I barely moan out his name before he’s flipped me, pounding his release into me. The rush of heat causes another moan to stutter from my lips, him collapsing on top of me with an intense groan.
Both of us are dirty, sweaty, covered in blood. But my body? It’s content and relaxed. My soul feels light.
“Don’t leave again,” he murmurs, lips ghosting against my chest, pants harsh to my ears. His heart vibrates against my own, a feeling of home. “I can’t have you leave me, kitten.”
“I’m not safe here,” I whisper, fingers combing his hair lazily, glowing. “Not from you. Not from your father. You’ll only use me?—”
“Max,” he calls, planting his elbows on either side of my face. His fingers pinch my cheeks, forcing me to stare at him. “You are safest with me. When I laid a claim on you, I didn’t just stop Wulf from taking you. I tied my life to yours.”
Gently, my finger traces his jaw, and he grabs my hand, placing a kiss on to the palm. “Zelos cannot kill you without killing me.”
I knew this, of course. But the reality of it didn’t sink in until now. That this dangerous, naked Fae on top of me, holding me as if I’ll break, gave me this gift. Kaden is Zelos’ favorite weapon. Without him, the king is weak, the kingdom is useless. If Zelos kills me, hurts me, he loses everything.
“You did that on purpose,” I whisper, eyes glassy. “You knew if Zelos took me, I’d have no protection. Giving me that claim, binding our souls, also put your life on the line.”
He smiles, the whites returning to his eyes, beast again chained inside him mind. “Don’t make me sound like a hero. What I did was purely selfish. I couldn’t imagine not having you, of letting Wulf have what I’ve already tasted. But I knew what was coming.” He nuzzles my hand, inhaling deeply. “My father wanted a weapon, and he had spies watching us in the forest. He was going to take you regardless. I just played the card no one sawcoming.”
His gently kisses my palm. “I won’t let any harm come to you, Max. I just need you to trust me.”
Reluctantly, he stands, pulling me up along with him. Both of us look filthy, the monsters everyone always called us in the dark of night.
Strangely, it fits. I feel more myself now than I have in years.
“Will you stop drugging me?”
Walking to a far corner, he grabs my discarded cloak, wrapping it along my bare shoulders. He pulls out my hair, softly, reverently. My heart pangs at the tenderness. I’ve seen many faces of the heir and never knew which was the true one.
But that was my mistake. All of them are him. And only I get this side of him.
“I’ve already stopped,” he comments, arms sliding under my legs. “Now, I just need your trust. Everything else, I can have when the time is right.”
“I still hate you,” I mumble, head falling to his shoulder.
“And I still hate you.” His lips brush my temple. “Probably because you’ve annihilated me. Broken me. Taken my air in ways I’ve never felt before.” We exit the forest, the stars above are too bright to be natural. “You’ve absolutely destroyed me, kitten. And I hate you for it.”
Chapter
Seventeen
KADEN
Tightening the drawstrings of my linen pants, I walk out into the sitting room, my body sore and bruised. It’s only been hours since we’ve returned from our night in the Crow’s Feet Forest, and my body is taking its time to heal.
This could all be related to the soul-bond. I knew there would be side effects to the bond, but even I didn’t know what. It’s possible our joining led to a merging of abilities.
refuse to tell my mate, otherwise she might get it in her head to injure me to escape again. Or do something that would test her healing.
Max left her marks on me, my neck still red from her dagger. The vixen knew what she was doing holding an iron blade to my throat.
Regardless, I’d do it again, find her, chase her, bring her back. I finally have a small piece of her and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.
It’s not stable, this relationship, this bond. But she gave herself to me, allowed me behind her walls. That betrayal, that mistrust, had fled during our chase and all that l was left with was the devotion, the rightness between us.
I’ll gladly take more hits, more cuts, if it gives me my mate back. It’s like the air has been returned to my lungs. I feel buoyant, alive, after so much uncontrollable rage.
I didn’t lie when I told Max she controlled me. With her, I’m settled, the beast’s quiet. She is my keeper and I’m not ashamed of it.
Fee gazes at the various bookcases I’ve stocked around my chambers, brows furrowed. I’ve always been an avid reader, but these books were the ones I collected from our mother’s rooms before our father burnt her things.
