Chapter 2

She was so lovely in the moonlight, but it couldn’t stop the anger that licked at him for her insistence that they ignore Jeevan’s death. By ignoring it, she let it grow like a wide gulf between them. His gaze followed her pale body, his cock twitching to life once more. He groaned. He should not want her again so soon, but it had always been so with them. No other woman could compare.

He growled, stooping to change into a tiger. The suction of bone and sinew popping into a new shape sounded loud in the quiet stillness of the desert. The sound was mimicked by Mahlia’s change into her snow tiger form. Her long boots lay discarded beside her as they faced each other.

Watching her, he considered. He could obey her wishes and not speak of their lost son, or he could use the time she was trapped with him to his advantage. He dragged his tongue down a long fang and then stopped himself. He’d picked up the habit from Kesuk over the past three Turns. He shook the thought away, focusing on his mate.

It was not your fault he died, Mahlia. Or mine.

Incandescent rage burned in her blue eyes as her tail lashed behind her. She pivoted on her haunches to run for the capital city, her long white-and-brown-striped body gliding over the brilliant white sand. He pulled even with her shoulder but did not pass her. He did not want her to fall behind. Her safety was precious to him, and he would not lose her to the scorching heat of the sun. If not for the near constant twilight the moons provided by blocking the sun, Vesperi would be far too hot to inhabit. It was too close to the sun. No human could survive under its blistering heat for more than a few minutes. They would be incinerated.

I know that.

Her telepathic voice was a tight, furious cadence in his mind.

Yet you are angry with me.

You left me! You left me here to cope alone.

You told me to leave.

The pain of that still reverberated through him, but he’d had six months without her to know that he had no desire to live that way. Her quiet strength was a balm for him, and he’d craved her every day he’d spent alone.

You wanted to go. You wanted to run away, and I wasn’t going to beg you to stay.

He snorted. Beg me? You never acted as though you wanted to have anything to do with me. How was I to know, Mahlia? I am a king, not a mind reader.

You didn’t ask me to come with you.

Space travel is dangerous, Mahlia. I won’t—

And your worry is greater than mine? You think I don’t fear that you’ll never return when you leave for half of each Turn?

He continued as if she hadn’t interrupted. I won’t risk your life. I won’t lose someone else it is my responsibility to protect.

Her stride faltered for a moment before she picked up her speed, stretching into a sprint. Don’t you see that you’re losing me anyway?

His breath caught. Mahlia—

She shook her head, pointed ears twitching. What of this child? If we’ve made a—

We have. And if not, we will try again.

Maybe we shouldn’t. It is not unheard of for an Amir to have multiple mates throughout his life.

His roar sounded over the sand. Never!

Varad—

He leaped in front of her, whipping around so they stood face-to-face, noses nearly touching. His eyes locked with hers, awareness spinning between them as it always did. He wanted her still, again. Always. He made his thoughts low, coaxing, seductive. Could any man please you as I do, Mahlia?

She paused, her gaze sliding away. No.

The bare whisper met his mind, but he was satisfied. She could not consider leaving him. Pain banded his chest. He shook his head. He would not stand for it. Ever. Stepping aside, he jerked his chin in the direction of the palace, indicating that she continue.

She pressed forward, and he fell in behind her, the fast rhythm of her smooth stride a pleasure to behold. You will see our babe for barely a month, and then off you’ll go, disappearing into the ether for the Gods know how long.

I do what I must for our people. Trade keeps us prosperous.

You need to also do what you must for our mating. For our family.

You think I neglect you?

I am not a mind reader either, Varad. I think you don’t care for my company enough to see me for more than a few stolen moments to roll in bed. I am merely a convenient bedmate. Even then, it is for but half the Turn. What tigress would be satisfied with that?

He snorted. You think this is convenient? If I wanted a bedmate, I could have anyone I desired.

