Marked 2: Marked for Desire by Jennifer Leeland Page A

shoulders slumped slightly, and he headed for the huge door at the other side of the room. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and I’ll be murdered trying to protect you.” He jerked the door open and held it. “After you.”
    She stared at him. That fucker. Why did the idea of him being killed make her heart stop? Her stomach lurch? She wanted to hit him. Beat him. Bastard. She glared at him. “I’d like to break that iron control of yours, Dom Boy,” she said through clenched teeth.
    For a brief moment, a tormented expression crumpled his face and arrowed through her chest, but it was gone in a flash. “Believe me, Princess. If you don’t move your ass, you’ll get your wish.”
    She flounced out of the room. There was no other word for it. No dignity or calm demeanor. She portrayed every ounce of temper in her body language. Why not? The bastard had it coming. Asshole. Prick.
    Pissed, she didn’t pay attention to where they were or their surroundings. Out of nowhere, a black arm whipped out and gripped her around the neck. She managed a squeak and brought her elbow back into her assailant’s stomach.
    He avoided it easily and twisted her arm behind her back. She cried out. Pain, anguish, and fear combined to spur her to fight, squirm, anything.
    Out of nowhere, a roar echoed through the cavern hall. Her mate mark burned like fire. Leo appeared in the hallway, his eyes red, glowing, hot. He was a blur, a knife in his hand as he attacked. The man who held her didn’t even have a chance. The minute his arm loosened, she ducked away, but Leo was slicing through the man like a fucking pincushion.
    She stared. She almost didn’t recognize her new mate. His eyes were red; his face was twisted into dark shadows of violence. He was completely fearless, attacking her assailant without any regard for his own safety. Her attacker struck back, but Leo was faster, stronger, and very, very angry. The assailant went down, and Sera gripped Leo’s arm. “Don’t kill him.”
    “He touched you, harmed you.” Leo growled the words. Power emanated from him. Rage. This was the Nyral rage. She’d never seen it before. Impressive.
    “You saved me. We need information.” She kept her voice steady and strong.
    He blinked. Several minutes went by. The red glow in his eyes faded a little, but his hand gripped the knife, blood dripping from his fingers. Finally he relaxed his stance. His free hand flew out and yanked her closer to him. He took possession, his tongue deep in her mouth. It was brutal. Exhilarating. Hot. Without words, Leo staked claim to her, the smell of blood adding a primitive pounding to her heart. Conscious thought fled, and Sera sagged against him. He absorbed her, devoured her. She whimpered against his mouth, but he let go suddenly.
    She staggered back, and he caught her arm. The mate mark blazed and burned. She met his gaze in the dim light of the small alcove where the assassin had dragged her. Her throat was dry, and her stomach flopped. Would she ever be able to handle his touch, his possession?
    “I’m sorry,” he murmured, then released her slowly.
    She stared at him, and he whirled around to deal with their captured, wounded Brotherhood assassin. Leo knelt beside the man, disarmed him, and ripped off his mask.
    Sera gasped. Shaun Reynald, the assassin from Sethos Five. The man’s reddish hair and angled features were burned into her brain. You didn’t forget a man who cuffed you to a bed and then threatened to kill you.
    “Well, they don’t give up easily, do they?” Leo glanced at Sera. “I gave him several stab wounds. Unless you know a way to heal him, he’ll bleed out.”
    Of course she knew a way. And he knew she knew. “Bastard!”
    “I don’t care, Princess,” he drawled. “I say let him die. But you wanted to save him”—he rose and stepped back—“so save him.”
    She stepped closer. His fingers closed around her upper arm. “But don’t touch him too much, Princess. Or I will kill