Page 123 of Mate of a Monster

The bond between us twists tighter, deeper, like a new blade sliding home into its sheath for the first time.

Legend’s hand tightens in my hair and through the sudden rush of awareness pouring through both of us at once, I know it’s hit him too.

His magic explodes like a storm breaking open, dark smoke curling off his shoulders while the ground beneath our feet groans in protest. The entire room seems to recoil from the force of it. My flames answer instinctively, licking across my skin in thin black ribbons before sinking back into my blood again.

“I would have bit you the very first day if you’d have let me,” he swears, and damn if I don’t believe him.

He pulls back slowly, his breath rough against my skin while his tongue drags once across the mark he just made. The sensation shoots straight down my spine and settles low in my stomach. Overwhelming need floods my system so hot and fast I almost whine.

But that isn’t what steals my breath, it’s the presence suddenly shifting inside my chest.

The Nightkin straightens, but not in that lazy amusement he usually carries. This time with a silent sort of interest.

Legend goes completely still in front of me.

His pupils blow wide as something unfamiliar brushes across the bond between us, a second consciousness sliding into the connection.

“Well, well…” The Nightkin speaks, his deep voice curling through the space between our minds like dark velvet wrapped around broken glass.

Legend’s entire body locks.

The whites of his eyes flash for a split second before the blue slams back in place. His breath hitches as he turns to me like he just saw a ghost.

“What—”

The Nightkin laughs softly inside my chest. “So, you’ve finally found your spine.”

Legend’s head tilts slightly, the expression on his face somewhere between confusion and fury as he searches the bond for the source.

His gaze drops slowly to the mark on my throat, then his eyes lift back to mine, but he’s not really looking at me. He’s looking inside me.

“You,” he breathes, meeting the demon that lived beneath his skin since birth. Meeting his Ethos for the first time. Only instead of doing so through his own consciousness, he gets to meet him through me.

I could almost fucking cry it’s so sweet. Almost.

The Nightkin hums. “Careful, boy. I outrank you in more ways than one.”

Legend’s jaw tightens but my lips curve into a smile I don’t know I’ve ever given. It’s soft and—I don’t even know.

I’m feeling a lot of shit right now, man. It’s annoying.

Shocks still roll through him. My fingers curl in the front of his shirt, grounding both of us as the magic still crackles in the air around the table.

“He’s been waiting to meet you,” I murmur.

Those blue eyes lock on mine again, darker this time.

“He’s strong, Legend.” I smile. “You are so fucking strong.”

The bond pulses once more between us, deep and steady now. Beneath it I feel something new—something vast and dangerous sliding quietly into place behind the power we already share.

Legend’s power pulses. Dark magic twines through the room in heavy waves, the ancient blood in him reacting to his Ethos like a crown being placed back on the right head.

Behind us, someone inhales sharply, but neither of us look away.

Legend’s thumb drags slowly across the bite at my throat, smearing the last trace of blood while his eyes darken in a way that promises dirty fucking things.

Then his voice slips through the bond again, quieter this time. Rougher, just the way I like it.