“It’s not thatIdidn’t want you to stay with me—Ido,” he says, his tone turning earnest.“It’sthatIwas afraid ifIasked you to stay—and told you what that would mean—that you’d be disgusted.Thatyou’d hate me.”
“Theron,Icould never hate you,”Iwhisper.
I lift my hand, cupping his cheek, forcing him to meet my eyes.
“Look at me.Icouldneverhate you.”
He exhales slowly, running a hand over his horns, his expression troubled.
“You might,” he says quietly.“Ifyou knew whatI’mabout to tell you.”
“Then tell me,”Iurge.“Please…whatever it is that’s standing between us,Iwant to know.”
He hesitates for a moment, then nods, as though bracing himself.
“All right,” he says.“I’lljust come out with it.”Hissilver eyes lock on mine.“Inorder to stay with me…you’d have toBondwith myDrake.”
My heart stutters in my chest.
“Bond as in…?”Itrail off, not quite able to finish the question.
He doesn’t look away.
“Breed,” he says heavily.“Withhim.Withboth of us.It’sthe only way to form a trueBond—the only way to tie our lives together.Withoutit…we don’t have a future.Notthe kind that lasts.”
My pulse begins to race, heat creeping up my neck despite the chill that runs through me at the same time.
HisDrake.I’dhave to let hisDrakebreed me.
The memory flashes unbidden—silver scales, heat, the overwhelming sense of power, of size…
“But…he’s sobig,”Isay faintly, my voice barely more than a squeak.
“He can change his size,”Theronreminds me gently.“Hecan be my size.Hedoesn’t have to be…more than that.”
“Oh.”Iswallow, my throat suddenly dry.Thefear is still there, butIdon’t let it overwhelm me.
“Tell me about it,”Isay, forcing myself to meet his gaze again.“WhatwouldIhave to do?How…how would it work?”
He lifts his hand, cupping my cheek again, his touch warm and steady.
“I’ll tell you everything,” he says softly.“Just…don’t say no until you’ve really thought about it.”
“I won’t,”Ipromise.
But even asIsay it, a flicker of uncertainty twists through me.
OhGoddess…what amIgetting myself into?
77
THERON
I watch her face carefully asIexplain what we have to do toBond.Herbeautiful emerald green eyes are wide, and her face is pale.Ican see both of us reflected in the large oval mirror across from the bed.
She's nibbling her lower lip asIspeak.Shedoesn't stop me—doesn't interrupt.Shelooks frightened but she doesn't run.Shejust listens.
Her reaction gives me hope—shewantsto stay.Wantsto stay as much asIwant her to stay.Weboth sense we need to be together—it's just getting there that's the hard part.
