Mate me if you dare

e's

cold in my ha

warmth from my skin. I wanted to drop it. To toss it into the trees and pretend none of t

A gift. From you

l bloo

hell did

coat bristled, and his growl was low and menacing. His instincts

as per

again, shifting back into human

smooth surface. It looked old. Ornate. Like it belonged in a forgotten temple or buried with the

ted, stepping closer. I finally

t me to be

ou want, Alpha. But I've never seen it

ensed. "You s

n fear. "He said this was from my real bloodline." Something

?" I

thi

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "We

se. The

Always secrec

red. "But I'm h

kened. "That cou

and I didn't miss the way his eyes

arches, and enough testosterone to choke a manticore. The

lm. Ewans hadn't said a word since we arrived. He stood off t

he intruder?" asked Elder Marlow, p

es

ew you

n't kn

the v

gift. From my... real bloodline."

rin leaned forward. "This could be a trap. Rogues have b

. But don't stand there looking at

d, but said

ecure the vial in the vault. Until we k

ed. "Ex

ds," he continued. "No unsanctioned p

laughed bitterly. "I just

sn't pe

s personal with

in the roo

"That's my ruling." and li

in my palm, hidden in my sleeve. They'd searched me, of course, but I

t. Like it belonged to me. Like it was calling to s

oom, I locked the door and sa

g was fal

another bloodline. Why the Alpha who rejected me one day couldn't stop lookin

go

chi

it

whispered now

spered alou

attered th

fr

ad

an

cou

n't a

, quieter this t

N

to talk

ta

rough a

e stood there, tense. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair sli

?" I

put you under supe

ve fool

threat r

"Because o

Because you make

th left

voice low. "To want something you're not allowed to have. To

asked f

kno

how my body leaned into it. "I see you," he whispe

en

ll tear us apart." I swallowed hard.

a

per

ire. Heat. The kind of kiss that made my

ed him

ck like he was oxygen

he pull

fa

s punishin

" he rasped

ike that,

ai

cold and

stared at the

kings etched into the glass. Runic. Ancient. N

it was

f it w

it was

lf st

p. You'

dawn touched my windowsill, I uncorked it. Tipped a single drop onto my tongue.

pty. My skin felt electric. My bones ached. My veins hummed wit

't tou

ke something inside me had cr

ng and in the reflection of the sh

omethin

of gold

of silver

eeling that the stranger last

een a

contin