Chapter 27 #2
“There might be one djinn,” he confessed. “He’s technically the heir now that Kol is out of commission, but you won’t hear Soloman endorsing that.”
With that new revelation, the plan unfolded like a well-creased paperback. Kai would leave immediately to hunt for Frederick, the technical heir to the djinn and Soloman’s nephew. Eryn would go with him to confirm his sincerity or to provide a mental leash if necessary.
I seriously couldn’t have planned this better if I’d tried.
The poor little outcast djinn would murder Soloman and take his place as faction leader.
The tribunal wouldn’t give a rat’s ass, the djinn would finally stop their insane quest for power, and most importantly, Rani would be safe.
At least from outside threats. The danger I posed to her would always be a problem.
Once the djinn were dealt with and sirens were off the chopping block, I’d broach the idea of us taking a step back.
We didn’t have to be rash about it. Maybe with some time and our main rivals neutralized, I could find a way to lock up that dark part of me that posed the greatest danger.
I didn’t want to give Rani up, and right now, I physically couldn’t.
But there was no time limit on when bonding happened. It could be years from now.
Yeah. I liked that. A few years to make sure none of my darkness bled into Rani. I could keep her beyond satisfied until then. Between school and my extremely talented fingers, she wouldn’t even notice the bond was incomplete.
Another full day with zero responsibilities, and what did we do? Sleep . Kai and Eryn were off hunting for our djinn pawn while Rani and I literally slept the day away. Sunlight cast long shadows across the far wall as the ceiling fan lazily squeaked from overuse. What a fucking cozy afternoon.
Rani wiggled against me, her leg thrown high over my waist, enough to bunch her sleep shirt under her ribs. Endless, gloriously smooth skin on display, just begging for my fingers to reach out and stroke it. I kept my hand firmly on her hip as she made a sleepy little sound and nuzzled my neck.
Fucking hell. Keep it together, man.
My cock jumped, only to be trapped by my briefs and the weight of her leg. Gods, was this how I went? Death by cock strangulation? Rani’s leg clamped down on me, forcing a soft groan from the depths of my— fuck.
Her tongue licked a wicked pattern just beneath my ear as her hand reached and dipped under the waistband of my sweats.
I stopped her a few inches shy of her goal, and my dick cursed me for it in every language.
The little vixen giggled, and I rolled, turning us both on our sides so I could have more room to protect my virtue.
And to lecture her on the dangerous game she played.
Before I could get the warning out, Rani lunged.
Her lips landed on mine with expert precision.
Like a lit fuse that reached the end of its rope, we exploded.
There was no finesse, no control. It was more of a mutual attack than anything.
Teeth gnashed and fingers tore at clothing.
She whimpered into the kiss as I nibbled her bottom lip, and the sound almost broke my control.
Was it possible to climb someone when you were both horizontal?
How about possess them by trying to claw your way into their body?
Because I swore, Rani tried both. Her hips rocked against mine, each roll pushing me further to a loss of control.
I pulled back to gulp down oxygen and tried to slow things before they went too far.
“We need to stop,” I panted between kisses.
We really, really did. Hooking my fingers around her wrists, I pulled them away from my waistband once more, and I was pretty sure my dick was about to jump off and commit mutiny.
“My house. My bed,” I groaned. “It’s too tempting, baby. In another minute, I won’t be able to stop.”
“So then don’t,” she replied, her hands twisting to try and break free.
Everything in me froze. If she said those words even just a week ago, I would have planted myself inside her and sealed our bond forever. But I knew better now. We needed more time. Did she even realize what she asked for?
Still controlling her wrists, I gently pushed to put more space between us. “Do you know what you’re saying?”
Her frantic attempts to get into my pants stopped as she frowned at me.
“If we have sex right now, Rani, it will seal the bond. Is that what you want?”
Her head flinched back, and I regretted my tone. I wasn’t mad at her, just frustrated.
“Why are you upset?” she asked, voice hoarse.
No, no, no. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I wanted to punch the wall, but my growing aggression would definitely send the wrong message. Godsdammit, my plan was falling apart, and now Rani was staring at me with a pained confusion that broke my heart.
“We can’t do this,” I decreed, releasing her.
I rolled onto my back and threw an arm over my eyes. The coward's way out, but I couldn’t stand to see what my words had done to her. The hurt echoing down the bond was enough.
“You… don’t want to bond with me?” Her voice sounded so small, like it came from far away and not right next to me.
Why couldn’t she understand? I wanted nothing more, but a part of me held back. The better part. The part that knew she’d have a chance in this life if she weren’t tied to a monster. I was a sinking ship. Sooner or later, my patches would fail, and I refused to take her down with me.
“I don’t understand.”
I threw my arm out, vaguely gesturing at the entire cottage. What it meant. “Haven’t you seen what it’s like to be my bond?”
The cottage was sturdy, and it was mine, but it was so far outdated it could be considered rustic camping and completely separated from the rest of my people.
I was an outcast. If she bonded with me, she would be too.
Her eyes landed on the permanently open French doors, the out-of-control plants invading the bedroom, the cobwebs in the corner, and the cracks in the trim.
Jaw clenched, that sadness I felt growing down the bond evaporated under the force of her anger. “I know you’re not suggesting I’m shallow enough to care that you’re not popular ?”
She was being intentionally argumentative. It was her nature, and the bratty behavior was usually a huge turn-on, but it only served to make things more difficult right now.
“Your life won’t be some fairytale! Imagine never being accepted. Imagine being looked down upon every second of every day.”
The intensity of her gaze eased, and her shoulders drooped. Like she was resigned to the fate I lay before her.
“I’m already tied to you, Ezra.”
I shook my head. “But you still have rights with the siren faction as an unbonded. You have options.” I swallowed. The next words were the hardest to get out. “You can leave.”
Her head snapped back as if I’d slapped her, and maybe I had. It wasn’t that I thought she was shallow or not strong enough to stand by me. There wasn’t another soul on this earth who deserved the position more. But I was doing this to save her. One day she’d see. One day she’d understand.
A gruff laugh escaped as she pulled all the way to the end of the mattress. She sat there, body filling with so much rage she trembled to hold it all in.
“So what, I live with the sirens but slink back here at night for sneaky little rendezvous? But wait, we can’t actually fuck, so not really.”
Now that was insulting. “I’m just trying to protect you,” I growled.
“No. You’re being a coward and severely pissing me off in the process.”
My exasperation passed right over into indignation.
It tasted sour and I kept swallowing to try and wash it away.
Bonding with me came at a cost. Protecting her came at a cost, too, and one I was willing to pay.
That took strength. I breathed easier just knowing she was near.
Did she know what it would do to me to give that up? To give her up?
My plan of coasting for a few years flew out the window.
There was no way she would be down for that plan now.
Not after she accused me of wanting to treat her like my secret whore.
Rani was still terrible at shielding her emotions, so it was easy enough to see how much my rejection hurt her, but even that knowledge did little to curb my reaction.
I had to get out of here. Harsh words were on the tip of my tongue, words that I couldn’t take back.
She wasn’t the only one looking to lash out.
I sprang from the bed like the sheets were on fire and slammed a wall down, right through the middle of our bond.
Silence . Rani’s emotions stopped provoking my own, and my thoughts began to clear.
There was no escaping the one word still circulating, like a vulture targeting its next meal.
Coward . She thought I was a coward. Maybe she was right.