Chapter 8

Alistair was a deep sleeper. Once he settled down for the evening, he normally did not rouse until many hours later. Yet he was hardly rested as he awoke.

Something was itching at his chest. A giant gnat some witch had conjured to sting him, perhaps?

He flicked his eyes open.

In front of him was his female. Awake, not asleep even after he had so thoughtfully arranged a bed for her, one suitable for his twin flame.

When their gazes connected, she stumbled back and tripped over herself.

The itch on his chest persisted. He craned his massive neck and looked down.

There, protruding from his armored skin, was a pole. It could hardly be called a weapon, but it was immediately obvious what had happened.

The chit had tried to kill him.

Blessed flame knew it was impossible, the way she'd gone about it, but she likely didn't know. She had actually tried to end him.

It was, perhaps, the bravest thing his little female had ever done. Utterly stupid—if you're going to kill someone, you'd best be certain—but he respected it. However misguided she had been, his mate was a fierce thing, and it did him proud to call her his own.

Then the female got up and began to flee, nearly tripping herself again in the process.

An attempt on his life? Good-natured fun. A bit of amusement he welcomed after his boring existence.

But to flee from him, her fated connection?

Now that annoyed him.

It was a matter of seconds to fly after his female, who again, to her credit, did not scream, even as she thrashed about when he trapped her beneath his claws, caging her against the ground.

It was barely another breath for him to turn to his human shape and roll over her, his hands shackling her own to the ground while his hips pinned her legs open even as the skirts blocked him from feeling her silk-soft flesh against him.

He bent forward. And because—no matter how humorous her failed assassination attempt was—he couldn't let her attempt to flee go unpunished. He nipped at her earlobe.

"I will tolerate much from you," he purred. "But leaving me? Unacceptable. I'm going to make it so you never dare leave me again."

"Are you going to hurt me?" Her voice quivered.

"Never, precious one. I'm going to make you feel so good that you never dream of leaving my protection again."

Her pulse jumped at his words.

The urge to claim her rolled through him. He wanted to burn himself on her then and there, but he wasn't a brute. Right now, fear and desire warred within his mate. It was his sacred duty to ensure desire won.

"Oh, you like the sound of that. Tell me, Lenora, are you writhing under me because you're still making a futile attempt to escape, or because you know it makes my cock hard?"

Her gasp was everything Alistair had ever dreamed.

"I think the latter," he continued. "I think you like knowing the effect you have on your male."

"Mine?" she repeated.

She liked that, did she? Good. Because they would be bound together. He would make it so she could never bear to part with him.

"Yours." He nuzzled her neck, tasting her scent. "And you're mine."

With that, he finally claimed her lips. The lips that had taunted, teased, tested him since he'd first spotted her.

His press was insistent, but not yet demanding. His mate had never known a male's touch, and he had time to savor her surrender. Her lips tasted like berries, and he licked them, coaxing her to let him inside.

Hesitantly, they parted. Alistair took that for the gift it was and deepened the kiss, guiding his mate. Her hands were still caged above her, but no longer did she try to pull away. Instead, she strained as she tasted him in turn, learning the shape of him.

His cock was hard, aching for attention, but he refused to rush the task. He let her do her study, then began to devour her in truth.

When they finally parted for breath, she gazed up at him with a wanton expression that nearly made him give seed then and there.

"I'm… I'm sorry I tried to kill you," she whimpered.

He grinned down at her. "That, I hardly mind. Wound me any way you wish, Lenora Tashe, and I shall accept it as my due. But you apologize still for the wrong thing. It seems I have a lesson to teach you."