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He eventually leaves us alone.

Outside the room I can hear the bustle of people as the wounded are brought in. But finally, quiet settles. I sit in my chair and watch her.

Since she released me from my prison, I’ve tried so hard to keep my distance. At first, I didn’t trust myself physically. I was walking a knife edge of control, Fury so close to the surface even when I was a man. But I soon came to understand that I would never hurt her. I was not capable of hurting her. But I still kept my distance emotionally because Zayne and Thanouq are right—I am an asshole and a monster. I have done terrible things in my life. And will no doubt do them again.

But only for her. Never to her.

I won’t make the mistake of keeping any distance between us again. I will stake my claim. I will make her mine, take her so hard that she never forgets the feel of me inside of her, the taste of me on her tongue. I will cover myself in her scent.

She just needs to wake up.

I reach out and take her hand.

“I know you’re not happy about the mate thing,” I murmur, “And I know that you’re pissed off with me for keeping my distance. It was so fucking hard. I’ve been keeping away from you because I’m bad fucking news. But I’ve given up. Apparently, you’re my destiny, bonded to me by the gods. And who the fuck am I to deny the gods.”

I squeeze her hand and stare into her face. She no longer looks ill, her skin no longer pale. She looks like she’s sleeping, her chest rising and falling with her slow breaths.

“So, get used to it, sweetheart, because you are fucking mine. And if you just blink open your pretty eyes then I’ll show youhow much we are meant to be together. I will fuck your pretty little brains out.”

Her lashes flutter. I’m sure she’s coming around.

“And it’s not just because of some destined-by-the-gods shit. I don’t care about that. I just care about you. And I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”

Her eyes blink open. Her gaze meets mine, and a fierce, overwhelming joy surges through my veins.

“You know I heard every word of that?” she murmurs.

I smirk. “Good. How do you feel?” She looks—well, her skin glowing, her eyes bright.

Her tongue flicks out to lick her lower lip and heat rushes through me. “I feel…needy.”

“And what do you need?”

“You. I need you.”

That’s allIneed. I lurch forward from my chair and onto the bed beside her. I haul her into my arms as heat flashes through my body, and I go instantly hard. I lower my head and take her lips with mine. I try to slow down. I want to be gentle, but her lips part beneath mine, and her tongue thrusts into my mouth. Inside me, Fury howls. She tastes of springtime and flowers and the sweetness of honey. Our tongues battle as her arms wrap around me, holding me to her, deepening the kiss.

I raise my head and gulp in air, then stare down into her glowing emerald eyes. I have a flashback to the battlefield, the moment the sorceress was overtaken by Lucifer, the same emerald glow, and my body freezes.

Her eyes narrow. “If you stop now,” she says, “I will incinerate you slowly from the inside out. And it will hurt. A lot.”

Chapter 40

The Choice I Never Had…

Imean it.

I will literally kill him if he stops now.

For a moment, he seems frozen in place, then he gives himself a little shake and blinks. “Are you ready for this? Because there’s no turning back. You will be mine.”

Why can’t we just have sex?I want to whine. Not destiny, not fate, not tied together for all of eternity but just mind-blowing, “make me forget everything for a few hours”—or minutes, I’m not greedy—sex. I need sex. My body is a pulsating mass of need and want and aches. And I’m sure it’s as much a hormone thing as it is a destiny thing.

“Do you want me?” he asks. And there’s a hint of panic in his voice. I know Khaosti won’t force me. If I say no, he’ll accept it. But I’m beginning to see how hard it will be for him. How much he’s been holding back and how much he really wantsme.

So I have to be honest with myself at least; I don’t just want sex. I want sex with Khaosti. Not anyone else. And I do have choices.

I reach out and touch his cheek. “I want you. Just you.”