conjured a tunic and fled.
She didn’t care if he was angry. There was no
way his anger could match hers. He’d used her, seduced her
and…awakened her power, protected her from dangers she was only
starting to understand and taught her control.
His initial nobility was eclipsed by his
“inner savage”. She shook her head and meandered around the tent,
far too agitated to sit still. He hadn’t been making it up. His
inner savage was real. She’d felt his consuming hunger, the sudden
demand of his need. But why hadn’t Drakkin warned her? Maybe
together they could have prevented the bond from forming.
It didn’t matter. He would find a way to undo
it or she would find a way to escape. She winced at the
melodramatic thought. Escape to where? She had nowhere to run and
no one who would help her. Or did she? According to Drakkin, her
half-sister was High Queen of Ontariese. But did Charlotte even
know about her, and did Aria want to show up at the palace—or
wherever Charlotte lived—with Faujer and Noll dar Joon still
hunting her?
By the time Drakkin returned her anger had
basically burned itself out, leaving her feeling sad and
lonely.
His features were expressionless, his posture
stiff as he approached. “If there are no further intimacies between
us, the bond can be jarred loose. It will be painful for both of
us, and I apologize for that, but surely it’s better than being
‘enslaved’ to me for the rest of your life.”
Guilt pelted her composure. Maybe he hadn’t
been angry. He’d been hurt. “I didn’t mean—”
“Yes you did and you were right. I understand
why this sort of bond is intolerable after all you’ve been through.
It needs to be severed.” He clasped his hands behind his back, all
cold formality and pride. “I’ve made arrangements with Indric. You
will stay with your half-sister until I can arrange for a different
mentor.”
The idea of meeting one of her half-sisters
was thrilling, but she didn’t want another mentor. “I’ll never see
you again?”
He closed his eyes for a moment then released
a ragged sigh. “Do you want the bond destroyed or not?” He opened
his eyes and stared at her as he waited for her answer.
“I was shocked and angry. I’m not sure what I
want now. Would this new mentor need to touch me…intimately?”
“Likely.” His tone was so tight it sounded as
if he forced the word out between clenched teeth.
“And that wouldn’t bother you?”
He lunged for her then suddenly turned aside,
presenting her with his tense profile. “Of course it would bother
me. I am tortured by the possibility, but there is no other way. If
you want to dislodge the bond, there can be nothing more between
us.”
“You’re not just saying this because I gave
you an ultimatum?” The thought of never touching him again, never
kissing him, never feeling his vibrant presence inside her mind was
too upsetting to contemplate. There had to be another way.
Turning slowly, he placed his hands on her
upper arms and gazed into her eyes. “I have never lied to you, nor
shall I start now. I honestly believe you are my mate, but I will
do nothing that causes you pain. I will take you to Krystabel and
allow you some time so you can figure out what you want.”
She lowered her gaze, unable to stand the
burning frustration in his stare. “You make me sound so petty.”
“I don’t think you’re petty.” He gently
raised her chin until she looked at him again. Regret tempered his
expression. “Your life was turned upside down by my arrival. I
literally redefined who you are. It’s natural that you feel
conflicted and confused. Krystabel lives nearby. Her home is both
shielded and guarded. You will be safe there.”
Her heart lurched at the implication. “You’re
not coming with me?”
“If I stay by your side, I will do everything
in my power to sway your decision and that’s not fair to you.”
“How long must I stay there?”
He chuckled. “You’re not
She didn’t care if he was angry. There was no
way his anger could match hers. He’d used her, seduced her
and…awakened her power, protected her from dangers she was only
starting to understand and taught her control.
His initial nobility was eclipsed by his
“inner savage”. She shook her head and meandered around the tent,
far too agitated to sit still. He hadn’t been making it up. His
inner savage was real. She’d felt his consuming hunger, the sudden
demand of his need. But why hadn’t Drakkin warned her? Maybe
together they could have prevented the bond from forming.
It didn’t matter. He would find a way to undo
it or she would find a way to escape. She winced at the
melodramatic thought. Escape to where? She had nowhere to run and
no one who would help her. Or did she? According to Drakkin, her
half-sister was High Queen of Ontariese. But did Charlotte even
know about her, and did Aria want to show up at the palace—or
wherever Charlotte lived—with Faujer and Noll dar Joon still
hunting her?
By the time Drakkin returned her anger had
basically burned itself out, leaving her feeling sad and
lonely.
His features were expressionless, his posture
stiff as he approached. “If there are no further intimacies between
us, the bond can be jarred loose. It will be painful for both of
us, and I apologize for that, but surely it’s better than being
‘enslaved’ to me for the rest of your life.”
Guilt pelted her composure. Maybe he hadn’t
been angry. He’d been hurt. “I didn’t mean—”
“Yes you did and you were right. I understand
why this sort of bond is intolerable after all you’ve been through.
It needs to be severed.” He clasped his hands behind his back, all
cold formality and pride. “I’ve made arrangements with Indric. You
will stay with your half-sister until I can arrange for a different
mentor.”
The idea of meeting one of her half-sisters
was thrilling, but she didn’t want another mentor. “I’ll never see
you again?”
He closed his eyes for a moment then released
a ragged sigh. “Do you want the bond destroyed or not?” He opened
his eyes and stared at her as he waited for her answer.
“I was shocked and angry. I’m not sure what I
want now. Would this new mentor need to touch me…intimately?”
“Likely.” His tone was so tight it sounded as
if he forced the word out between clenched teeth.
“And that wouldn’t bother you?”
He lunged for her then suddenly turned aside,
presenting her with his tense profile. “Of course it would bother
me. I am tortured by the possibility, but there is no other way. If
you want to dislodge the bond, there can be nothing more between
us.”
“You’re not just saying this because I gave
you an ultimatum?” The thought of never touching him again, never
kissing him, never feeling his vibrant presence inside her mind was
too upsetting to contemplate. There had to be another way.
Turning slowly, he placed his hands on her
upper arms and gazed into her eyes. “I have never lied to you, nor
shall I start now. I honestly believe you are my mate, but I will
do nothing that causes you pain. I will take you to Krystabel and
allow you some time so you can figure out what you want.”
She lowered her gaze, unable to stand the
burning frustration in his stare. “You make me sound so petty.”
“I don’t think you’re petty.” He gently
raised her chin until she looked at him again. Regret tempered his
expression. “Your life was turned upside down by my arrival. I
literally redefined who you are. It’s natural that you feel
conflicted and confused. Krystabel lives nearby. Her home is both
shielded and guarded. You will be safe there.”
Her heart lurched at the implication. “You’re
not coming with me?”
“If I stay by your side, I will do everything
in my power to sway your decision and that’s not fair to you.”
“How long must I stay there?”
He chuckled. “You’re not
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