Page 33 of Jace's Mate

Pleasehim?She’d spent her entire lifedispleasingmen—on purpose.Men were beasts who tried to crush her spirit, and her uncle was the worst of them all.She’d never had the strength to leave him.

So why was she walking into this building?

Why was she followingthisman—the one turning her world inside out?

The soft shuffle of footsteps behind her drew her attention.She glanced over her shoulder.The three men had followed, stopping the moment she looked at them.Were they guarding her?

Or…herdingher?

The thought chilled her, but another flicker of instinct stirred—a quiet voice whispering something impossible:You could command them.

And they would obey.

Anikka pressed her hands to her chest, as if she could protect herself from whatever force was unraveling inside her.Still, she stepped forward.Slowly.Reluctantly.

“Anikka,” Jace called, not raising his voice—but the pull was there.Undeniable.

She rushed inside, following him toward the elevator.

The black granite and glass lobby was sleek and modern, but she barely noticed.Everyone had stopped what they were doing.Staring as they made their way across the lobby.

Were they gawking at her awful dress?Could they smell her sweat?Did she stink?

She looked toward the elevator.Jace stood inside, one arm outstretched to hold the door.His expression was calm—too calm—but she sensed something simmering beneath the surface.Not impatience.Something else.Something… unrecognizable.

The three men entered behind her.All faced forward, boxing her in.She was pressed toward the back, closer to Jace.

Too close.

She turned her head, craning her neck to look up at him.His jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed straight ahead.But sheknew—he was hyperaware of her.Every breath, every shift of her weight.He tracked it all.

The elevator rose.

And then thesmellshit her.

Not just Jace—although his scent wrapped around her like a heated blanket—but the others, too.It was overwhelming.One had eaten pastrami.Another… ?Roast beef.And the third...a salad?

“It was delicious,” the third murmured, his voice low and rough—more animal than man.

Like a wolf, she thought wildly, and jolted back.

The elevator doors slid open.The men stepped out—two smirking at the salad-eater, who simply rolled his eyes and stepped aside, waiting for Jace.

But Jace didn’t move.

Instead, he turned toward her, arm extended, gesturing for her to go first.

Anikka hesitated, then stepped forward with cautious, uncertain steps.The hallway beyond was long, dimly lit, and silent.

Except—it wasn’t.

Voices.

So many voices.

She’d always had good hearing, but this...this was unnatural.She clamped her hands over her ears.It dulled the noise slightly, but not enough.Still the voices trickled in—murmurs, snippets, thoughts that didn’t sound spoken aloud.

“This way,” Jace said gently, placing his hand at the small of her back.