She hissed at him, but said nothing more. She was jealous. Good. It meant she cared, no matter what she pretended. He spoke nothing less than the truth. Sex was an easy thing, but mating? That was another issue altogether. Did she not know he would do anything for her? Anything except let her leave him.

Still, she had not discussed Jeevan with him. For both their sakes, they needed to talk about this. Silence stretched between them while they ran as fast as their legs would carry them. Their breath grew labored, and his muscles screamed with pain. Every part of him ached, and with each step agony slammed into him, racing up from his paws to the base of his skull. He knew not how many miles they had traveled. The distance before them stretched interminably. The dunes gave way to hard-packed white dirt, and he breathed a momentary sigh of relief. They were getting close. Pointed spires rose into the sky, the golden tips coated to catch the solar heat and power the capital. The sky began to lighten with the ominous beginnings of sunrise.

His gut tightened. Gods, they might not make it. No. They were too close to fail.

Hurry, Mahlia. He sent the command and picked up his pace until he drew even with her. Her pale blue eyes were dull with exhaustion when she looked at him. Her head dipped low with each stride, labored breath whistling out. We are almost there.

Just…go…

Her telepathy was barely above a whisper, and his heart stuttered at how weak she sounded. He prayed as he had not since his son lay dying that there was a miracle for them. Go on without her? He snorted. Foolish thought.

I will not leave you.

Then…you will die.

I have faith.

I do…not.

Go, Mahlia. He whipped his tail at the back of her legs. She hissed at him but did not slow, racing for the gates of the city. Good.

Oh, Gods. The gates. He narrowed his eyes and saw that the massive metal gates were swinging closed as they did at every dawn. Fear hammered at his heart. No. He would not let his mate die. Not another life so precious to him. Never again.

Open the gates!

He shoved the telepathic command as wide as it would go. Surely someone would hear him and obey their king. The gates shuddered, creaking to a slow stop, only a hairbreadth of an opening between them. Would the guards be able to reverse the mechanisms in time? Varad’s breath bellowed out as he ran, his legs shaking with fatigue, no longer landing solidly beneath him. He willed the gates to part with all his might. They groaned and began to swing open again. Yes!

Run, Mahlia! For Gods’ blessing, run!

He had no idea how it was possible, but her paws dug deeper into the ground, and she sprinted even faster. The glow of sunlight began to lighten the horizon, and they had but moments before it would kiss them with its deadly rays.

The gates loomed closer, and they were almost upon them. A few more strides would take them through. The scorching burn of the sun hit the backs of his legs, and he yowled at the pain.

Varad!

He shifted to his human form, his bones popping back into place. Leaping forward, he wrapped his arms around Mahlia and lunged through the opening. They rolled, tumbling until his back slid against a solid stone wall. He groaned as Mahlia collapsed beside him, her white fur matted and filthy. His chest burned with every breath he pulled past his parched lips.

“We…made it. I told you…we would.”

She growled but did not so much as twitch the tip of her tail. He reached out to stroke his hand down her back. A low, soft purr vibrated her body.

A resounding crash closed out the light in the tunnel between the gates and the city. Covered walkways with tiny skyholes would let in enough light to see by but not enough to burn. The rest of the city was lit with solar-powered glowlights.

“Amir! Amira! Are you well?”

Two guards erupted from a side door. They knelt beside Varad, helping him to his feet. He hissed at the sting to the backs of his calves. He tipped and leaned on the wall, his forehead pressed on his forearm.

“Varad?”

Mahlia heaved to her feet. She turned to the guards, lifted her chin, and they nodded, turning to run for the palace.

“What…was that?” Varad asked her.

I…sent them for a healer. You’re hurt.

He sighed, too weary to argue. Turning, he rested his back against the rough wall and slid down to sit, crooking his legs so the burns would not touch the stone ground. He tilted his head up and closed his eyes, another deep breath escaping.

A triumphant smile curved his lips. Gods, they’d made it.

