Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Macauley gripped him tight—his hold filled with worry and frustration— as if he was trying to not only penetrate Adres’s mind but his body as well.
“Let. Me. In.” Macauley’s voice was grittier than before, and Adres ground his teeth at the pain searing his chest. He literally felt the claws shredding his insides.
“It is not me,” Adres said around the agony. “It is a sorcerer’s magic. Not mine.”
“I can feel more of you than you think. The curse inside of you is strong.” Macauley’s blunt fingertips dug into the sensitive flesh over his chest before his eyes flashed to his wolf’s, an Arctic blue so brilliant it illuminated the darkness around them. “But not strong enough.”
Adres felt a hard snap that came from deep in his chest almost near his spine that sounded like a rib cracking as Macauley shot his power into him at full force. At least it felt like full strength. A guttural sound escaped the back of Adres’s throat at the shock of his beloved’s wolf in his core fighting the curse that was entangled with his soul.
Another snap, then another, each more destructive than the last. Every time Macauley tore a ward down, he would cover the area with his essence, and it was that much more of his beloved he could feel.
He’d underestimated the young wolf.
Adres drove his hands into Macauley’s thick hair and pressed his cheek against his throat, thankful for the hint of hope he’d been given. It had felt so good having his beloved inside him, to have a reprieve from the isolation, that he barely suppressed his objection when Macauley eased out of him, leaving behind the sensation that he had just made passionate love to his soul.
Adres didn’t think it would hurt to show Macauley the truth—believing he deserved that much—but he hadn’t expected him to take his predicament as a direct challenge. While Adres still couldn’t feel the full extent of their true mate bond, he felt a lot more than he did last week.
“Who did this to you?” Macauley asked, rubbing Adres’s arms, watching him through less intimidating blue eyes, his voice and touch more tender.
“A sorcerer who my brothers and I hunted down and killed generations ago. We assumed the spell would break when I took his head off.” Adres shook his head. “It did not.”
“Have you tried seeing a—?”
“I have traveled the world ten times over searching for a cure, trying to find a sorcerer who was even half as strong as him. But…”
“But you did not try here.”
Adres couldn’t deny that Macauley’s righteous wolf was strong enough to fight that kind of evil, but it had taken a lot of energy out of him, and the curse was still far from broken. But his cherished had punched a decent-sized hole through it. Macauley was quiet, his chin resting on top of Adres’s head as if he were pondering what he’d just experienced. He rubbed his lips across Macauley’s protruding Adam’s apple, his fangs tingling with elixir that he wanted to sink into his veins.
“I need to speak to Taleb about this. He’ll know what to do… and if he doesn’t, he won’t stop until he figures it out. My brothers and sister will be able to help us.”
Adres was willing to accept whatever relief Macauley could give him, but he was not about to let his entire family into his head. Not possible. “I will not allow anyone else inside of me like that. I do not care what other abilities your siblings possess.”
Macauley smirked. “You’re very argumentative.”
“Pardon me?”
“Nothing.” Macauley’s possessive grin made him look like the virile alpha he was. “What I mean is my siblings can figure out an answer. Taleb’s wolf is the bringer of wisdom, and one of my brothers is part demigod. I’m sure we can all put our heads together and think of something.”
“My soul is not—”
Macauley placed his fingertips over his lips, already seeming to understand his objection, his hot gaze lingering on Adres’s mouth. “But none of them have the ability to penetrate a soul. Only my wolf can do that because it detects evil that lurks within.” Macauley began to button Adres’s clothes and right his shawl before he slowly returned his hood over his head. “No one will be inside you ever again… except me.”
“You asked to be able to witness it for yourself, and I allowed it. You have seen inside me and what is not there. If we mate, it could be harmful to your wolf’s sanity if he can never reach my soul, Macauley. I won’t allow it.” Adres frowned. “You are actually considering keeping me as your mate?”
A seductive gleam sparked in Macauley’s eyes. “You can try to run if you want. But I have your scent embedded deep now, mate. There’s nowhere on this earth that you can hide from me.”