Page 19 of Rejected By the Shifter King

Chapter Five

BOTH BEAST AND MANstruggled to regain control as the silence inside the van grew agonizingly taut. Lysander knew that Estrella could only have a lot of questions in her mind, but not once did she betray her confusion or fears. She remained on his lap, serenely still, her gaze somber, her heartbeat steady.

I trust you.

Everything about her whispered this, and bit by bit, the rampaging, churning emotions inside of him eased.

Outside the van, the twins stood next to the platoon of soldiers, in position to formally welcome their prince.

Or at least that was the plan.

But whether that were to come true or not...

Frustration clawed at his chest. He knew, more than anyone else, how much Faes were predisposed to detest anything animalistic, and so how fucking ironic it was, that Lysander, with the blood of Ammon coursing through his veins, might as well be the Prince of Beasts?

He had to change.Now.

But for that to happen—-

Estrella.

Green eyes filled with concern readily flew up to his.What is it?

I must...change...now. But...if I do...the beast in me...

Estrella could sense Lysander's growing tension. "Whatever it is, it's okay. I promise you—-"

I must...take...you...first..

"I can handle -what?"Estrella could feel her cheeks burning up as she tried to make sense of what she heard. Or what shethoughtshe heard. Because maybe—-

You did...NOT...hear wrong.

Estrella swallowed hard.Oh.

You must...understand. Two years...thoughts of you... the only thing...kept me...alive. So the beast...I...we hunger. We crave.

Her cheeks were now on fire, his words making her think of all sorts of erotically forbidden things.

And when...I turn, I'm not...sure...I am...able to...control...myself.

Estrella's heart slammed against her chest.Dear God.What did he mean he wouldn't be able to control himself? That the moment he turned back into a man, he would take one look at her, and he would...

She cleared her throat. "You, um, said..."Oh dear God, this was so hard."You would, um, take me...in some way?"Like, there was more than one way?

The innocent thought, albeit unspoken, was something Lysander heard just fine, and it was just too fucking much. A growl of arousal escaped him as he sought to capture her gaze with his, just so she could fucking see in his eyes...

Estrella's lips parted in shock at the amount of lust staring back at her.Ooooooh...myyyy.