“Yes, he has.” She slipped an arm around him, and they strolled back toward the castle. “He’ll be leaving for university in the fall. He wants to live on campus.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I’m just happy I have him back. I hate that I missed out on so much of his life.”
Nik nodded, but something in his quiet manner nagged at her. She glanced at him. “What’s is it?”
“You tell me.”
She stopped and scrunched her brow. “I don’t know what you’re talking about—”
“Don’t.” His eyes went flat. “You’ve put up walls, and I can’t sense you through our soul-bond. Why?”
Dammit. “Surely, you don’t want to be bombarded by my emotions all day long?”
And that tic on his jaw started. “You need to feed.”
“I said I’m fine.” She walked off, her stomach heaving. “If I wasn’t, you’ll know because I’ll be like a rabid dog.”
He grasped her wrist, stopping her flight. “So you want to wait until the damn thing takes you under? Or starts using upyourenergy?”
She bit her lip, her protest scattering. “Okay, it’s starting, but I can hold out for another day or two. I’ve done it before.”
“Right.” Jaw hard, he drew her close and dematerialized them back to the castle. They reformed on the terrace of a seldom-used living room. Nik stepped back, his expression shutting down. “I’ll be in the gym.” He headed indoors.
Christ. She rubbed her burning face, her legs too shaky. Of course, he sensed her untruth.
She dropped to the sun-warmed step, a deep, abiding chill sweeping through her. She hadn’t wanted to spoil these few days of happiness, now this damn thing reared its ugly head, reminding her what the fool’s hope she’d clung to, hoping for normal.
A pained moan broke free, and she lowered her head to her raised knees, knowing it was pointless pretending. She opened her mind-link to Nik.I’m sorry. You are right. I need to feed.
Several heartbeats of silence passed.
We’ll go to the club tonight. Be ready at ten.
There was no teasing, no softness in his tone. Swallowing, Shadow wrapped her arms around her knees and shut her eyes in dread.
* * *
The massive front door stood open as Shadow made her way down the grand staircase a few minutes to ten. She tucked back the tendril escaping her topknot and stepped out onto the portico where Nik waited for her, back from his brief stint at work.
In his work gear, he appeared dark, deadly, and heart-meltingly handsome.
In comparison, she looked like someone ready for a good time in her high-heeled boots, a short black skirt, and sleeveless, high-neck top.
As she shut the door, Nik glanced over his shoulder. His unreadable ice-green stare slid down her body and up again. “Ready?”
At his detached tone and expression, a layer of her heart peeled off. She nodded.
Kira’s words haunted her.Bonded males are extremely possessive…and dangerous.
Even though he drew her close to dematerialize them, they might as well have been continents apart. He held her as if she were a stranger.
In the alley close to Club Anarchy, they reformed and made their way to the busy nightspot, bypassing the crowd. The demon bouncers cut Nik a swift glance and stepped aside.
As they entered the club, rock music vibrated off the walls, hurting her ears, but the coldness seeping off Nik was worse, like a bruise on her psyche. Normally, she could sense his emotions, his soothing warmth. Since this afternoon? Nothing.
But he’d brought her here, and that alone showed Shadow he cared enough to put his feelings aside. She found it hard to swallow at the lump forming in her throat. If the situation were reversed, she didn’t think she would handle it as well as Nik did. She’d probably fall apart.
