Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
KADEN
Stalking into my bedchambers, I see my mate curled up in bed, wearing nothing but a sheer slip of lace and silk, the black color gothically beautiful on her frame.
Her pale skin glows, drawing my fangs out and my cock to stiffen.
I didn’t expect her awake. The last few nights I’ve come in, I’ve only checked on her and returned to Reid’s side. The male has a horrible fascination with gambling in the stables with the servants. Last night, I had to break up a fight between him and a stable boy.
Now, she sits, glaring at me, a large book in her small hands.
Fiery Bel’s balls, she looks like forbidden fruit and suddenly, I’m starving.
“You’re awake.”
“And you’re here,” she snips, returning to read. “I thought after the last few nights of avoiding me, I’d have the room to myself again.”
“You sound as if you don’t like it, kitten,” I taunt, leaning against the dresser. “Me avoiding you. Miss me already?”
Her cold eyes glare at me. “No.”
I can smell her lies from across the room.
“Did you want me to go, then?” I hike my thumb over my shoulder. “This is still my room too.”
“It’s peaceful without you.”
Her heart is hammering in my ears, blood rushing through her veins with her lies.
I can smell the arousal on her, the scent so strong, I grin. She doesn’t want me to leave, she wants me under her, that much is obvious.
A soul-bond forces two lives into one, and ignites chemistry, but it cannot fake feelings. I’ve heard tales of partners hating each other and remaining separate with lovers, bond ignored.
Our love, though young and tender, is still there, hidden under the weight of betrayal and deceit. I can sense it. Feel it shine within the darkness of our past sins. I just need to nurture it.
Stripping from my tunic and pants, I drop the various pieces of jewelry I wear to the dresser before crawling up the massive bed. Holding the book down, I make her look at me, then I snap the book shut.
“Time for bed, kitten.”
Her cheeks darken, rage and desire swirling in her big blue eyes. They’re siren eyes, pulling me in, ready to drown me to my death.
Unfortunately, I’d let her. What’s drowning in the ocean when I can’t breathe without her near me on land?
“You made me lose my place.”
“Find it tomorrow,” I say callously, tossing the book to the bed table. “You’ve barely slept these last few weeks. You need to rest.”
“I slept just fine without you here.”
I grab the blankets, shoving them aside, and throw her legs under them. She makes an undignified squeak when my hand touches her bare flesh, jumping as if burned.
Grabbing her chin, I smile into her face. “Liar.”
“Is this fun for you? More ways to demonstrate your power here?” She tries to kick the covers away, but I pull them back.
“Oh, kitten, I haven’t even begun to demonstrate my power.” I release her and she scurries away to the edge of the bed. “In fact, if I were to use my powers, I’d have you naked in my bed, not wearing that mouthwatering lace.”
My words unleash her fiery rage, the least of which turns me on, body primed from her fight. Give me her fire, her hatred, I’ll gladly weather the storm.
In the forest, I saw the softness of the woman who would save anyone she deemed worthy of compassion and was drawn to it.
It was so odd to see someone still so full of kindness after being shunned, hurt by the world.
Now? Now, I’ve seen her fury and fight, and have fallen madly, stupidly in love with her for it.
“I’m going back to the dungeon.” She moves to the door and I dart there, blocking her exit. My chest is bare, and her cool hands press there to stop from crashing.
The touch is like lightening, racing over my arms, through my chest, right to my heart. Every beat thuds painfully, as if seeking her skin once again. I’ve always considered my heart dead—but no, it only beats for the blood summoner.
“You’re to be my wife,” I growl, want bleeding into my voice. I can’t hold it back, my beast completely slipping into my words. “You will stay in my bed, beside me. That is the only place you belong.”
Her lip curls in disgust. “You may think you have me, own me, heir. But I will never be yours.” Her eyes are bright, the oceanic blue almost black with rage. “You lost that right weeks ago.”
The fury that pulses in my hands is enough to choke the life from her neck. But I refrain. Just barely. Gods, only I would be saddled with a mate who drives me insane with lust and rage. “Get back into bed, kitten,” it’s a command. But inside, I’m yearning to be near her again.
I didn’t realize the control she had over me. I’m her puppet, and she doesn’t even need her magic to command me. She could ask for my surrender, and I would gladly give it.
When she doesn’t move, I cross my arms. “I will pick you up and put there myself if you don’t move.”
Wariness floods her vision but she remains still.
My hellcat wants to be pushed, forced. Because she doesn’t fear me—not in the traditional sense. Of all the emotions I smell from her, fear is not one of them.
She hates me, wants me, but she knows she’s safe with me. Even if her lips won’t say it.
Fine. I can play this game.
Picking her up, I swing her over my shoulder, her weight as light as air.
“Kaden!” She roars, the hellcat thrashing in my hands. Ignoring her, I take pleasure in how her body feels in my hands. Stalking back to the bed, I deposit her in a huff, lace shifting, revealing the matching pair of panties beneath.
Azure above, she’s going to kill me.
“Bed,” I grumble, trying to refrain from jumping on top of her.
Max glares, cheeks red. “Are you being serious?”
“Deadly.”
I grab the covers, opening them wide, and tuck her in snugly.
Finally, I can breathe, though it’s pained. I hunger for her. Hunger for her body, yes, but for her. My soul misses its other half.
This is Seti’s Hell, I’m sure of it.
My shadows rise, extinguishing the flames, as I slide into the cool sheets. Max slowly sinks down into the bed, her weight a delicious pleasure, and I exhale.
Lying on my back, my heart feels as if it rests within her chest. This is the first time we’ve been in the bed together since the night in the Phoka Village. And my body hums with awareness.
She’s hovering by the edge and I hate it.
Rolling, I pin her next to me, my arm finding her lush waist, the dip of her hip.
She goes utterly still, no breath leaving her lungs.
I should care I’m pushing her boundaries, but I don’t.
Her body molds to mine and I’m lost to the sensations.
It’s the first time I’ve felt right since we arrived home.
“What are you doing?” she whispers. Gone is the fire and only apprehension. Still no terror, and I smile into the crook of her neck.
There’s no shame in what I’m doing. Let her hate me, because this is peace unlike anything I’ve ever felt. “Holding my mate,” I explain, fangs whispering against her neck. “It’s been too long since I’ve had her beside me.”
“Don’t get used to this.” She fights back, trying to shrug me off. My strength is better and thankfully, she doesn’t have her dagger. I’ve no doubt she’d use it if she could. “Fuck off, heir.”
“Only with you, kitten.” I nuzzle into her neck. “Rest. Save your strength. Who knows what I’ll do in the middle of the night.”
“If you touch me, I will take both our lives,” she vows.
Chuckling, I hold her tighter. She means every word of it. Strangely, I’m proud.
“Sleep.”
“How do you expect me to sleep? Like this?” She tries to wiggle, escape me, but I hold firm, her back to my bare chest, her hair tickling my nose.
Why does this feel so good? Why does my beast calm? I’ve pleaded, cajoled, anything I could do for rest. But only with the blood summoner in my arms do my eyes droop, and my body sink with relaxation.
“I’ll sleep very well like this.” She curses me out and I inhale, something clicking in my heart. A piece of it, fitting back together, the burning extinguished. “Goodnight, Max.”
She tries to move me again, but I don’t budge. I should feel guilt for claiming her, taking her, even holding her now against her will.
But I don’t. I want her. Mind, body, soul, heart. And I’ll fucking have it.
My lips brush her head and I lean back, taking her with me. “Rest,” I repeat and wait until her breaths even out before I allow slumber to take me.