Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
I hugged my knees, looking at my feet. The desire to go to him yanked at my middle, drying up any interest in hanging out with these members of the pack. Part of me hated to leave, though. I felt included right now. They listened when I talked, laughed at my jokes, and told me to stop telling stories because they were depressing, which made me laugh so hard I wheezed. It shouldn’t have been funny, but the way they said it, with dark humor, tickled me.
But as much as I enjoyed having the easy camaraderie, even as a prisoner, I couldn’t deny the overwhelming need to be near Weston. It was maddening. He was the man who kept me hostage and had no guilt about ripping my life apart. He continued to keep my magic from me. I should want to torch the bed he slept in.
Instead, I just wanted to curl up with him and feel his warm skin. To receive his kisses and his attention. To feel his body moving within mine.
Fuck this strange pull.
Is this what love feels like?
It couldn’t be. I didn’t know enough about him to feel love. This had to be something else, another little secret he was probably keeping from me. It had to be.
Telling myself it was to strengthen my escape plan, I finally relented. I excused myself and made my way to the tent. Once there, I hesitated at the opened flap.
He sat on the ground next to the cot, using it as a back rest, reading one of my journals with a pencil in hand, making notes. He looked up as I was deciding if I’d leave again and placed his thumb in the spine of the journal to keep his place before closing it.
“Come in,” he said softly.
I eyed the journal.
He caught the look, lifting it for a moment. “You were twenty-two here. Granny got you a cake for your birthday. You seemed really happy and fulfilled in this passage. I can see why you thought she was family. She did seem to notice the details of your life in a way I’ve never heard of her doing with anyone else.”
I took the step inside the tent, choosing to sit on the ground beside him. “She noticed everyone’s details. I realized that when we were traveling earlier today and I was talking to Hadriel about my depressing life.” I smiled remembering his comments as he’d squeezed my knee in support.
“She knew Raz’s favorite liquor and when his mating anniversary was. She often surprised him and his mate with something special because she knew how much they each loved the memory of their mating day. Alexander got a lot of gifts, the disgusting pig. He boasted about them all the time.”
“Yes, I’ve seen your comments about all that. She kept her people happy. There is nothing wrong in that.”
“As an employer.”
He lowered the journal again. “You can’t know that specifically. As you said, she took you in before she knew how priceless you’d become to her organization.”
It was nice of him to say. I clutched on to the sentiment, hoping it was at least partially true.
“I’m skimming, Aurelia.” His tone was hushed. “I am looking only for the bits of information that can help me. As much as I can, I am skimming. I’m trying to preserve your privacy.”
“Yet you’re reading about the birthday that she surprised me with a cake.”
He looked at me for a long beat. “Sometimes I can’t help but get snagged. Maybe you can share this story. Then maybe it won’t be so very depressing.”
I huffed out a laugh, leaning into him. “You’ve got jokes, too, huh?”
“You’ll fit right in at the castle, that’s clear.”
My smile drifted away. He was so sure he’d get me there. He was resolute in making me stand judgment, even knowing I could receive a life-ending punishment.
I couldn’t think about this anymore. Hadriel was right—my life was so fucking depressing. I might as well give in to the things I enjoyed, regardless of how toxic they might be.
I pushed the journal away and swung a leg over Weston’s lap, sitting down onto him with a release of breath. His cock hardened quickly and his hands came around me, the journal forgotten. Despite all logic, I did crave this man. I always had. Despite his betrayal and my anger, I wanted him. I might as well make the most of it and forget the stuff that would bring me down, at least for the moment.
“My head is clear,” I breathed, taking his lips with mine. I ran my tongue along the seam of his mouth and was rewarded when his opened and his tongue danced with mine.
His hands slid up the inside of my shirt but I pushed off him, needing to take my clothes off by myself. The items in my pockets needed to stay there without being discovered.