Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
The bonding is a sacred act. It’s a gift from the bondmate to her husbands. It is to be treasured and revered.
I forced it on her when she doesn’t even understand what she’s accepting.
Finally my lungs burn, and I allow myself to float toward the light. I break the surface, taking a deep breath.
“I was wondering if you were going to put in an appearance or if you would allow the kelpies to take you.” Dante sits against a large tree, his long legs spread out in front of him. He has his tablet out. Like many vampires, Dante is almost constantly attached to his computer. He’s always looking for downloads, better known as DLs. DLs consist of everything from entertainment to education.
“There aren’t any kelpies here.” I smooth my long black hair back and hope it doesn’t tangle too much. “There are some in the forest, but none this close to a village.”
The forest where I’m about to take my Meg is considered a bit dangerous. It’s full of all sorts of nasty creatures.
Dante tosses me a bar of soap. It’s pink. The vampire probably stole it from the females’ tent. Still, it will take the stink of battle off me. I soap up, grateful for the cold. It’s the first time since meeting Meg that I’m not uncomfortably hard.
Not true. There was that moment after Meg swallowed me down. Her throat closed around my cock, and she took every drop I gave her. Even after I was done, she was sweet and submissive. I wanted nothing more than to praise her for her gift. I wanted to haul her into my arms and fuck that sweet pussy of hers. She wouldn’t have said no. She would have spread her legs and welcomed me.
But she was under the influence of our connection.
If she was in her right mind, she would have been terribly insulted. She’s a lady, a bondmate. She deserves respect. My wants and needs are perverse. She’ll help me overcome them. Once Cian and I have properly bonded with her, the overwhelming need I feel to dominate my lovers during sex will go away.
It has to.
“I don’t understand you, cos,” Dante admits. The light is fading now. The vampire doesn’t need the hood of his shirt. He sits negligently in the shade, but then everything Dante Dellacourt does has an air of privileged negligence about it.
“I don’t expect you to.” I work the soap into my hair. It should have been Meg’s job. Washing her husband’s hair is the responsibility of a Fae woman. I gave up the right when I treated her like a piece of trash.
“You’re tearing yourself apart over what happened out there, and I’m not sure which part is killing you. You aren’t responsible for the fact that you’re losing control. You should have been bonded five years ago. If I recall, your parents had already betrothed the two of you to a nice royal girl.”
I snort at the thought. Of course I remember Maris. How could I forget? I knew since I was very young that she was our future bondmate. She was a cool blonde and aware of her position, even as a young teen. If she was with me in the arena, she would have slapped me silly. “I don’t think my uncle intends to allow that contract to be fulfilled.”
The vampire sighs impatiently. “That’s my point, asshole. You did everything right. It’s not your fault that it all went wrong. Meg saved you.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I ask, irritation rising.
“Then why did you treat her like crap?”
“It’s your fault,” I snarl, lying through my teeth. Maybe if I piss my cousin off enough, Dante will go away and leave me alone. “You were the one who was stupid enough to bring her into the arena.”
Dante stands. He walks to the water’s edge, proving he does, indeed, have a death wish. “It was the only way I could think of to salvage the situation.”
“I can think of another,” I reply, narrowing my eyes in challenge.
Dante throws his head back and groans. “I am not going to inject you with cold iron, asshole. Get over it. If you want to commit suicide, I’ll give you the needle, but I won’t push the plunger. I wouldn’t just be killing you. I would be killing Cian, too, and I happen to like him. I like him a hell of a lot more than I like you right now. You had no right to treat her like that.”
“I know.” My anger deflates and I’m left with the hollowness of guilt.
“She gave you everything she had and you tell her to cover up,” Dante complains. “No, ‘wow, baby, that was one hell of a blow job. You’ve got the sweetest mouth known to man.’ Just ‘cover up so no one sees my bitch.’”