Oddly enough, the part of her statement that surprises me the most is his age. Of course I know their aging works differently, but still. The thought that he’s been around for over 300 years is just something I can’t wrap my human mind around.
While I get changed into the skin-tight outfit that makes me feel like I’m Catwoman, I try to figure out mynext move. After the events of last night, Thane will be looking for a reaction. He’ll want me to show fear or anger.
So, I’ll show him neither.
Thane
Nothing and no one has ever tasted so good. It’s as if her blood was concocted just for me. It tasted like sin and lust and power. Everything that I’m made of, turned into a blood so intoxicating I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop myself from drowning in it.
In my 300 years, I’ve never marked a human. The cost of that bond has always been too high. Until now. Killing her is no longer an option, though I’m not sure it ever was. I’d like to think if it came down to it, I would’ve been able to take her life just as I would anyone else’s, but a small part of me isn’t so sure. Either way, it doesn’t matter now. The mark prevents me from doing it.
All that matters is that she’s mine. Mine to own. Mine to keep. Mine to do with as I please.
And I intend to do just that.
Chapter 7
When I get to the dining room, Thane is nowhere to be found. After a few minutes, I start to feel hopeful that he’s been pulled away for Alpha business, and I’ll be able to enjoy my breakfast in peace. Of course, that was just wishful thinking, because a minute later, Thane comes sauntering in with a superior attitude.
“Sleep well?” he taunts, pulling his chair out to take a seat.
I don’t respond. Instead, I sit back in my chair and fold my arms. The man in the tux breaks up the tension when he walks in holding two plates. The smell of maple syrup instantly hits my nose, and it makes my mouth water.
Why did it have to be French toast?
On my way down here, I decided to opt out of eating and talking. It’s probably a stupid idea that will get me absolutely nowhere, but after what he did last night, the silent treatment seems like the way to go. I push the plate away from me, hoping the smell will torture me a little less.
“Not hungry?” he asks, leaning back in his chair. Again, I say nothing, and there’s a slight flutter of satisfaction in my chestwhen I see his jaw clench. “I asked you a question,” he rumbles, standing up from his chair to lean on the table in a way that makes me wonder if he’s going to flip the whole thing over.
Silence grows between us while he waits for an answer that is never going to come. He’s used to having control, and it’s obvious he’s not often challenged by others. Certainly not by a little human girl.
In a breath, he has me out of my chair and pinned against the wall next to the fireplace. The snarl he releases is so loud it feels like my bones are rattling as the two of us stare back at one another with equal loathing. Two species that should’ve never existed at the same time, face-to-face, waiting to see who will break first.
“Last chance,” he threatens, grabbing a hold of my upper arm. I turn my head to the side defiantly, and he flings me onto the ground. “I guess we’re doing this the hard way.”
He drags me across the rug by my arm and forces it over the fire. I fight to pull away, but he’s got my body pinned with his knee, and his grip is too tight. Heat crawls along my forearm as the flames attempt to lick my skin with the promise of pain.
“Let me go!” I yank my arm, but it barely moves, and my resistance seems to only fuel Thane’s cruelty.
“You’re going to learn to obey your Alpha,” he purrs into my ear, forcing my arm closer to the fire.
“I don’t have an Alpha,” I seethe through clenched teeth.
Thane turns my face to his, and our lips almost touch. “You do now.”
Each second that passes, the burning intensifies, inching its way beneath my flesh. Eventually, the searing pain becomes too much, and I’m unable to stop the scream from escaping.
“Thane, the leaders are going at it in the meeting room again.”
I can’t see who is talking, but he seems to pull Thane’s attention long enough to allow me a chance to get my arm away from the flames for a couple of seconds.
“Can’t you handle it?”
“You know the werewolves won’t respond to me,” the man answers with a bit of a laugh.
Thane mutters something under his breath and pulls my arm away from the fire.
“Take her to Leo,” Thane orders before stalking out of the room without looking back.
