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Chapter One

NYX

Seven Years Ago

Briggs was the most stunning male Nyx had ever seen. With skin like midnight, a voice like velvet, and eyes of an old soul, he made something inside her cry out in longing.

At age sixteen, she was tall for a girl and the village women said she’d just continue to grow. Nyx towered over everyone, but next to Briggs… he made her feel downright petite. And she liked it.

Her brother had brought Briggs to them a short month ago but from that very moment, Nyx knew she wanted him to be hers. True she was too young for such things, at least that’s what Pyre said, yet Nyx knew in her heart that Briggs was the male for her. His quiet manner, shy nature, and kind soul made him perfect. It was three years until she’d be considered an adult in the Talagan culture, but that didn’t stop her body from reacting to his scent—his mating call.

Sweet poison, it just about dropped Nyx to her knees.

There was no doubt about it. He was a strong potential mate. Now all she had to do was make him notice her. Her shy bear kept to the edges of their society but tonight she’d draw him from his shell and make him see her.

Dressed in her best skirt and top, and a flagon of filched honeyed wine in her left hand, Nyx ghosted through the halls of the Dark Keep toward the library. Briggs was notorious for hiding himself away with the old dusty tomes and reading for hours.

Nyx padded to the library doors and took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. This was it. She’d been alone since her mother died, with Pyre coming and going, but never there. True, she loved him and didn’t begrudge him; it left her life a bit empty at times. But no more. Excitement skittered up her spine. Soon she’d have a mate of her very own.

Slipping inside, she smiled as the familiar scent of paper and warm candle wax curled around her. There was something so comforting about being surrounded by thousands of books. It was like being greeted by hundreds of potential new friends.

With her deep purple skirt swishing around her feet, Nyx navigated through the labyrinth of towering bookshelves with silent steps. She moved deeper into the library toward the small, windowed alcove near the back that Briggs favored. Nyx paused and peeked around the edge of the last bookshelf nearest to the niche. Her heart picked up pace and her palms began to sweat as she spotted her bear.

Some of her nerves melted away. Briggs sat on the floor with his back to the wall, strong legs stretched out before him, crossed at the ankles, chin on chest as he snored. Nyx slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles as the book in his hands teetered dangerously. Faint winter light slipped through a crack in the black velvet curtains and caught in his long sooty lashes. It was almost too picturesque.

Here goes nothing.

On bare feet, she tiptoed toward his alcove, halted just out of reach, and then knelt by his side to rescue his book. Carefully, she leaned over and pulled the tome from his hands and gently flipped it closed with her right hand.

“No!”

Nyx flinched, almost dropping the heavy book as her gaze flew to his face. Briggs’ brows slashed together, and a low growl rumbled in his chest, causing the hair along Nyx’s arms to rise. She examined his painful expression and how his eyes flickered beneath his lids.

A nightmare?

Time to wake him up.

“Briggs,” she whispered softly. Nyx didn’t want tostartle him awake.

No reaction.

She sat back on her heels, set down the wine and his book. The man was a hard sleeper.

Briggs growled again and shuddered, pressing back against the wall, brows lowered. “Don’t touch me.” His voice was guttural and terrified.

Nyx scooted closer and placed her left hand on his shoulder. “Briggs, wake up.” His face screwed up but he didn’t wake. She leaned closer, placing her right hand onto his chest and shook him harder. “Wake up! You’re having a nightmare.”

His eyes snapped open the same time his hand curled around her throat. Shock ran up her spine when he lunged forward, tumbling Nyx onto her back. She wheezed as he threw himself on top of her and squeezed.

“You’re hurting me.” She clawed at his hand; eyes wide as she stared up at her mate. “Briggs, it’s me, Nyx.”

His eyes were blank. No recognition.

Panic started to rise her throat and she kicked her legs against the stone floor to get traction.

“No lies, Mistress. I know what you are,” he hissed. She cried out when his grip tightened and he shook, clacking her teeth together. “I won’t let you hurt anyone else.”

You’re going to pass out. Fight.

Nyx struggled to breathe past the panic but managed to wrap her legs around his tapered waist. She heaved her hips and twisted to the right, unbalancing him enough that she was able to reverse their positions. She slammed her elbow down in the crook of his arm, managing to break his chokehold.

Coughing, Nyx scrambled back immediately, tripping on her skirt, eyes watering. Just what sort of nightmare was he living?

“Snap out of it! You’re dreaming. It’s me, Nyx,” she rasped, holding her burning throat as he rolled to his knees.

Briggs snarled and came at her again. Terror shot up her spine and she scrambled for any weapon. Her fingers curled around the flagon of wine, and she jumped to her feet, swinging as he came into range. Her stomach dropped at the sickening sound of the pottery breaking against his skull.

