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His hand roughly grasped my hip and pulled me tight against him. “Is that why you gave me your virginity? Because you thought it would buy your sister’s life?”

My fingers curled into his shirt. “I slept with you because I want you. Because I’ve felt the connection between us for four years, even when I hated you. But you said… last night…” I struggled to remember his exact words and gave up. “You’re the king. You can get her back.”

Luken snarled lightly. “I wish I’d fucking known that’s what you wanted before now. All that talk about saving your team, and this random panther girl! What were you thinking? You should have asked for your sister if you wanted to save her.”

The heat of his touch cooled. My scalp prickled. “Luken…”

“There was a prophecy long ago. Only a king united with his true mate can defeat the Gods and free this land from their cruel grip.” Luken’s own grip tightened. His fingers bruised my skin. “You are my true mate, Elara. I knew it the moment I saw you. And you knew it, too. It’s why you have felt this draw to me, even when you didn’t want it.”

I remained silent, trying to process what he was saying.

He nuzzled my neck, inhaling my scent. “The moment our eyes met, we both felt it. That connection. From the instant I saw you, I knew you were meant to be mine. That your blood would make me stronger than anything else. You were the one that would fulfil the prophecy.”

Was that all it was, then? The prophecy is what brought us together? I tried to think of it as a romantic fate but I couldn’t quite get there. This was all so… confusing.

“It’s why my brother targeted you. It’s why your family was killed, because he was trying to keep me from getting you. You have no idea how powerful I will be with you at my side, Elara.” He touched my chin, and this time, he was gentle. “It’s why the Gods set my brother up to do their dirty work. I will overthrow them, and you are central to those plans.”

“If you want to overthrow them, then you can make your first act saving my sister,” I said quickly.

Luken shook his head. “I have not been laying plans for a hundred years just to throw it away on a bitch I’ve never met.”

I shoved him hard. “Don’t call my sister a bitch!”

“She is nothing. You are my mate, and I’m yours. The tattoos that appeared on our bodies when we fucked prove it,” he said. “I am your mate, Elara. I’m the only one you need.”

“It’s not about needing anyone,” I tried.

Both of Luken’s hands cupped my face, staring intently into my eyes. “You shouldn’t have lied to me. I gave you the girl. You can’t expect that I will be able to move the heavens to get what you want. Nor will I. I have far more things to care about than the life of someone you don’t even know anymore.”

I couldn’t hide my shock. Couldn’t even try to. “You’re being cruel,” I whispered.

“That is because I am a cruel man, Elara. After three hundred years of ruling this kingdom, my own brother stabbing me in the back…” He shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. “No. You give me my strength, and I will not let you go. You will stay here, with me, at all times. We will marry and fuck, and I’ll drink your blood, and it will give me what I need to defeat these false gods.”

His grip tightened again. Not painfully, but the look in his eye said it wasn’t a discussion. He’d made up his mind and chose my fate.

I kept making the same stupid mistakes.

He didn’t save me because he loved me. He didn’t care about my death because it hurt him to his soul. No. It was justbecause if I was dead, he wouldn’t have access to this strength. I was a tool to him, something to increase his power.

It felt as though my chest was torn open. The same bleeding pain that I’d suffered while lying helpless in the hospital bed came back to me in a rush. He wasn’t going to help me save Darcie. I had to fight him to save her… and myself. And I’d shown him my hands. I’d given him my heart and now he crushed it in his hands.

I closed my eyes, forcing the numbness I needed to fill me.

“Very well,” I said flatly.

“You understand?” he asked, his breath on my face.

I nodded. I understood perfectly. He betrayed me. And I would never forgive him. I would hate him for this. I would hate him until I was dead.

*****

THE END