Page 27 of Mate Me

While Eres and I had our private conversation, I twisted my neck to move some of the stiffness. My newly healed skin pinched, and I reached up to feel the spot where Ben had bitten me. Tender skin, yes, but not inflamed. I wondered if it would scar.

Caius observed my every move, his eyes narrowing when he saw what I had touched.

“Someone tried to claim you.”

“N-no ...” I fibbed, looking away and biting the inside of my cheek.

I almost laughed at myself. Clara was right. I really was a terrible liar.

“Try again,” he said, unamused by my feeble attempt. I didn’t even know why I was lying. It just seemed like part of that self-preservation Eres had mentioned. “Someone tried and failed. Did you want to be claimed?”

I blanched. “No,” I admitted. “But how did you know that?”

“The bite wasn’t deep enough to truly mark you. It won’t leave a scar. Unless they were a pathetic excuse for a shifter, something stopped them.”

I gnawed on my bottom lip, considering my reply. “Why do you want to know?”

He shrugged. “I need to gage how upset you’ll be when I kill him.”

My lips parted. “No, you will not.”

Caius lifted his brows, as if to ask,“no?”

“You’re not killing anyone.”

He hummed noncommittally and the dismissive sound made me want to slap him. Never mind that he was some sort of death deity. Apparently male arrogance surpassed species. Color me unsurprised.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I, and it hasn’t escaped my notice that you didn’t answer. Tell me, Reagan, was it consensual?”

Once more, I opened my mouth to lie, but thought twice about it. What was the point? Instead I decided to try another tactic. “What’s the truth worth to you?”

Amusement curled his lips. “You’re trying to bargain with me?”

“I asked you a question.” My heart pounded, sending a rush of blood to my head, making me feel fuzzy. Was I picking a fight with my executioner? Probably. So much for self-preservation.

“Very well. I want the truth—the full truth—and in return, I won’t hurt your family.” I blinked, hardly able to believe his words. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “How do I know you’ll keep your word?”

“You don’t,” he said simply, making me shudder as all the hope in my chest shattered. “When you’re as old as I am, you know that trust is hard to come by.”

“That’s not exactly comforting.”

“I’m immortal, Reagan. All I have is my word. I’m giving it to you. I won’t let any harm come to your family.” He paused, considering his words, then added, “Unless one of them gave you that.”

“My family didn’t do it,” I said firmly. “The one who did—you can’t kill him either. I won’t carry the weight of that.”

Caius twisted his lips in displeasure, but eventually agreed. “Fine.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You can’t have anyone else kill him either. He stays alive.”

He smirked, winking at me once. “Smart woman.”

A small part of me blushed at the flirtatious tone in his voice. The rest of me slapped that part upside the head. I blamed Eres for it.

“Do you agree to the terms of the bargain?” he asked.

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