“There’s no way to say this nicely, so I’m just going to spit it out. The bond is corrupted, and it likely has been from the beginning.”
Something slammed into the wall, shaking the apartment. “How is that even possible? She’s my mate. I recognized her. Her body recognized me. I claimed her with my mark, and I’ve felt the mate bond ever since. I’m stronger and more powerful, and I can only take blood from her. So how can the bond be corrupted?”
If I’d had any energy, I would have laughed. Could he really be this delusional?
“Mates are attached to each other, heart-to-heart, and the claiming bond simply solidifies that connection. Gives it weight, gives it clarity… gives it strength. When you claimed Sage, for some reason we may never know, your half of that connection was like a chain made of adamantine, and hers was frayed twine. And as you’ve pulled and tested your bond, all you’ve done is weaken her hold until it finally snapped.”
Something slammed into the wall again.
“Would you let me finish, sir?”
I could hear his neck cracking as he sighed. “All I’ve ever done is protect her, so this doesn’t make any sense.”
“And yet Sage does not feel safe with you.”
There was a moment of silence.
“As I was saying, I have never heard or even read of a mate losing the will to live like this. But then again, it’s also the first time I’ve heard of someone marrying another person after bonding with their mate.”
Something heavier than a fist was thrown against the wall.
“Watch how you speak to me.”
She gasped for air. “Do you want your mate or do you want to be right?”
A low growl sounded, reverberating through the air. “I will have my mate, but what’s done is done. How do we move forward?”
There was a pregnant pause. “Part of me wants to tell you to go fuck yourself,sir, but for her sake, I’m going to stick my neck out and say that I haveneverseen someone treated so poorly by their mate in all my years of study. You think you’ve provided for her, but this is a prison and deep down, you know it, too. You want her to love you? Then treat her like a person and not an Orithiel-damned sex slave.”
Footsteps retreated across marble floors as she walked down the door.
“And don’t ever call me again.”
* * *
“Darling, are you awake?”
Unless I’d started sleeping with my eyes open, then yes.
“I got you something.”
Oh great, more lingerie.
When I didn’t turn around, he walked to the other side of the bed, placing a box next to me. He watched me carefully, waiting for me to open it. But I couldn’t muster the interest.
Until the box moved.
I carefully sat up, the cuts on my wrists having mostly healed, and then took the lid off to find a tiny black kitten with bright green eyes looking up at me.
“Surprise!”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I loved cats. I loved all animals, in fact, but I’d always felt a personal affinity towardscats. And as happy as I was to see the adorable little furball, mewling and trying to get out of its confinement, I just felt confused.
“Why?” I asked.
He clicked his tongue against his teeth in mild annoyance. “It’s a familiar. Shouldn’t you have one by now?”
Yes, I should have.
