Page 42 of Entwined
“What changed?”
“You did, Princess.”
“So that’s it?” she demands, rebellion darkening her eyes into something stormy. “It’s done?”
Connor and I share a look, silently communicating without words. He dips his chin, his mouth curving wickedly, before turning back to her. “Not yet,” he admits.
I tap my sternum. “You’ve gotta lay your claim on us, Princess.” In complete unison, Connor and I take a step toward her, and her eyes flare, eyes bouncing between us.
“So, you’re saying to complete the mating,” she says slowly, “I have to choose to lay a claim on you.”
“That bond is already there, Princess. You can’t keep fighting us forever.”
“Or what?” she taunts. “You’ll drugmy drink again? That seems to be the easiest way for you two, hm? There’s no fight with someone so out of it she barely remembers what you even feel like.”
Connor growls, baring his teeth. Felicity shoots him a wary glance, her confidence faltering for a beat, but she straightens her shoulders.
“You keep saying I’m yours, but I’m not your property. If I claim you, we’re going to be equals.”
I push my bottom lip out in a pout. “You gonna take all my fun away, baby?”
“No,” she corrects a little quickly. “I’m telling you there needs to be more discussion around it beforehand. And you can’t make unilateral decisions for me.”
I tip my chin at her, and she looks at Connor, waiting for his silent agreement, too.
“I don’t know if I’m convinced,” she murmurs, and something about her tone has me narrowing my eyes. The suspicion only deepens when she glances over her shoulder at the castle looming in the background, as if gauging the distance to safety.
“My wolf’s riding the high of bloodlust.” Connor’s voice is guttural. “You push me right now?—”
The words haven’t even left his lips, and she’s gone, dark hair whipping out behind her as she turns and runs…but not in the direction I expected.
Instead, she heads straight for the shadow of the trees on the other side of the cemetery, and a devilish grin carves my mouth.
Our mate wants to play.
“We’ll give her a head start,” I murmur to Connor, aware that he’s trembling with the effort of controlling his wolf.
“How long?” he barks out, and I laugh, loving the fact that our mate is playing with us.
“Three…Two…” His wolf lunges forward, stealing his skin and throwing his head back, a haunting howl cutting through the air.
“...One.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
felicity
My chest heaves as I run, wondering if I haven’t just made a massive mistake by basically waving a red flag at a ravenous wolf.
The trees are dense and dark, the canopy overhead letting in only the barest glimpse of sunlight, but I carry onward. My foot catches on an exposed root, and my arms flail as I try to catch my balance.
When I’m steady, I pause, losing precious seconds as I spin around, trying to get my bearings. Everything looks the same. I have no idea which direction will lead me away, and which one will serve me up on a silver platter.
A loud howl pierces the air, sending a shiver rolling down my spine. Adrenaline surges, and I make a split-second decision, diving to my left, darting in between tree trunks, desperately searching for a clear path through.
My heartbeat whooshes loudly in my ears, but I still hear the crash of a large body moving through the underbrush, his footsteps thundering in my direction, getting louder with each step.
“Now you’ve done it, Princess,” Vaelor calls outteasingly, his voice feeling like it’s coming from everywhere and nowhere just as ice touches my cheek. “Remember, this wasyourchoice.”