“It’s my prerogative,” he growled, taking a half step toward me. “You — are —mine.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to turn into a raging beast every time . . .” I trailed off as Kaden took another step forward, close enough that I could feel the heat coming off him.
Damn, why did he have tosmellso good? Like a warm fire on a cold night and some masculine spice I couldn’t identify.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to slap him or fuck him. Maybe both.
Kaden must have seen the indecision in my gaze, because that feline grin returned. “You act all rational and level-headed, but you are not immune to the effects of the bond any more than I am, love.”
“Maybe not,” I managed. “But at least I can control myself.”
“Really?” Kaden arched an eyebrow. “So you’re telling me that if a beautiful female appeared on this mountaintop, shed her clothes, and wrapped herself around me, you’d have absolutely no reaction?”
“I’d wonder why the fuck she was taking her clothes off when it’s freezing cold outside,” I mumbled, though I felt a nasty pang in my belly just the same.
“You’re avoiding the question,” he pressed, leaning in until I could see every slash of silver that bisected his irises. “Seriously. I want you to imagine . . . a gorgeous, buxomfemale wrapping her arms around me. Sliding a hand into my trousers and gripping my hard —”
“All right!” I snapped. “I get your point.”
My cheeks were flaming, my stomach in knots, my blood thrumming with fury. My fingers itched to strangle this hypothetical female.
Maybe the mating bond crazinesswasa thing.
Shaking my head, I shoved past Kaden — knocking into his shoulder for good measure — and stomped off in the direction of Adriel and Sorsha’s tracks. “Just don’t slit Adriel’s throat the next time he flies me somewhere, please.”
Kaden’s low, dark chuckle was his only reply.
Chapter
Seventeen
LYRA
We set off down the mountain at a rapid march, not wanting to be forced to camp overnight along its jagged face. Snow fell in thick, coin-sized flakes, forming huge drifts that half obscured the narrow switchbacks, and the wind was bitingly cold.
Though flying certainly would have shortened the journey, Adriel was reluctant to take to the skies within Alfrigg’s borders and risk attracting the attention of his patrols.
Still, after several hours descending the perilous trail, I began to question the wisdom of his decision.
More than once, the harsh gusts of wind nearly knocked me off the side of the mountain, and my feet ached in my borrowed boots. The stiff leather ground against the back of my heels, which were already raw from abuse.
At one point, Kaden barked at Adriel to stop, and I nearly collapsed onto a boulder in relief. The backs of my feet were throbbing so intensely that they seemed to have their own heartbeat, but we couldn’t afford to slow ourpace. At any moment, Semphrys might invade Kaden’s mind and discern our location.
I opened my mouth to ask Adriel how much farther we had to go when Kaden dropped to one knee in front of me. “Take off your boots.”
“What? No, it’s freezing.”
“You’ve been limping all afternoon,” he said, just loud enough for me to hear. “Your feet can’t be in good shape. I can smell the blood from here.”
I opened my mouth to argue but then closed it again. I knew he wasn’t exaggerating because I could smell it too.
Gritting my teeth, I reached down to unlace my boots and gingerly tugged them off. My woolen socks were damp, the backs soaked with blood. Kaden hissed as I peeled them off my blistered feet, fury simmering in his eyes.
“Fuck, Lyra. Why didn’t you say anything? I could have healed these hours ago. Hell,youprobably could have.”
“I can handle it,” I ground out, irrationally annoyed by his coddling.
I didn’t tell him that I hadn’t tried using my magic since my attempt during our escape from Dorthus. I didn’t want to admit that my powers were so fickle and only seemed to respond intermittently.