“I’m sorry,” she cried and backed away, holding what remained of the flagon handle as Briggs shook the wine from his black curly hair and glared at her, still lost in his mind.

He bared his fangs at her and growled low, seeming to swell in size. Dotae be good, if he shifted right now, Nyx wouldn’t have a chance against a bear his size.

She held her hands up while trying to edge out of the alcove. If she could get to the bookshelves, she could lose him and reach the entrance to the library.She was smaller and nimbler. He’d never be able to catch up.

“You don’t have to do this. Just wake up,” she pleaded one last time. “I’m your friend, Nyx. Not the enemy.”

Another step toward the library. She stiffened as the hair along his arms rose and his nails lengthened into claws.

Time to go.

Nyx bolted out of the niche and into the maze of bookshelves. Briggs snarled and followed; his heavy footsteps closer than she would have liked. Pumping her arms, she sped up, bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor.

The next turn came into view and her eyes narrowed. If she used the bookshelf to swing around the corner, she be able to keep up her momentum and?—

Briggs grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked. She screamed, clawing at his hand as they crashed into the stone wall, dropping the flagon handle. Stars burst across her vision as pain spread across her left cheek and her ribs.

“You thought you could run from you sins?” Briggs hissed in her ear. He spun her around and pinned her in place.

Nyx blinked past the agony in her face and tried to focus on him as he seized her hands in one of his huge palms and held them above her head, practically grinding her wrist bones together. More tears dripped down her cheeks.

“You don’t want to hurt me. I’m your friend,” she choked out.

Still no recognition. All she could see was hate and fear in his gaze.

Her bottom lip trembled, and she bit it. What could she do to get him to wake up?What would comfort him?

Unbidden, she began to roughly hum her mother’s favorite lullaby. Her throat burned but she didn’t stop. Briggs frowned and his grip slackened enough that she could pull one of her hands from his grip.

He hissed but otherwise didn’t react as she carefully placed her left hand on his right forearm. Her fingers trembled as he continued to growl. Nyx began drawing patterns on his skin like her mother used to do for her when she was frightened or needed comfort. Nyx continued to hum and soothe the bear, watching as his muscles began to lose some of their tension.

Taking a risk, she skated her fingertips over his pulse at the base of his neck and up to his strong jawline.It would be so easy for him to turn his face and rip into her flesh, but he didn’t. Her bear’s eyes closed as she traced his face.

A sob escaped her when the fingers in her hair released and then cradled her skull.

Thank the stars, he was coming back.

“You’re okay,” she croaked. “It’s just me, Nyx. You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Briggs’ eyes snapped open, clarity returning in a slow wave. Her fingertips paused on his lips and traced down to his collarbone. Her chest rose up and down in huge breaths as she waited. He blinked slowly and scanned her face before stiffening as he noticed their position.

Briggs released her and scrambled back like she was on fire.

Nyx slumped against the wall and sucked in a deep painful breath as he eyed her with increasing alarm.

“How bad are you hurt?” he asked, deep voice holding a hint of panic.

“I’m fine.” Her voice cracked, making a liar out of her. “It’s just a little bruising.”

He blinked hard; eyes trained on her neck. “Itried to kill you,” he replied woodenly. He held out his hands like they’d betrayed him. “My fingers are imprinted on your skin.”

She shivered at his words and gave him a weak smile. “I’ve had worse, and you weren’t yourself.” Nyx pushed away from the wall, feeling achy all over, and thanked the stars she’d survived. Tonight, had not gone as she’d planned. It definitely wasn’t the ideal rendezvous she’d imagined with her mate. “You good?”

He snorted, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and pointer finger. “I attacked you, and yet you’re asking me if I’m alright?”

“Yeah, I am.” Because you’re besotted.

He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

That broke her heart. “That’s okay. All of us are a little broken. It’s made a bit more bearable with friends though.” Nyx smiled at him. “No need to worry yourself. I forgive you.”

“You shouldn’t.” He dropped his hands, fingers curling into fists at his sides.

“What are friends for?” She held her right palm out. “Shall we shake hands and put this behind us?”

Briggs started and then took a step backward. “I don’t need any friends.”

Nyx jerked as if he’d slapped her. She dropped her hand and wrapped her arms around herself. Was he rejecting her?

His expression cleared and he strode toward the door, making sure to give her a wide berth. “I’ll send a healer to you. I’m so sorry.”

Nyx blinked as he practically sprinted from the library.

She’d come with plans to seduce him, and he’d almost killed her.

They were off to a great start.