Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 43296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
His cockiness infuriated her, but she would be lying if she didn’t admit it also had her growing wetter. He closed his eyes, and the way he inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring slightly, let her know he was very aware of what his presence did to her.
When he opened them again, she gasped as his eyes glowed purple.
“Your words contradict what your body is screaming.” His voice, all gravelly and harsh like a serrated blade scraping along her flesh and nicking its way over her body, had her panting for air. Her mouth parted, but nothing came out.
His self- satisfied smirk had her toes curling in lust, and her hands fisting in anger. And then he was gone without another word or a look back as he strode out of the room.
Genet and Raimi stared at her, their silence like a cloak suffocating her. Raimi started rubbing the back of his neck, and Genet coughed in his hand.
For such a big, hulking warriors, it seemed they were embarrassed and unsure about what she could only assume were their brother’s actions.
“His intentions are in the right place, even if he is acting like an asshole.” Raimi grinned over at her, and she melted at the almost boyish charm that came from him.
“I don’t know how familiar you are with our species’ reactions when we find our mate, but for some, it is more intense than others.” Genet glanced down, not meeting her eyes.
With Genet and Raimi, she grew warm and welcoming, but she suspected it had to do with the fact they didn’t try to push their dominance on her like their brother did. Then there was Erak, with his overbearing ways, telling her what he wanted her to do after she had just woken up and was disoriented.
Because he wanted her to do what he said, it made her that more determined not to.
“It seems you two are far different from your older brother.” She suddenly felt so very drained. Closing her eyes and bowing her head, she inhaled deeply, trying to calm the steadily building ache behind her forehead.
“Erak is a species all of his own.” Genet’s deep voice was right before her, and she snapped her head up.
There was only warmth and understanding and the need to help her that came from him.
“It’s the fact he is next in line for the throne, and the power that he gets from being the eldest circulates through him, making him more of a predator than any other Aktulla male, including Raimi and me. He was trained differently, as well, because he is the eldest. He was conditioned to be more ruthless and unforgiving. I think it is hard for him to separate his personal life from the battlefield.”
Genet explained it perfectly because that was exactly what Erak was, a predator that maimed, took, and killed without remorse.
“He is used to getting what he wants at all costs and has never had to fight for a female’s attention.” Genet smiled and kept eye contact with her. “I’m not making excuses for him, and I’ll be honest when I say, I have never seen him be that intense before, even when we were in battle.”
When he lifted his hand to brush a lock of her hair away, she didn’t flinch.
“I can’t tell you he won’t get worse the longer you deny him because that would be a lie, and I will never lie to you, but I will also never push you. Erak may be dominating in all things, but he will never take from you what you do not give willingly. You are our mate, Luna, and I know it is hard for you to understand since humans don’t have that kind of bone-deep connection and instinctual, primal pull my species has.”
He let his hands trail down her arms, mindful of her still healing injuries, and took hold of her hand.
“We can talk about this when you feel better. None of this was supposed to be thrust on you this soon.”
He led her over to the bed and helped her into it, and Luna didn’t fight him. She kept the blanket tightly around her, but a little part of her broke from the gentleness that came from Genet. Raimi stood off to the side, looking slightly uncomfortable.
Here, she was experiencing a totally different lifestyle than she used to lead. Unconditional kindness, the desire to tend to her and make sure she was whole, and a warmth that she had never felt in a world full of darkness wrapped around her in a protective embrace.
She felt something for these men who were strangers to her, things that she didn’t understand and didn’t know if she felt very comfortable with. There was definitely a pull that had her wanting to be near them, feel their hands on her, and bask in the glowing heat that came from them.