Page 25 of Forbid Me

As she handed the garment back to me, our fingers brushed. The contact was brief, but it was enough to send a jolt through me. I wondered if her weaving magic would pull me to her, tie me up in knots that only she could unravel.

"Fashion I can magic," she quipped, her focus now on her clothing. She lifted the dirt and mended the tears. "That's about all I'm good for, really. Tailoring clothes, doing makeovers, and having visions. My ex-boyfriend Ken… he used me. He pretended to love me, tocare for me, to have sex with me. All so I'd keep giving his gang visions."

The fury that rose in me was instant and visceral. Rage, red-hot and furious, coursed through my veins. My head was a kettle, the steam screaming to be let loose.

"I'm going to kill him," I promised, my voice as casual as if I'd announced the date and time.

She might not be my mate, but she was mine to protect. As soon as I delivered her to Dion, I would come back and hunt that vampire down.

"No one uses you and lives, Stella. No one."

Her shock dissolved into a pleased grin. My golden princess was a little bloodthirsty. "That's really sweet. Thank you, Oz."

Then her grin turned sultry. She took a step toward me, those full hips swaying as she did so. Both man and beast went on high alert as we realized we were being stalked.

"You know, the full moon is just two nights away."

I did know that. Even though the moon cycles on this planet were different than on Arcadia, the shifter part of me could still sense its incoming pull.

"I'll go into heat with the full moon. It's what happens when shifters find their fated mates. Maybe we should... take care of the mating now."

She took another step, those hips now brushing up against mine. The wordnowas on the tip of my tongue. But the tip of my dick had other plans.

In my mind, I heard the ominous ticking of a clock. I was on more than one deadline now. The edict from my king to return her to him. The danger of the men chasing us to steal her away. And the moon's call that would rob me of all rational thought, save the one to claim her body and soul. I have no idea where I found the strength to speak the words that I said next.

"Stella, you're a princess. You deserve more than this." I motioned around the dirty shack I'd procured for her, resplendentwith dead carcasses. "You deserve to be claimed and marked with honor and ceremony in the palace, not here, not like this."

Her eyes met mine, searching, seeking the truth behind my words. I gave her the truth like I’d promised. But also like I promised, I didn't tell her everything. Like the fact that it would be a king giving her that claiming mark.

"Well, then"—quick as a cat, she nipped at the corner of my mouth—"you better make it worth the wait, mate."

I wanted to tell her that I'd wait an eternity for her if I could. Instead, I dug my claws into my palms to keep from reaching for her. I got the feeling I'd have blood on my hands for the rest of my days.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Stella

Ifound it difficult to keep up with his long strides as we walked along the riverbank. The mud had a vendetta against my shoes, sucking them in with each step I took. The once fashionable footwear was now a victim of the relentless muck. I could use my magic to fix them, but it would be a perpetual battle, and I doubted I'd win the war.

I kept my complaints to myself, not wanting to burden Oz with more than we were already facing. A portal opening in the Crossroads, Ken coming after me, and finding my fated mate. I'd had all three of those visions. Though the one with Ken had been grossly misinterpreted. Still, this was the best batting average I'd ever experienced in my career as a foreseer. What I couldn't see clearly was Oz falling for me.

He should be all over me. Instead, he kept me at arm's length. He should bekissing me senseless. Instead, he clamped his mouth shut, saying as little as possible.

Since I was all in my head and not watching where I was going, I stumbled over an exposed root. Oz caught me just as my knee buckled. When he began to let me go, I clamped down on his arm, feigning that whole damsel routine.

Technically, I'm far more damsel than badass warrior like Tori. Niamh would tell me to use what I got, and so I did. But as I held tight to my fated mate's arm, I hoped my girls were doing okay in the chaos back in the Crossroads. They were far more capable than me, so I was sure they were fine.

Oz set me to rights. Instead of offering his arm or copping a feel, he turned and trudged on.

The steady silence between me and Oz was about to drive me crazy, so I decided to fill it with the dream I’d had, which felt more like a vision of our future. "We were in this incredible palace, surrounded by twin cubs. They were so full of life, laughing and running around..."

I trailed off, looking up at Oz, hoping to see a spark of interest or perhaps a smile. His face was set in a grim line, his eyes clouded with what looked like anger or perhaps deep frustration. It was hard to tell with him still being so much of a mystery to me.

"My visions aren't always one hundred percent accurate. In fact, I've never seen myself in a vision until yesterday. When the portal opened."

"Portal energy is known to enhance magical powers."

"Are children something you want?"

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