“My father—” Kira forced out through a throat tight with anxiety, “is demon. My mother was human. I didn’t know any of this, Týr. Riley didn’t tell me because he didn’t want to scare me. Nicor, his companion, was the one who hauled me into this world. Now, my father insists I stay until my birthday passes…”
Týr stood there like a rock, and Kira wondered if he’d already shipped out of them being together, knowing what she was. The very thought twisted her heart with agony.
“And-and I know how you feel about demons…” Her voice cracked. “I-I understand if you don’t want this—if you don’t wantmeany longer—”
Something dark and ruthless moved in those toffee-hued depths, reminding her that he was a deadly killer even if he was a Guardian. “So you can hie off and become a consort to the bastard whose scent you reek of?”
“What?” Her stomach heaved. “No, no! You got this all wrong. When I came here, demons wanted to claim me, but Nicor—I think he’s a high-ranking lord or something—said I was his, and any who came after me would have to fight him to the death first. The demons backed off.”
“Then why do you smell like him, Kira?”
The hard anger in his voice had her pressing her palm to her chest. She really didn’t want to do this, but she didn’t want any lies between them either. “He…Nicor… He kissed me to overshadow your scent, said it was safer that way. He took me by surprise, I swear,” she hastened to add. “I didn’t ask for any of this, Týr,” she whispered, terrified that he would leave. “I didn’t. Please don’t hate me…”
His ruthless expression softened, as did his hard stare. He lifted his hands to her face and stroked her cheeks. “The Fates know you drive me insanely crazy at times, but hate? I couldn’t. Not you. Never you.”
She exhaled a huge breath she hadn’t known she was holding, her eyes blurring with tears. “But you loathe Tagg, even though he’s half human.”
“Only becauseyoulike him.”
Her mouth wavered with a smile, a warm glow chasing away the cold inside her. “Really? Why?”
An endless second passed, and his gaze remained fixed on hers. “Is it enough if I tell you that when I saw you disappear through that portal with those demons, I could no longer breathe? That I was utterly terrified about what they would do to you, and that I wanted to kill every last fucking one out there with my bare hands?”
There wasn’t a speck of sarcasm in those light-caramel depths. Her mouth opened, but no words came out at the deep-seated emotions welling within her.
“You doubted me.” He shook his head, his lips brushing hers in a kiss. “Difficult female.”
“How could I not, with everything I know about you?”
“It seems you don’t know the most essential thing, then.”
“Really? And what is that?”
“That you are mine. Now. Later. Forever.”
“Týr,” she whispered against his distracting mouth, her fingers stroking his unshaven jaw. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. I came to this godsforsaken place, didn’t I? You are my life’s blood, woman.” His voice was all rough edges. His gaze roamed her face, intense with hunger and…something else. “I mean it, Kira, I will never give you up. You’re embedded so deep inside here”—he thumped his chest—“without you, I might as well stop breathing.”
Hypnotized by the tender look in his eyes, and with his oath ringing in her ears, it took Kira a moment to realize that he was walking her backward to the bedroom. “Týr, wait-wait, what if someone comes?”
“I will know. It’s not like your sire’s going to kill his daughter’s mate, now is he? Besides, I want no fucking demon thinking they can claimmymate.” His hands slipped from her waist to grip her bottom, possessiveness bleeding off him. The back of her legs bumped into the bed, stopping her. Need wound her body into a coil of yearning.
“I missed you so damn much—” He licked the notch in her throat. She inhaled sharply, biting back a moan. “I can smell your arousal.”
“You have a way of making me lose my mind.”
“Do I now?” He smiled. It wasn’t the typically mocking smirk he wore, but one that warmed his eyes, revealing those devastating dimples.
He nipped her lower lip. His fingers pushed at the shoulder straps, and her flowing dress slithered down her hips to the floor. Her bare nipples brushed against his shirt, and the soft, sensual abrasion had her growing damper. He palmed her breasts and squeezed, his mouth covering hers in a deeply carnal kiss. And as their tongues connected, the sizzling heat consuming her was like nothing she’d ever felt before. He kissed her with a raw, primal need as if starving for her. Pinpricks of heat flooded her body, hiking her desire and making her squirm.
“What-what is that?” she gasped, breaking their kiss. “It…prickles.”
“My powers. It’s been too damn long…” He sent that incredible stare down her naked body and up again. “Fates, you truly are beautiful.”
Her face heated. His gaze dark and intense, Týr grabbed his Henley by the back of its neck, pulled it off, and tossed it aside.
At the sight of the nicks and scars marking his powerful chest and ripped abs, Kira couldn’t resist the temptation to trace a finger over the one on his taut belly, a thin, barely noticeable line that ran lengthwise. He moved her hand away.