 

I won’t lose someone else it is my responsibility to protect. Responsibility. A bitter laugh slipped past Mahlia’s throat as she shifted into her human form. Just what she’d never wanted to be. Her father had passed his duty for her protection on to Varad. And happily so. What minor pride lord wouldn’t want his daughter mated to the Amir of Vesperi? All her sisters had mated well because of her match.

She slumped down in the open hovercraft that carried Varad and her to the palace. Her head lolled on her neck as she watched the passing buildings. People stood in clumps, bartering, haggling, just as they would any other day. Some were naked, having obviously just shifted from their animal form. She yawned and turned away. She was so tired she could sleep for a full Turn.

Varad lay with his back to her, a cloth slung across his hips while a healer bent over his scorched legs. Guilt swamped her that he suffered for having saved her. Her heart squeezed. Varad was a good man. She should be content with that, but she just…wasn’t. It wasn’t his fault. It was hers.

She’d never expected to love him or to be so crushed that he thought of her as a duty. He had mated to a naive girl a Turn ago, but so much had happened since then that the cocoon of security she had always known was now ripped away. Nothing could have prepared her for her role as Amira. Weretiger prides were political to an extreme degree.

Who sat beside whom at meals, who spoke to whom and in what order. What she wore, how she spoke. Everything was scrutinized and criticized or emulated. The only friend she could keep was Katryn. As a weredragon, she was separated from pride politics. Katryn’s ambassador father negotiated with Varad and no one else.

The healer knelt beside her. “Amira?”

“Yes, how is Var—the Amir?” Straightening her shoulders, she struggled to sit properly, as befitted an Amira. The healer laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, forcing her back down.

“The Amir will be fine in a few days. His legs look worse than they are and will likely not scar. He was quite fortunate.”

“Yes. Fortunate.” She sighed.

“Are you well, Amira?”

She nodded, serving up a wan smile. “Just tired. It was a long night.”

Her eyes never left Varad, and she considered her situation. He made it clear he wanted her, of that she’d never had any doubt. But could she live forever on the scraps of his attention? Half of each Turn alone, ruling the planet by herself? Bombarded with questions and demands, never permitted a moment to relax? Was it worth it? If Varad returned her love, she’d have no doubts. If she had someone to count on, to depend on when everything fell to pieces, she would gladly make the sacrifices.

After last Turn, after Jeevan had died, Varad had abandoned her, leaving her with no one to share her grief. Varad had gone, and she’d been left to be the brave Amira her people needed. Her personal loss was Vesperi’s public tragedy. Her hand rested low on her belly. Gods, why did it have to be so hard? Love shouldn’t hurt this much. Shouldn’t be coupled with so much crippling despair.

Varad leaned up on an elbow, glancing over his shoulder at her. She tried to smile but failed. He winced a little as he shifted position.

How do you feel?

Better than I look, no doubt. He winked.

Claw marks scored his back in wide swaths. She had done that, just as he had left behind bruises and wheals on her breasts and thighs. Mating was not a gentle process, and she stretched her sore muscles, promising herself a long bath when she returned to her chambers.

The healer squatted before her. “I can examine you when we return to the palace, Amira.”

“I said I was fine.”

“Of course, Amira. I meant to confirm that you are with child.”

Her heart jolted. Dear Gods. How had this happened? Not again. She snorted. She knew how this had happened. How Varad had happened. Now that the healer had said the words, it wasn’t something that was just between her and her mate. It seemed so much more real now. So many expectations rode on this pregnancy. She couldn’t just “be pregnant,” couldn’t have her fears about the child’s health, future, and happiness without discussing it with advisers and making a public decree.

As she licked her parched lips, her mind scrambled for a way to escape this. To run away from her reality. She cut off the thoughts. No. No turning back. This was her life. She was with child, she was mated. Acceptance was her only option. Her shoulders flexed, already feeling the weight of her responsibilities settling, a cage closing around her. If she listened closely, she could swear she heard the lock snap into place. Trapped.

