Page 9 of His Tainted Mate

He pressed himself against the cold stone wall, his breath shallow and quiet. The footsteps grew louder, echoing off the cave walls. And then she was there, drenched from the rain, shaking her head, trying, he supposed, to get the buzzing and dizziness to stop. She was standing at the entrance, her silhouette framed by the rain.

He moved silently, closing the space between them, wrapping his arms around her and clasping his hand over her mouth.

“Elle,” he said softly, his voice almost lost in the increasing sound of the storm.

She didn’t respond. Her mind had to be racing. There was no way out, no way for her to escape. She was trapped.

“You can’t keep running,” Rab said, his voice steady as he removed his hand from her mouth.

Elle’s eyes narrowed. “Think not?” she snarled, driving her elbow into his solar plexus.

She struggled with a ferocity that belied the seriousness of her condition. Her breath came in short, desperate gasps. Rab’s arms, like iron bands, encircled her, trapping her against his chest. His grip was unyielding, his breath hot and seductive against her ear.

She twisted and turned, her body writhing in an attempt to break free, his strength far outweighing her frantic efforts. Desperation fueled her movements, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She kicked at his shins, aiming for vulnerable spots, but he anticipated her every move, countering them with a powerful efficiency.

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” he muttered, adjusting his grip to control her flailing limbs.

Elle managed to free one arm and swung it back, her elbow connecting for a second time with his ribs. He grunted in pain, momentarily loosening his hold. Sensing a sliver of opportunity, she twisted sharply, slipping partially out of his grasp. Her victory was short-lived as he grabbed her again, but this time, she was ready.

With a fierce cry, she threw her head back, the back of her skull smashing into his nose. He cursed loudly, his grip faltering as blood spurted from his nostrils. Seizing the moment, she stomped on his foot with all her strength. His grip slackened further, and she wrenched herself free, stumbling forward.

She was almost out of his reach when he managed to wrap his hand around her hair, tugging her back.

“Enough, Elle. I will not allow you to escape.”

“What do you suggest I do? Just give up? Let you take me back?”

Rab sighed, taking another step closer. “Would that be so bad? Trudi has brought the serum and has sent a dose with me. Let me help you. The disease?—”

“It’s not just the disease,” she interrupted, her voice fierce. “You’ve done something to me.”

“I have done nothing. It is fate that has determined our destiny is together.” Rab’s expression softened, a flicker of regret in his eyes. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I had no idea when I started out.”

“But you came anyway and didn’t stop,” she shot back. “You hunted me, like I was some kind of prey animal.”

Rab was silent for a moment, the only sound the relentless drumming of the rain. “I had my orders, Elle.”

“Orders,” she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. “Is that all I am to you, just another job?”

“In the beginning, but you and I both know it is so much more than that.”

The storm was gathering in intensity as the wind howled outside. She watched Rab carefully, every muscle in her body tense. And then, in a heartbeat, everything changed. A flash of lightning illuminated the cave, and she saw the truth in his eyes. He wasn’t lying.

Elle took a deep breath, the tension in her body easing just a fraction. “What now?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“First, let’s get you out of these wet clothes. Then I’ll build us a small fire. We can figure it out from there.”

She nodded. As the storm raged on, Rab stood between Elle and the entrance to the cave. He pulled a warm, dry blanket from his pack and handed it to her.

“A blanket isn’t clothes.”

“I know, but I realized I only have one set in the pack, and I will need them.”

“You have me at a loss. Who are you, and who sent you?”

“I’m Rab MacDermid. I’m a snow leopard from the same clan as your sister’s mate. Get out of those clothes and sit by the fire in the blanket. I’ll set up a drying rack and then get us something to eat. I’m not your enemy, Elle.”

“That remains to be seen,” she said as she started to undress. “Did Trudi send you?”

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