NI RAV

the sound of someone who had been wa

oked

ol stood in

s had been replaced by something that felt almost more dangerous in its modernity. A black suit, cut precisely t

ther moves. Not something he pro

ound mine

st

ing. Every inch of me exposed to his assessme

that revealed absolutely nothing. No hunger. No disgust. No satisfaction. He looked at me

se than anything else

r. His eyes moved briefly to the two wolves now scrambling upright at his

word tore

pped i

ung

force that dragged a cry from my throat before I could stop it. Pain pulsed thro

t happen wit

ing he was closer. I

ira forged them at my request." His eyes moved to the runes on the chains with someth

ay." My voice

t me for a

id simply.

dnight hours when my beast consumes what little control I maintain." He stopped behind me. I couldn't see him. Could only feel the wa

pa

hold you b

of me now, his lips curved in a

. My voice cracked on the last w

e same careful indifference. "Your father mourns and y

wa

it me like

cide whether to say it. "Please, they have nothing

fted in his e

s. Something that recognised the desperation in my voice

pped c

I could stop it, the mate bond stirring traitorously, warmth coiling through places that had no business

or it with every

over my face with that same unreadable intensity. "

and l

nt r

enough that my skin reacted as though he had, pri

I could name it. "The bond the goddess placed between us ensures that every p

he word

" He repeat

between us, a violent electric surge that moved through both of us simultaneously, and he pulled b

ed away

ack to me now, his voice returning to that particular flatness that I was beginning to understand was not dis

ed at th

turn

test thing he had said. "Pray your blood is enough." He

ned hung in the dark. I tried to hold onto fu