The hovercraft jerked, throwing her forward. Her muscles groaned in protest at the sudden movement. She hissed out a sharp breath, squeezing her eyes closed.

“Mahlia?” Varad turned to face her.

She lifted a hand to ward him off. “Don’t.”

Don’t pretend you care now. Don’t pay attention to me for a few moments and then ignore me when your duty calls you away. Don’t be concerned while you’re with me and expect everything to be as you left it when you return. Just don’t. But she kept the words back. It wouldn’t help, and he didn’t deserve her discontent. He was just being…an Amir.

Pulling herself over to the side, she slipped off the hovercraft and stood naked in front of the palace. The craft was swarmed with servants who wanted to help her and Varad. They wanted to coddle them, but if either she or Varad allowed it, it would be looked down upon as a weakness. It didn’t matter. She wanted to be left alone. She rolled her eyes at the double standard, but a small smile quirked her lips. Tigers were a peculiar lot, and they were her lot.

Varad’s manservant moved to his lord’s side, an ever-present frown in place. Taymullah watched this and then snorted and walked up to stand beside Mahlia, his hand grasping her elbow in support. “Stodgy old bugger.”

She glanced up at Varad’s younger brother. He looked so much like her mate, slighter perhaps, but with the same deep amber eyes, full lips, golden skin, and auburn and black hair. Why couldn’t she have loved him instead? He was easy, uncomplicated…and she felt nothing but friendship for him. He had been the first to make her laugh after Jeevan had died. After Varad had left. Without Taymullah’s knowledge of the inner workings of palace politics, she never would have survived. Varad would have returned to a revolution.

Taymullah grinned down at her. “So…interesting evening?”

Nudging him with her shoulder, she grinned. “Hold your tongue.”

“I could, but I’d look ridiculous.”

She giggled, lifting her hand to cover it with a cough. People would think her callous to laugh when her mate was injured. Lifting her chin, she walked inside the gleaming white building. Varad would return to his chambers and sleep. She was not needed, and she craved a few hours of blissful slumber herself. And a bath. A long, hot bath.

Taymullah spoke to her as a low aside. “Do you need any assistance?”

“No. Your brother might.”

“I suspect you’ll see him sooner than I will.” His wicked chuckle spoke volumes, and if they weren’t in public, she would have boxed his princely ears.

“Haven’t you anything better to discuss than your brother’s mating habits?”

“Certainly not. The whole planet is abuzz with rumors of a new heir.”

Her stiff fingers folded over her belly, pain zinging through her at the thought of palace gossipmongers. “It could be a female.”

“A female can grow old enough to breed a proper heir.”

She snorted. “Proper indeed.”

“I say only what is true, Amira.”

“How is it that you are such a tease and so very practical all at once?”

He released a great sigh, his boots rapping a staccato beat on the marble floors. “A talent I learned at my elder brother’s knee.”

“A truer statement has never been uttered.”

“Taymullah the Truthful. Shall I have a statue carved in my honor?”

“And where shall we put this statue, brother?”

They both jerked as Varad’s low tone sounded behind them. Taymullah stepped aside, bowing slightly, a hand over his heart. “Why, in the nude gardens, of course. So that my likeness could watch over the lovely ladies who were so educational to me as a child.”

“A fitting place, I think.” Varad’s gaze danced with mirth.

Mahlia choked, biting her lip to keep from laughing. She recalled how her eyes had popped wide the first time she had seen the white marble statues of women frolicking naked in the lower gardens. Varad had followed her outside that evening, and they’d made love for the first time at the foot of a voluptuous goddess.

Meeting Varad’s gaze, she saw that he remembered as well. His pupils expanded, and he stared at her lips, her breasts, and the thatch of hair between her thighs. Heat followed in the wake of his gaze, sliding over her skin. Her nipples hardened into tight crests, jutting toward him. Wetness flooded her pussy. Adrenaline hummed through her body, made the exhaustion fall away into nothingness. Gods, she wanted him.

