Monster.
You’re vile.
You’re everyone’s worst nightmare.
For the first time in my life, intrusive, horrible thoughts began to infiltrate my consciousness. I tried to find my joy. Triedto reclaim the inherent optimism that had once been as easy for me as breathing.
Yet all I could think about was the horrific magic I’d just inflicted on another, even if it’d been beyond my control.
Gods, how am I going to live like this? How can I ever see Ree, Gwen, or Uncle Timith again, knowing I could subject them to something as terrible as this? And my parents and sisters, what if they?—
“Prim?” Kole’s quiet question snapped my head up.
“What?”
“We’re here.”
Dazed, I gazed at the palace’s shining doors. The carpet hovered at the bottom of the steps leading to them.
“Oh...oh, of course.” I hastily stood and jumped off the carpet, but the fact that we’d passed through the palace’s gates and wards without me realizing it didn’t bode well for my state of mind, and I didn’t trust myself not to do something erratic.
I need to get away from everyone. I need to make sure I don’t hurt anyone else today.
Once clear of the carpet, I flew up the stairs and into the palace, not even acknowledging the bowing servants who murmured greetings to me as I passed through the wide doors into the foyer.
I thanked the gods that Betsee had supplied me with a palace map when I’d first arrived. I called upon my memories of the intricate design and careened around corner after corner until I reached the royal wing.
“Primelle?” My sister Lillith passed me just as she exited her wing, but I didn’t reply, even though I normally would have been thrilled that my sister had initiated a conversation.
But not today.
I hurried to my chambers, then darted past the Imperial Warrior standing guard at my door. Once inside, I slammed my door closed behind me.
Alone, my hands began to shake, then my entire body began to tremble.
Monster.
Monster.
Monster.
You’re a true monster.
A soft knock came on my door, and then the handle was turning. I blurred to the other side of my chambers, not even realizing I’d moved with vampiric speed until I’d done so.
But I was already standing frozen by my bed by the time Kole entered the room. Thankfully, he hadn’t seen it.
Dark, tousled hair covered his head, and a glow shone in his eyes. Movements stiff, he didn’t say anything, but he closed the door, sealing us alone inside my room. His gaze drank me in, and his lips formed into a tight line.
My heart clenched.Mate. Mine.The mate bond fluttered in my chest, stretching and yearning. But another emotion came too. Something I didn’t want. Something I nowhatedwith every fiber of my being.
Vampiric lust reared, and arousal coasted through me.
Bite. Drink. Fuck. Suck.
I shoved down my revolting reactions with everything I had. Kole was my mate. He deserved more than a disgusting response from me that only cared about his cock. And even though my body still recognized him as the one I was destined to be beside, fight with, fightfor, he deserved better than anything I could offer him now.
Neither of us said anything, but a pulse of his aura undulated into me. It was filled with confusion, disbelief, and anger. All of it was rolled into one accusing fog.
