t was to

e clock. Kael had moved to the corner of the room, standing like a statue, watchi

still throbbed where Kael had marked her. She felt caught b

ead toward him. "

rs, sharp even in the dim lig

er spine. "So I'm i

calm, but it sent he

ter. "You said you'd protect

om everything. From anyon

d. "But you alre

did not answer. Then his voice came low and ro

on her made her chest tighten. It was not only protection.

ot from the chill. A strange presence cre

pulse racing. "D

e window. His golden eyes glo

hts fli

ing the blanket. "H

ed through the roo

ssed against it from the outside. A shadow spread across the gla

air, smooth as velvet. You c

against her ribs. It

his voice a low snar

ks forming along the edges. She is mine already.

. She wanted to scream,

body trembled, not from fear, but from the effort of hol

You can mark her all you want, wolf.

none of this was true. But deep inside, the memory of the

haking her head. "I do

ass sh

floor. The shadow poured into the room,

ale skin, black eyes, and a smi

l, his body half-shifted now, c

widened. "Shall we s

exploded