Taymullah coughed into his fist. “Well, I believe the two of you have some…catching up to do. I’ll see you at the first moonrise meal.”

A small smile pulled at Varad’s lips as he stalked forward, his smooth stride backing her into the wall. The gold of his irises bled out to the corners of his eyes.

“I—I should get some rest.”

He bent his head to her throat, inhaling her scent. “Yes, bed is an excellent place for you.”

“You should sleep, too. You’re hurt.”

“Will you kiss it and make it better, Mahlia?” The wicked promise in his voice made it clear that he meant for her to kiss something besides his injuries. Her breath caught at the thought, and her head tilted back. The slight roughness of his tongue flicked across the pounding pulse at her throat. She moaned, falling back against tapestries that lined the walls.

“Varad.”

Yessssss?

He dragged the word out, a seductive stroke on her mind. Her hand lifted to slide down his smooth chest, the tips of her fingers tracing the light stripes that crossed his skin. She dragged her nails over his flat nipples, and they beaded at the rough contact. He hissed out a breath, leaning into her. The jut of his cock pressed to her belly, and liquid heat pooled between her thighs. Anticipation thrummed through her body.

His lips dipped to caress her collarbone. She tilted her chin up to give him better access. Her hands slipped around to press against his shoulder blades. A low purr soughed from his throat. He opened his lips to bite her lightly. She moaned, and he swallowed the sound in his mouth as he moved to kiss her. His tongue thrust in, hard and demanding. She met it with her own, her lips shifting beneath his. Her fingers curled into claws, raking down his back. His hips jerked, slamming into hers.

Yes. Please.

I love when you beg, my Amira.

He suckled her tongue, drawing her into his mouth. Lifting his hands, he cupped her breasts and tweaked the tips until they stood in hard points. Oh, Gods. She couldn’t take it. Desire made her body throb.

Drawing back, he lightened the kiss. Teased her. Toyed with her. Broke away to spread kisses along her jaw, down her throat.

Her head fell back against the wall as she gasped for breath. “I’m dirty.”

“And thank the Gods for that.”

She grinned, shifting her torso to rub her nipples against his chest, loving the friction of his rougher skin on her sensitive flesh. “I meant that I spent the night running through the sand, and I’m filthy. I can’t go to sleep this way. I need a bath.”

A dark chuckle slid from his throat. “Then we should make certain your needs are…satisfied.”

But he stepped back, left her barren of his touch. She arched toward him, wanting. Just wanting.

After you, Amira. He grinned and tipped an easy bow before her.

She huffed out a laugh. Tease.

“And you like it.”

Yes, she did. Pushing away from the wall, she walked to her door on legs that shook beneath her. Every step brushed her thighs together, stimulating her pussy. It was all she could do to hold back a moan. Her mating heat had ended, but the aching, relentless want still rode her. She was afraid that where Varad was concerned she would always feel this way.

The carved wooden door of her chambers loomed before her. She grasped the slick metal handle in her hand and pushed the door open. While glowlights illuminated the corridor, her servants had pulled the shutters on her windows to block the sun and left the room in darkness. She stepped into the gloom, her cat eyes quick to adjust to the lower lighting. Varad followed close behind.

“I want—”

“A bath? Yes, you said.”

Flicking a finger over a panel on the wall, Varad cued hot water to pour into the immense pool that was sunk into her bathing chamber. Steam rose in lazy curls within a few moments. Sitting on the edge of the tub, she pushed forward to slip into the hip-deep water. She hummed in pleasure as it lapped over her flesh. It would rise to just under her breasts in a few moments. She loved to bathe, loved the caress of warm water against her skin. Like most of her kind, she liked to swim in her tiger form as well.

She rolled onto her back and started with lazy strokes across the tub. Bobbing upright at the opposite side, she turned to see where her mate was. Varad sat on the ledge and dipped his feet in but made no move to join her.

