Blood poured from Atticus’s nose and unfiltered rage flickered across his features. His hand was moving viciously to dismantle my shield and his gaze met mine. It looked like he was about to say something, but I didn’t give him the chance. My shadows once again wrapped around his throat, cutting off his words as the door to my room slammed open. I flung him into the hall and shut the door with a loud thud before locking and warding it with a spell.
Atticus’s curses and shouts could be heard through the door, but I couldn’t make them out. I threw an additional silencing spell to cut out his ranting and turned my attention back to Xavier who was staring at the door murderously.
“Pathetic.” Xavier scowled and turned to face me, a predatory glint entering his gaze.
“How is it you are here?”
“No idea,” he breathed and I watched as his gaze lowered.
My cheeks heated as I remembered I was naked and I cursed, pulling the silken fabric closed, my arms crossing over my chest as I hissed. “You can't be here, you need to leave.”
Xavier chuckled darkly, his form solidifying with my words and he glanced down, his lips twitching. “Looks like I’m staying.”
Scrambling off the bed, I quickly tied the robe and glared at him. “No, you are not.”
His gaze, however, was fixed on my chest, his eyes going nearly wholly black.
“Whodid thatto you?”
Frowning, I glanced down and spotted the still lingering red line painted across my chest, peeking out between the folds of my robe.
“It’s nothing.”
Suddenly he was in front of me, his palm cupping my jaw as he wrenched my head to the side, his thumb traveling along my chin. I thought the bruises had already healed, but I guess a few lingered. My breath hitched, and his touch had my stomach heating but I tore out of his grip, taking a step back.
“Did that male do this to you?” Xavier seethed, his face twisting into murderous rage.
“No. I told you it's nothing.”
“This doesn’t look like nothing. Why isn’t it healing?” He growled again, his face now inches from mine.
“It is healing. Just slowly…” I mumbled. “Why do you even care?”
“Why do I care?” He laughed coldly, his words leaving his lips on a sharp breath. “You are mymate.”
“I am yourenemy.”
“Is that so? Is that why you summoned me to your bedroom?”
“I did not summon you.”
Xavier’s face darkened as he breathed. “Oh, but you did, Zara. Do you think I could not sense it? You? Do you think I would allow another male to touch what is mine?”
“I am not—”
“You are,” Xavier said darkly, his eyes darting to my lips. “And somewhere deep inside you, you know it. Want it, me, this, us.”
“You are wrong,” I snapped, although it felt forced. My left arm vibrated, itching to reach out to touch him.
Xavier smiled. “Am I? Then explain to me why I am here, Zara. I felt it, your desire, your thoughts. You brought me here because you wanted my fingers, not those pathetic, useless males inside you. Wanted my lips on your skin.” His gaze rose again to meet mine and I swallowed.
His scent enveloped me, and I couldn't help but respond to it, to him. His proximity. My throat pulsed, my thighs tensing almost imperceptibly as heat spread through my core. His gaze flickered to my neck, a faint smile touching his lips. Desire ignited, the scent of it filling the air.
I cursed internally because he was right, I had been thinking of him. Wanting it to be his fingers, his mouth on mine, not Atticus’s. This infernal bond was becoming a problem. I couldn’t think straight and when did he get so close? Why had I let him?
I watched as his eyes once again lowered, skimming over my body, and a low, gravely rumble vibrated in his chest. When his gaze met mine again, the whites of his eyes were gone. His pupils blown wide.
“So why don’t we finish what you started?” My brows furrowed, but then he added, “Take off your robe.”
