Chapter 22
Dagan stoodon the dimly lit balcony, the dissonance of night insects replacing the roar of traffic from the city. How many more hells would he have to endure before he found a modicum ofpeace?
With Inara’s sudden appearance and her asking him to forgive Týr, but then refusing to say where she was and telling him that Lucifer was her mistake?What the hell did that even mean? And with the threats to his mate, who could be taken from him…his sanity hung by athread.
He had to go find Shae. Needed her. Only her presence calmed the madness taking over his mind. But if she saw him like this, punctured with holes and bleeding again, it wouldn’t go well. He pulled his blood-drenched shirt away from his wounds, teeth clenching at the spikingpain.
As he opened the French door into his room, a shift in the air had him glancing back. Kaerys took form. He bit back a curse. “What do youwant?”
Her dark eyes glittered hungrily, sliding over him. “I, er, saw you gethurt.”
Anger buzzed through his veins and roared in his head, he barely heard her. “You’re stalkingme?”
“I missed you, so yes, I followed you, hoping you’d get over your snit...” She glided across to him, a sultry smile on her lips. Flicking back her brown hair, she swiped a fingernail over her neck. A thin, red line appeared. Blood seeped. Rich and decadent, the scent drew him. His incisorsthrobbed.
“Come, Dagan. Take. You need me, but you know whatIwant.”
He was so sick of this shit. Her games. Keeping his breathing shallow, he pivoted for the door. “Leave.”
“What?” Shock resonated in her voice. “It’s been several weeks, Dagan. Just how long can animal blood sustain you? You should be grateful I’m looking past your callous disregard ofme.”
Callous disregard? The last time he saw her, he’d been hurt, exhausted, and only wanted to feed and rest. But she’d refused, miffed at whatever he’d supposedly done—wait! That’s right, he didn’t want to fuck her. Hell, he hadn’t wanted her in that way fordecades.
“I feel your hunger. Now take me,” she ordered, impatience tainting hertone.
Best to get this over with. He leaned a hand on the doorjamb, his gaze hard. “We’re done. Have been for decades. This arrangement between us isover.”
“What? Why would you say that?” She narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I see, you’re making me pay because I didn’t come when you called recently. Very well, I’m chastised. Besides, animal blood isn’t going to help you now. It’s been way too long, you’re famished.” Her gaze skimmed over his sweaty appearance and blood-drenched clothes indistaste.
He’d fed from Týr earlier, and it had tamped down the thirst. Except his starved psyche nailed him like a fist in the gut, demanding her energy-giving blood. His fangs ached. But Shae’s smile when he’d finally claimed her filled his mind and was imprinted on his heart. She was all that mattered to him, the light to hisdarkness.
“Look, I’m grateful you came when I called you through the centuries. But I’m matednow.”
“What?” Her mouth fell open. “Mated? Why would you do something that foolish when you haveme?”
Yes, because she was so fucking good to him, taking away his dignity, making him crawl just toeat.
Shae made him feel many things—anger, frustration at her stubbornness that he wanted to shake her at times—and, hell, she could give as good as she got when angry, but not once did she belittle or demean him. More, it was the way she smiled, the way she looked at him, like he was her entire world… She made him wholeagain.
Kaerys’ glared at him. He held her stare. Though she didn’t deserve his honesty, he gave it anyway. “It’s a soul-joining.”
“What?” she blinked, fury brightening her eyes. Darts of power pierced him like needles before fading. Then she waved his comment aside and smiled like Bob finding a bowl of cream. “It doesn’t matter. You didn’t choose her like you did me. I mean, your sire didn’t want your mothereither.”
She dared compare him to his old man? He ground his teeth, struggling not to let his tempererupt.
“Dagan, we were betrothed once. Even though you broke it, I waited for you for centuries. Then I found you again when Michael called me.Igave you a way out. She obviously cannot fulfill this—your most vitalneed.”
“I don’t care. Just go.” He entered his room, relieved that she couldn’t follow with the wards in place. Hedori was ever vigilant in changing themweekly.
“Aaargh!” She stomped her foot, finding her way obstructed. “This isn’tover.”
It was. Dagan didn’t bother repeating himself. He headed for his closet to change his bloodied shirt before he went afterShae.
* * *
Panting like a landed fish,Shae drew to a halt just past the lake near a wooden bench, hands on her knees, gulping in copious amounts of air. The moon peering from behind thick rainclouds cast a silvery light overeverything.
“Coming?” Elytani asked, swiping the sweat from her brow, reminding Shae that she hadn’t been able to go for a run alone. Hell, she hadn’t cared. She needed to work out her anger and helplessness at seeing her traumatizedmother.
