Bound to the Beast

look at him. But t

like they'd been searching for her forever. His face was unreadable, carved fro

lt it

bo

e she could outrun the instinct.

border warriors w

ly holding her up. "I'm not-He is not-" She pointed

bond did

inside her chest, clawing for him. For him. The man whose warrior

a single s

a s

on his chest, just above the le

ehind him tensed.

idn't ev

retaliate. "Touch me," she said co

way someone looks at a wound

ight," he said, voice li

d and leave." He

re my

nd dry. "Tell that to

ened, but he

the guilt

rustling in the night wind. "The bond is real," he said

hissed. "I don't wa

ws furrowe

bout fate? Fate let my mate die screaming. Fat

dess doesn't

ess should come down here

rising. Xander said nothin

ying

I reject this bond. Formal

while the bond is still new. Seve

n le

e again, softly: "I

a blade. "You don't get

pped c

wolf w

t longing. Stupid,

and steel. Her heart was screaming Cassian's n

aid, quieter no

or a second, she

expressio

N

th caugh

." His voice was deep, final. "

ead violently.

your

e a mu

linc

ted to Blackthorn territory, Rhea. For

protection. I

as steel now. "Y

but Xander was faster. One arm around her wai

go of

"when you stop pretendin

eat thundered under her palm. Her own skipped, then f

s wasn'

fate's

ou," she

ed. "Then hate

nder the cl

She stared at the horizon as if s

e beside h

d. They weren't treati

he wa

a bond she d

s of the man who stol

ced at

n't ret

when he said, bare

w, whether you

death, Rhea wasn't sure if it was hat