She swam back toward him until she could lay a hand on each of his knees. His eyes heated to the color of molten gold, zooming in on her floating breasts.

Her heart pounded until she could feel each thrumming beat throughout her body. “Aren’t you going to join me?”

“I think I’ll enjoy the view for a while.” He leaned back on his hands, casual, cool, calm. But his body betrayed him. His cock curved in a hard upward arc, the veins coursing blue beneath the thin skin.

She quirked a brow, grinning. “So long as you don’t mind me doing the same.”

“It’s only polite.”

“Mmm…polite. We should always be polite.” She licked her lips, staring at his long dick. He had the most beautiful cock she’d ever seen. She wanted it inside her. Her hands rubbed over his muscled thighs.

“You wanted a bath.”

“I am in the bath.” Each kick of her legs sent a stream of hot water to caress her already overheated pussy. If he didn’t get in here with her soon, she was going to scream.

“So I see. Do you feel clean yet?”

A slow, hot smile pulled at her lips. “I’m not certain. Perhaps you should come see if I missed any important areas.”

“Like where, for instance?”

“Well, my back.”

“Your back?”

She nodded and slid backward in the water, paddling her arms to stay afloat. He arched his hips and dipped into the pool after her. Thank the Gods.

“I do think I see somewhere you missed.”

“Do you?”

He laid his arms along the edge of the tub, resting against the side. “Yes, come here so I can reach it.”

Diving beneath the surface, she flitted over until she reached the side and exploded up to twine her arms around his neck. He laughed and pulled her in, his hands cupping her buttocks. Her breasts crushed to his chest. She closed her eyes for a moment, just to enjoy the feel of him.

“I thought you were going to see if I missed something.”

“Ah, yes. Duty calls.” Reaching back, he dipped his hand into a bag of cleansing sand. He offered her a handful and then took one for himself. He rubbed his thumb over his fingers to work up a lather. Then he stroked over the long strands of her hair, massaging her scalp. Gooseflesh shivered over her skin. She followed suit and buried her fingers in his striped hair. It felt like Aquatilian saltwater silk against her palms.

His hands dropped to slip down her back, the sand a sweet roughness on her skin. Would he…? Yes. His fingers dipped between her ass cheeks to tease at her anus. She gasped, pushing back against him. She squirmed as the grainy sand pushed into her ass along with his finger. He stroked her until the sand dissolved into a slick lubricant. Closing her eyes, she moaned, pleasure lancing through her.

“Very dirty.”

“Please, Varad. I need…” Her head fell back on her neck as her hips worked against his fingers. A hot thrill made her pussy tighten, clenching on nothing. Tension spun through her, and she panted. Oh, Gods. Oh. Gods.

“Yes? You need what?” He added a second finger, thrusting as deep as he could within her.

She didn’t answer but buried her face in his neck. Her ass bucked backward. She was going to…going to… Her breath caught as orgasm slammed into her and her body arched while hot pleasure lashed at her. He drove his fingers in her, drawing the sensation out for her until she shuddered and moaned.

He spun her in the water until she leaned back against the edge of the pool, his hands lifting to bracket her shoulders and grasp the ledge. His knee rose to nudge her legs apart. Moving forward, he stroked his cock over her pussy lips. She gasped, tilting her hips to open herself wider for him.

“My turn.”

She wrapped her legs tight around his lean hips, her heels pressed to the backs of his calves to pull him closer. He hissed, and she froze, heart pounding. “Did I hurt you? Your legs?”

He shook his head and hitched her higher against the side of the pool, lifting her legs until her knees pressed to the small of his back. She pressed herself to him, the water sealing their bodies together. His cock probed at her swollen entrance, and her eyes slid closed, enjoying the feel of his skin on hers. He thrust into her, hard, fast, deep. She gasped. The angle was incredible. He moved, and the water lapped around her, feeling like a thousand fingers caressing her flesh.

