Page 28 of Hunt Me

“What do you mean?”

“You need to talk to him,” she says as if it’s the most reasonable idea in the world.

My heart pounds wildly at the thought of confronting him. Of seeing him again at all. “And what would I do if it’s true?”

She shrugs. “That’s a choice only you can make.”

Before I can answer, my phone dings with a text.

“It’s Uziah,” I say, scanning it quickly.

“What does it say?” Kendall asks.

I look up at her, dazed. “He says he told the Crimson Roses the reason I was able to poison that girl is because someone cursed me.”

“You told him about your mate?” she asks.

“No, only that a stranger touched me and likely cursed me in the process. I’m guessing he was trying to find a way to take the blame off me.”

“And? Did it work?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say, unsure how I feel about this new development. “They said if I can bring them the body of the one responsible for infecting me, they’ll rescind their kill order on me.”

Kendall stares at me, wide-eyed. “You have to kill your mate?”

“And bring them his body,” I add.

Silence hangs between us. I know she’s trying to wrap her head around it just like I am.

“Are you going to do it?” she asks quietly.

I look up at her, ready to tell her no, of course not. To kill one’s mate would bring an agony unlike any other. But then I see Kendall staring back at me with wide, worried eyes—and I remember my vow. One that promises I’ll keep my sister safe, no matter what.

“I don’t really have a choice.”

Chapter 6

Legion

Ishouldn’t think of her at all, but I do. I cannot stop. No matter how much I drink. No matter how many enemies I torture or reports I read from my men. Her scent, her eyes, her body—I want it all. And even though I haven’t sought her out again since that first meeting, my want is turning to a need so dark and feral I think I might go mad without her.

She must feel it too, our connection.

She must be desiring me as much as I want her. It’s twisted, but I comfort myself with the idea that she’s as tormented as I am by this invisible force doing its best to push us together. Even if I never plan to take her fully, my dark heart is smug in knowing she wishes I would. She must be dying to touch me. To feel my body against hers. In hers. She must be desperate to seal this bond. To have me claim her.

I refuse to give in to it.

I will not be ruled by yet another bond, especially one that ties my life to another. Being bonded to Caius isn’t the worst fate in the world. Not considering the monster who came before him. But a mate is different. It’s more than a leash. It’s a mortal tether. If she dies, I die.

I refuse to add the weight of that to an already burdened fate.

So, I remain in Tartarus, closed off behind the walls of Kolgrave Keep. My trip to Osiris was a disaster. Styx was mildly amused. Caius, not so much, which means I won’t be venturing out again anytime soon. Not until I can find a way to break the mate bond’s hold over me. If that’s possible.

Whatever happens, I have no intention of claiming her.

As a gloomy afternoon gives way to twilight, Klyn appears in the doorway to the study where I slouch beside the fire. He offers a rap of knuckles to signal his presence though he didn’t need to bother. I scented him the moment he entered the estate.

“Come in.”

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