe distance.
I scoffed. Pussy.
Ever since Rani flambéed him for following them around, he’d taken a more covert approach when there wasn’t a legit reason for him to be there. I quite simply didn’t care what anyone else thought. The only opinion that mattered belonged to the beautiful woman with dark curls scowling in front of me.
Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, and she walked away as soon as I was within reach, but there was no cussing today. That was a point in my favor. The sun set over campus; slowly, like it was stretched in time. The golden light hovered as we walked, and the warmth it provided felt nice on my skin.
It was hard to keep a bad attitude in the sun, and some of the tension eased from my bond’s shoulders. The slow stroll was also easier on her ankle. Small victories.
“I’m not quiet.”
“What?” I laughed. That came out of nowhere.
“I won’t obey you,” she continued. “You should find someone willing to do what you say because I’m not that girl.”
Ah, so that was her plan then? Her fury didn’t scare me away, so she thought to use reason. Too bad her reasoning was faulty. I didn’t want a quiet, timid little bond to boss around the bedroom. I wanted the spirited hellion beside me; someonestrong enough to be my partner…who I also wanted to boss around the bedroom.
“What’s this?” I chuckled. “You’re trying to convince me to find another bond? It doesn’t work like that.”
“I’m poor,” she insisted, knuckles white as she gripped the strap of her bag. “I don’t come with any assets to further your family’s position of power.”
That was a lie, but perhaps one she wasn’t aware of. Her very nature improved my family’s political position because our children would be powerful. That wasn’t why I wanted her. She wouldn’t believe me if I told her, but if she needed that reassurance, I’d be damned if she didn’t hear it from me every day.
“Princess, I wouldn’t care if you were human.”