Each stroke hit her in just the right spot. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she held on tight. Her hips arched to meet his, to bring him deeper.

“Oh, Gods.”

“Not a god, just a king.” His low chuckle rumbled from his throat and sounded through the wide room.

Her head bowed back on her neck, and her pussy contracted around his cock with each thrust. “Don’t stop. Please. Don’t…stop.”

He groaned, and his arms corded as his fingers tightened on the ledge. “I couldn’t.”

Twisting her hips, she felt her orgasm gather. Sweat and steam dampened her skin, and droplets slid down her body. The added sensation increased her pleasure, driving her on. Her claws extended to score his shoulders. She was so close.

Her pussy clenched tighter and tighter, and every thrust of his cock made it better for her. And then the sensation broke. She sobbed as light exploded behind her lids. Her pussy flexed over and over around his dick. He tensed, going rigid against her. His hips slammed forward in a last jolting push before he groaned and shuddered.

She pulled him nearer as he dropped his head to rest in the crook of her neck. Both of them were gasping for breath. Every ounce of tension leeched from her muscles, and she purred as he kissed her throat softly.

“We should get out.” His voice hummed against her skin.

“I’m comfortable here.”

He chuckled and pulled away. In one graceful move, he rose from the tub. Bending, he lifted her from the water, cradling her limp form against his chest. She sighed. Feline lassitude pulled at her, and she sank into a dreamy state of consciousness. He deposited her on her soft, wide bed and crawled in with her. It felt unusual to have anyone in bed with her. She’d almost forgotten what it was like to share her private space.

Varad lay between her legs, his chin resting against her belly. Desire for him filled her. Warm fingers stroked over her body. His hair tickled her thighs. He dipped to kiss the swell of her stomach. Fine, saltwater silk sheets caressed her back, and she stretched her arms over her head.

“We need to talk about Jeevan, Mahlia.”

His words sent an arrow of pain straight to her heart. “Why? It won’t help anything. He’s dead, Varad. My son is dead.” Her voice faded to an agonized whisper as she spoke. Her body tensed as the pleasured fog cleared from her mind.

“Our son.”

She hissed at him, anger flashing hot through her. Why could he not let this rest? They had achieved some semblance of peace, and he kept pressing on a sore spot. “Fine. We should move on and just…heal.”

“Have you?” The gold of his eyes expanded to the very corners. His fangs slipped past his lips.

“What?” Her voice was defensive, rude. And she didn’t care. She jerked up and back, pressing herself against the headboard.

He sat up. “Moved on? Healed? Have you managed to do so? Because I cannot see the evidence of it.”

Acceptance. She breathed deep. She had to accept. Wasn’t that what she had decided? And he was determined to ruin it for her. To force her to talk about… No. “Get out.”

“Excuse me?” His brow lifted, incredulity flashing across his face.

“This is my chamber, and I wish to rest. You’ve gotten what you wanted. I’m pregnant. So…leave. It’s what you do best.” Her face flushed, and her voice shook. Her hands clenched and unclenched. Gods, she was so close to breaking. How did he do this to her? Only he could. She loved it. She hated it.

He stared at her for a moment, assessing. Anger flashed in his eyes, but he mastered it. His pupils contracted into thin lines, irises solidifying to round human orbs, the tiger within him firmly leashed. He blinked, and she couldn’t read anything on his face. His usually smooth movements were jerky as he stood and walked toward the door. Before he walked out, he turned to her once more, his body rigid. His long fingers clamped so tightly on the door handle she heard the metal squeak.

“This isn’t finished, Mahlia…but I have time, don’t I?” Dark promise laced his low tone.

Gods help her. She curled onto her side, tucking her knees under her chin. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she closed her eyes and forced herself to think of nothing. To remember nothing. To let the exhaustion of this endless night take over. Pulling in a slow, shaky breath, she let herself fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.