Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Nor will Lucan.”
“Men who have been well mated usually emerge from their mate mourning with a strong yearning to mate again.”
“Usually? I hear uncertainty in your voice.”
Sabelle winces. “Lucan may be different. They were perfect together. So in love…”
I dare to glance at Lucan again. His gleaming chest and shoulders ripple with each strain against the restraints. His growl is a threat that sends shivers down my spine. His love must be powerful, indeed. And Sabelle has to trick him into bedding her?
“It’s the only way to keep him alive.”
Caden’s reluctance to mate makes sense now. He grips so tightly to his control. Lucan’s descent into madness because of magic would be the worst horror to a soldier with so much self-command.
I need to talk to him, if only to say that I understand. “Is Caden here?”
“I’m sure. He doesn’t know we’re here. Lucan long ago allowed Bram and me to visit without chiming in.” Sabelle hands me a little white rock. “I’m leaving, since Lucan’s energy is holding and I’m not needed. When you’re ready to return, just toss this stone in the air and say my name. I’ll return for you.” Sabelle hugs me. “But fair warning: given everything, Caden will be on edge.”
Caden
Behind me, I hear a shuffle and the clearing of a feminine throat. I twist around in the leather recliner, expecting to see Sabelle. The sight of Sydney punches me with a breathless rush of thrill and need.
I left her four bloody hours ago, and it feels like an eternity. I miss her with a frightening intensity, like a junkie craving his fix.
After settling Lucan into his room, I’ve done little except mindlessly stare at the telly and wish I could hear or smell or touch Sydney. No, I want to taste her, repercussions be damned.
Impossible. I have to get my desire under control so I can protect her. But my fucking energy is waning now that the battle and the adrenaline rush is over. As an unmated male, I could bed anyone—and must soon. In theory.
But I only want her.
Then my brain kicks in. Why is she here? Sabelle, I realize. And the only reason for the witch to visit is Lucan.
Anxiety buzzes in my blood, and I rein in the curse on the tip of my tongue. Sydney now knows far more about my objections. That fact softens her face.
Damn it, she feels sorry for me.
“I know you’re not expecting me.” She takes a hesitant step into the room. “I don’t mean to barge in, but I had to see you. Why didn’t you tell me about Lucan and his mate mourning?”
I take a step closer—but not too close. That would be dangerous. “Because it doesn’t change anything.”
“But your refusal to share with me does.”
She rushes across the room to me. Her smell blindsides me with hunger and longing. I clench my fists to stop myself from hauling her into my arms.
“I understand your fear,” she murmurs. “Why you’ve avoided mating with me. Your brother has lost all control, and that’s something you strive to retain. I’m sorry for him, but you don’t know that Lucan’s condition would become yours—”
“Given the way you’ve thrown yourself into a war, I sure as hell do. Your bravery is commendable, firecracker, but it’s placed you in grave danger. You don’t take precautions, and I know you’ll try to refuse my protection, even if I insist you follow my rules—”
“Your rules? I’m hardly a child.”
I step closer, toe-to-toe, towering over her. That spicy-sweet scent of hers infiltrates and intoxicates my senses, tightening my gut. My cock springs to turgid life moments later. I have to get rid of her quickly. My resistance is weakening.
“You met Mathias face-to-face and duped him. Angered him. He won’t forget that. Or the fact you revealed him to magickind. He will hunt you down and torture you. You were warned, but you didn’t use caution or bow out,” I growl. “Now it’s too late. My desire for you has grown far beyond rational. If we mated, I would end up like my brother.”
“I’m clever, and you’ll protect me. Bram and the others will, too.”
“I’m no longer involved, remember?”
“You should be. Strength in numbers. If you stayed together, everyone would be safer while we make a difference. If we mated, we’d have each other. I don’t need more than you.”
“If we mated, I could probably count our days together on one hand. This is war. Mathias is magickind’s ultimate sociopath. Evil, determined, smart, charismatic, powerful, and willing to kill. And he won’t die by a simple bullet, as you saw in his warehouse.”
“We’ve weakened his army,” she argues. “Taking the fight to him was the right thing to do, and using the book as bait was perfect. Maybe peace will come soon. Then we’ll have wasted precious time we could have spent together.”