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I shook my head slowly. “No,” I whispered raggedly. “Oh, no…”

Prince Drake’s eyes dragged up my body to hold my horrified gaze .

“Mate,” he whispered, his voice a deep baritone, caressing my senses like the finest of silk.

Prince Drake approached his strides confident, assured.

I swallowed thickly. My arms shot out, hands up in an attempt to halt his progression.

He paused at my outreached arms. Then, he raised his hands and grasped mine in a gentle hold.

Prince Drake’s eyes softened, a tenderness pooling from their amethyst depths.

My body trembling, I licked my lips. Dismay singed my nerves when I noted his gaze darkened with lust at the sight of my tongue flicking out between my lips.

“I’ve found you,” the male murmured, his tone that of wonder. He squeezed my hands slightly, drawing them to his chest. “I’ve finally found you.” He dipped his head, his brow resting against mine. “Mate,” he said hoarsely.

He was tall, towering over me. His strong body being so near should’ve sent alarm bells clanging inside my mind—this deadly male was caging me in. Yet, I felt as if his muscled body blanketed me, his warmth enveloping me and thwarting the cold wind that buffeted us.

My eyes fluttered at the contact—the warmth seeping from his strong, calloused hands into mine. Moisture flooded my mouth as I realized how close our mouths were to each other and the hot breath that fanned my face.

I shook my head once more as tears pricked my eyes. “No,” I cried to the male. “We can’t be mates. We can’t!”

He released one of my hands to cup the soft skin of my cheek. Prince Drake’s thumb feathered over my lips, and a low groan tore from his throat.

“But we are,” he murmured. “We cannot deny fate. ”

My lips twisted, and I sniffled, fighting to keep the tears at bay.

My body felt as if it were being rent in two.

My mind screamed to tear myself from this male—to run and never look back.

He was the enemy! Prince Drake’s people had killed my brother.

Hell, this prince surely went into battle. What if he’d murdered my beloved Xanu?!

Yet, I couldn’t deny that every cell in my body danced at the feel of him, at his nearness. My wolf nearly groaned in pleasure, brushing her pelt beneath my skin, desperate for contact with our mate.

“Fate is cruel,” I whispered. My eyes lifted to connect with his. “How can we possibly be mates? We aren’t even the same Lanair.”

A werewolf and a shadow fae? It was simply lunacy.

The male shrugged one broad shoulder. “Yet here we are,” he said simply.

“My body recognizes you as mine.” I winced.

Prince Drake invaded my space even more, stepping close till our bodies were flushed from head to toe; our hands bracketed between our heaving chests.

His gaze sharpened. “Don’t deny you can feel it too. The bond.”

I closed my eyes briefly.

There it is.

The bond was luminescent, spanning from my psyche in a brilliant flame.

It spread outward; the crimson thread melded into another, this one a dark lavender ice—the male’s bond webbing through mine.

The bond had yet to circle around each of us; the cord wouldn’t be complete until the willing consummation of the mating bond.

I whimpered at the reality of my plight.

The male pressed a soft kiss to my brow.

My eyes snapped shut. Then I felt his index finger hook underneath my chin, angling my head back.

My eyes fluttered open to find his boring into my soul.

His gaze dropped for a moment to my lips before flitting up to collide with my gaze once more.

I was no fool. I knew Prince Drake sought permission to kiss me.

Indecision warred with desire within my tightly coiled muscles. He lowered his head a fraction, then awaited my reply—my move.

My breathing became labored. What does he taste like? Do I want to find out?

Ever so slowly, I closed my eyes in defeat, my lips parting in anticipation of the wet heat of his lips pressed against mine. My heart pounded so hard that I heard the beats ringing in my ears. One heartbeat passed, then two. Two turned into three, then five.

Nothing.

My eyes cracked open, peeking up at Prince Drake.

The male’s lips hardened into a thin line.

The warmth I had witnessed in his eyes only a moment ago was replaced by frigid ice.

My eyes flew open as I sensed the change in the prince.

My inner wolf cocked its head, letting out a whimper of confusion.

What had come over our mate? The she-wolf wondered.

He withdrew his hand and took a step back. The lack of heat, feeding between our bodies, sent shock rippling through my veins—like ice water dousing my body.

“You’re right,” Prince Drake said, his tone flat. “We are enemies. We can’t—” he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “ This can’t happen.”

My heart shattered at his words. A tear slipped unbidden from my eye to spill down my cheek. The male’s face twisted with regret. He swiped the tear away with a thumb, then let his hand fall to his side.

Nodding shakily, I said, “Y-yes,” I sucked in a ragged breath. “You’re right…I should just—yeah—I should go.” I hooked a thumb back to the castle looming above us, to my quarters.

The male nodded with reluctance. His eyes shone with longing, and as I pivoted, I felt the heat of his gaze burning through my back.

My steps quickened before I lifted my skirt and set into a flat-out run.

Racing back to the castle doors that led into the garden, I sought to put as much distance between myself and the male—my mate —as possible.

Though with each step, the shards of my heard fractured into smaller pieces.

“I can’t,” I panted to myself. “I can’t feel this way. He’s the enemy, dammit!”

I paused around the corner of the doors, the castle’s elven guards still stationed at their posts. I allowed the tears to fall freely. My mate, my life. The shadow fae prince’s life. My brother’s life snuffed out too soon.

This world is so screwed up.

Swiping at my cheeks to rid the tear stains, I straightened, smoothed out my skirts in an attempt to gather my composure, and slipped inside the castle to my room.

That night I dreamt of amethyst eyes calling to me and my body cocooned in a warm protective embrace.