Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“You need a little help?” she asks.
“Yes,” I admit.
“Then trust me.”
Apprehension flies through my chest at her words, but I’ve always trusted her. We take our seats at the table, my eyes flashing to Dagon, who sits to my left.
“You good?” he mouths the words as the others funnel into the room, including not just our little group but several of the other assassins in training too. Now is so not the time to dig into my and Olivia’s conversation.
I nod in answer, focusing more on putting my napkin on my lap than him.
How am I going to broach this subject? It’s all I can think about as the room descends into chatter and the clanking of forks and wine glasses. I don’t want to pressure him. His feelings are absolutely valid, and if he needs a lifetime to decide, then I’m ready for that.
But Olivia is right too. We can’t keep moving forward without some exclusive boundaries in place in order to protect ourselves and any bystanders while we figure this out. I mean, if just the thought of a noble vampire hitting on him makes me see red, I can’t imagine what it would really be like if I saw it play out.
“Corbin,” Olivia’s voice cuts over half the long table as she gestures to one of the younger assassins.
He stops digging into his food for a moment, giving her his full attention.
“Do you have a date for the queen’s ball yet?” Olivia asks.
“No,” he says a little too quickly. “Do you have someone in mind?” The way he asks and the look on his face says he knows more than he’s letting on.
My blood runs cold. I know what they’re doing before I can mentally make the move to open my mouth and stop them.
“My niece is as brilliant as she is beautiful,” Olivia says, smiling at me. “You should ask Annika—”
All the water in every crystal pitcher along the table starts to boil.
Corbin turns to me, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Are you available?”
My lips part open in shock as I shake my head.
“She’s really fucking not,” Dagon growls, shoving back from the table. His eyes meet mine, the pupils blown out as he hauls me from my seat, throwing me over his shoulder in the most caveman way possible as he bolts from the room.
Laugher follows us into the hallway, but my heart is in my throat as we make it into his rooms. He slams and locks the door behind him.
“I didn’t ask her to do that!” I gasp as he tosses me on the bed.
“My fault,” he says, his voice raw and guttural. He rolls his neck. “Annika.”
I prop up on my elbows as he climbs onto the bed, stalking me back a bit. “Dagon? Are you okay?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head as he shoves my knees apart, settling above me. “I’m really not okay, Annika.”
I swallow hard, my heart racing.
“Tell me what I can do to help you,” I beg.
“You can say yes to me.” He shakes his head. “You shouldn’t. You really fucking shouldn’t. I’m a hunter. An ancient one. All I’ve known since becoming one is death and pain and war and enemies. I can’t guarantee that when we stop this war another one won’t pop up. You bond yourself to me, and you’re signing up for an eternity of that. You deserve better. You deserve to be safe. But I can’t bury it anymore. I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anything in my life. You’re my match, Annika. Not just in power, but in every single way that matters.” He drags his nose along my cheek, inhaling deeply. “You understand me, challenge me, make me laugh.” He shakes his head. “You drive me wild in the best ways. You are my world. And I don’t want another second of eternity where you’re not mine.”
Tears fill my eyes as I press my lips to his. “I’ve been yours,” I admit. “Long before the mark appeared.”
“Annika,” he breathes my name against my lips, his hands flying to my clothes before becoming impatient and tearing them off me.
I do the same to his.
And then we’re bare to each other, a mess of touches and fangs and kisses.
“Say it,” he says as he kisses down my neck. “Say you want this.”
“I want you, Dagon. In whatever way that looks. If you want me like this, you’ve got it. If you want me as your mate?” I ask, my heart swelling. “I’m already there.”
“Mine,” he growls just as our bodies connect, his hard length sliding into me with one sure stroke. “I’m yours,” he continues, pulling out to plunge into me again.
“Yes,” I gasp, my head spinning as that connection between us lights up. “You’re mine.” I sink my fangs into his curled bicep just to the right of my head, the one he’s using to prop himself up while he has his way with me.