or what she was asking me to do. A

rother was right. It was my responsibility t

vercome the problem

at arm's distance, as much as it would pain me, I

bond couldn't be as s

o look at her when I sa

his hands. "Now, take..." he twirled his f

. Claire

ther way to describe it. Forever, my attention would be attuned

t her was absolute un

this. I didn't want to be fated to anyone. I should be able to ch

need to speak with her was the pull of a mate bond, I would've run

a damp towel. Cleaning the worst of the mess that choker had made. He tossed the rag on

en though I loved my brother well, a vision of tearing his arm

and adrenaline cour

h, Claire was my mate-I'd be forced to give up my campaign in the West and made to

the last thi

laire's hand with a grin.

en, it's time to take Miss Donadieu to the dais, claim her

. To make us one body. One breath. The pull was unlike anything I'd ever ex

han some base desire. I knew nothing about this

t needed to remind mysel

ened wider. I could feel her heart beating in my chest, and I could smell her fear of

raid of what

in my arms and tell her everything would be okay. An in

to hers and waited for Marius to place

esh, a pop of something that felt like magick snapped bet

s watching me. Studying my reaction. He was suspicious

he one I was worried

ched like my flesh had just burned her, and I wondered

bond. And I hoped in this case, the stories were wrong. Or that becaus

ker coated in drying blood. I used the sight to fuel my anger. I

ies ‎Marius expected of me. "Shall we give the people what they want, Miss Donadieu?" "Oh,

eyes. "That's

lap. That's what you want, isn't

y you want t

nsified. My need to comfort

ted myself to focus

rajectory of my life. She complicated everything. All the

of so many others into j

e, for one second, everything I'd work

was and for ruining what

d to ‎work. It cleared my mind. If I coul

the scent of her fear was omnipresent. The fragrance clingin

couldn't have m

low my

ive crowd. Drinks in hand. Glasses raised. Marius strode forward, ma

her breath when everyone cheered

nder the pressure, but instead was captivated by the way moon

st the ability to speak. The world could've

are the ent

dating," she said, stil

ng at her. At the way th

dripping from my lips, "i

ry out my duties despite everything in me screaming to claim

anguine partners stood waiting. Tibitha, the woman I'd been feeding from for the last year stood off to the side n

I guided her up the stone

alright?" I

once. "Perf

couldn't let that

n, and I wondered if it was why it was against v

Claire in front of an audience because my only other options were de

oined us on the dais. I bowed to him, a

ell of her breasts strained against the

House Allard, Lord of Chateau Rose, and Miss Claire Donadieu. With a first bite." He

nd I felt the thrum ‎of her heart beating faster against my chest.

Claire in a slow circle before pulling her into my arms. I eased her b

flesh just below her earlobe, wa

ic bloodlust t

s to drop and my

thing was