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11

Brennan

Ithought that finding my Fated Mate would be the end of my long struggles.

It’s proven to be only the beginning.

I look down at Lazar. His aura is calm; deep asleep and mixed with the now-shared aura of Natali.

I feel no jealousy that he’s the one who gets to hold her in his arms tonight. Lazar is an extension of me. We are a Bonded triad, and whatever is best for the three – no, thefourof us – I embrace happily.

I do feel jealousy at his peaceful aura, though. My own aura is a mirror of how Otho feels. In my mind, his aura is tense – ready for war.

Because that’s what’s coming.

This changes everything.

And yet, this changes nothing.

The Aurelian Empire has been lenient against those who commit crimes in pursuit of their Fated Mate. Once the circumstances surrounding the choices we’ve made come to light, it’s possible the Aurelian Law Enforcement might recognize the purity of our motives; and wemaynot spend a thousand years in jail.

But I’d be foolish to think we won’t face some kind of punishment.

We kidnapped a human female, and we’ve claimed her while she’s our prisoner. These are high crimes in the eyes of Aurelian society.

Otho paces the room. There’s still a thin edge of desire beneath his aura. I feel the same. I ache to seed Natali again; even though it’s been just minutes since I emptied myself inside of her.

I know that each time we mate, the urge will grows stronger and stronger – until my mind is lost to the beastly drive to make Natali pregnant with my sons. Iachefor her belly to swell with the first of our powerful offspring.

But there’s another need in me – something dark. Something that I’ve never felt before.

When Natali was being spanked, a twisted desire increased within me; growing with each helpless whimper uttered from her lips. I don’t knowwhyI want it, but I ache to bring my hand down against her ass again, or to use the devilish toys of a pleasure room to give Natali a dose of delicious pain to serve alongside her ecstasy.

Maybe it’s the feeling of complete control I crave. I don’t know why it is – only that I’ve been a natural leader my entire life, and now I seek to control her.

But the burden of leadership carries with it responsibility – and I’ll temper the heat of my own desires to ensure I never do anything too harsh with my perfect, little mate.

As my ardor cools, I imagine how I might feel when I’m led to the jail cell that awaits me.

How long will I wait behind bars, with the heated desire of the Bond tormenting me every second of my captivity? It’s enough to drive a sane man mad – and the horrors I’ve seen have driven me far in that direction already.

Behind bars, I’d rage – punching the walls, or even begging for a Bond-disrupter to ease the pain.

Or, perhaps a Bond-disrupter would only make it worse. MaybefeelingNatali, and knowing she’s alive, and safe, and waiting for us… Maybe that’s the only thing that could make the captivity endurable.

No.

I can’t leave her.

This is my greatest joy. My greatest fear. I’m nowlinkedwith Natali. She’s the woman I’ve been looking for my entire life. I neverreallybelieved we’d ever meet – the chances being so remote, and outlandish.

That’s why I’d spent my life working towards the survival of the Aurelian Empire in the coming war – not pursuing a selfish foolery.

But it’s not foolery – it’s real.

And it’s no longer selfish. Now, my triad and I are one of the few who can offer hope and a future to the Aurelian species. Now, I can dedicate myself to my people by siring sons; not chasing Orb-Material like a pirate.

I turn to Otho. With that scar across his face, he mightlooklike a brute – but his mind is keen.