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Seeing Aelon through my new eyes only makes him more attractive – but now I can see beyond his gorgeous face and into his soul.

“Your senses will improve with each mating,” Aelon murmurs. “Every time we’re joined, the Bond will be amplified. You haven’t experienced even the slightest pleasure compared to how youwillfeel.”

His cock is hardening. His arousal is flowing through the Bond, teasing at my mind.

If I let him have me, I don’t know if I’ll be able to go through with our escape plan later tonight. The Bond is already pulling me closer to the Aurelian. I’m drawn to him like a moth to flame. My entire body reacts involuntarily – my desire for him enhanced through the Bond.

Iacheto submit to him. It makes me feel weak to admit it – like, somehow only weak-minded women can be submissive – but I desperately want to get on my knees and feel his cock in my mouth while he looks down at me with dominance in his now-blue eyes.

I force that desire back to the recesses of my mind.Ihave control over myself.Me, not the Bond.

As if sensing that, Aelon warns: “You fight what you crave, Tasha.”

“Iknow what I need – not the Bond.”

He steps forward. His hand is still dripping blood on the floor from where he’d crushed that glass bottle. He’s so tall that when I’m sitting down, the outline of his swollen cock is directly at mouth level – already hard and stretching against the thin fabric of his shorts. I can see the outline of his manhood hardening and it makes my blood pulse faster.

“Aye,” Aelon purrs, “you knowexactlywhat you need – but you resist it.” He bends down towards me. “There’s no need to resist, Tasha. We’ll conquer the universetogether. Together, the four of us will do far more than you’d ever have believed possible.” His eyes flash. “Don’t you understand? Think bigger than petty theft and scams, Tasha. No one will care that you were once a criminal. You’re now one of the saviors of ourspecies.”

I listen to his words.

I won’t have to run anymore.

All I have to do is accept his dominion over me. My body aches for it already…

…but I have to be rational. I can’t allow a man so bloodthirsty to be the father of my children.

I shrink back on the couch, moving away from him.

“Conquer the universe? What do you mean by that, Aelon? You mean kill a bunch of Toads? Teach our sons to kill Toads?”

He stands right above the couch. I can’t crawl any farther away. He’s blocking me from the door, too – trapping me in this room with him.

“They’re a scourge on the universe. Don’t you see that, Tasha? Theyhaveto be exterminated.”

“I see it, Aelon. I may be young compared to you, but I’m not stupid – but your own species is not so innocent. I’ve faced the evil of Aurelians. I was almost raped by a trio of Rogue Aurelians who…”

The rage surges up in his aura. It’s uncontrollable. He steps away from me, slamming his injured fist against the table. The wood cracks instantly, splintering beneath his fist.

“Who? Where are they?”

“What are you going to do? Hunt down everyone who’s ever wronged me and kill them?”

He snarls. “For a start.”

“Aelon, don’t you get it? You’re off the fucking rails! You have so much rage in you! How could I let my children be raised in a home of such pain and anger?”

That just makes him madder. I can feel the pain of his cut, bruised hand through the Bond, but he doesn’t even register it.

“Don’t play dumb,” Aelon snarls. “You’re a smart woman. Youknewwe might be Bonded before you fucked us. Don’t pretend you didn’t know what you were getting in to.”

I knew exactly what I was starting…

…and I’m as guilty as anybody.

I wanted thousands of years of life. I was being selfish. The other powers of the Bond were a welcome surprise, just like the enhanced desires were more…intensethan I’d thought they’d be….

…but I was as mercenary as any Aurelian, wanting to take the gift of the Bond and spurn the three Aurelians who come packaged with it.