Page 43 of Bellamy

A weird ache stabbed at my sternum. “Does that disappoint you? Me being alive?”

“It confuses me,” Bellamy responded. “You betrayed Asa by helping me escape. But here you are in one piece. If you were on the run from him, you wouldn’t be here in Echo Bay. You’d be someplace far away.”

“Maybe I wanted to do some sightseeing.”

“Bullshit.”

“What are you implying, Nephilim?”

He closed the gap between us and slid his hand to my nape. His touch sent electric pulses throughout my system. “I don’t trust you, demon.”

“After I saved your life? Wow. I’m so hurt.”

Fuck. He was clever.

“You saving my life is theonlyreason why you’re still breathing right now,” he growled, fingers tightening in the back of my hair.

“The only reason?” I angled my head up, our lips inches apart. My skin tingled. “Are you sure about that?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, sweetheart,” he said, voice low. “I don’t care about you. My soul might reach out for yours, but you’ll never have my loyalty. Or my heart.”

“Your heart? Fine with me.” A pang hit my chest for some reason. “I have no use for it.”

“It would be so easy to kill you,” Bellamy said, gliding his lips along my cheek.

“But you can’t. We’ve been over this.”

“You’re right. I can’t kill you.” He kept a firm grip on my hair. “Besides, you’ll be of greater use to me alive.”

“Oh yeah? You planning to ravage me in these woods, Lust?”

“Tempting. But no.” He pressed his fingertips to my temple.

“What are you…” I stumbled into him as an intense drowsy spell came over me. “Bellamy… what…”

My eyes closed. I tried to teleport but was too weak. And so damn sleepy. I had let my guard down. Became careless. Let him catch me in his web.

Bellamy held me against his chest. Before sleep finally claimed me, I could’ve sworn he pressed a kiss into my hair.

Chapter Eight

Bellamy

“Are you out of your goddamn mind?” Tea sloshed over the rim of Alastair’s cup as he slammed it down and stood from his chair.

“You must be pissed if you spilled your precious tea.”

“Pissed is an understatement, Bellamy. Why in thehelldid you bring him here?”

“Honestly?” I rubbed at the back of my neck. “I didn’t think about it much. I saw an opportunity and took it.”

“An opportunity to do what, have your mate close to you?” Alastair pinched the bridge of his nose. Pretty sure I’d give him an ulcer someday. “How could you be so reckless?”

“We can question Phoenix,” I said. “He’s been Asa’s right-hand man this entire time. I’m sure he knows a lot of shit that can help us.”

“Question him?” Alastair’s gaze turned ice-cold. “What makes you think he’ll talk? What are you prepared to do if he doesn’t? Keep him as our prisoner forever? Torture him like they tortured you?”

Nausea bubbled in my gut. “No.”