Page 54 of Catch a Tiger

Disturbing actually.

How many times had he touched her? How many times had he let her touch him? Even more alarming, Mylo was actively seeking out her touch when physical contact from anyone other than Rune or Samuel put him in a murderous rage.

Sometimes people died, sometimes they didn’t, but either way it was their responsibility to bear for touching him after being clearly warned.

He didn’t attend any pride events for the same reason. It was too risky to place himself in a crowd, and most didn’t like the look of his scars anyway. They preferred Rune’s bright red hair and blinding smile that had just a hint of madness. Most even assumed Rune was Samuel’s second despite how often the alpha referred to him as his third.

No, Mylo was in charge of the administration and their pride as well as their businesses. His attention—obsessionwith detail made him perfect for the job…

Though he could dole out punishment if needed, reveled in it even.

“Did you talk to Valentina?” Samuel asked as he started the cleaning cycle on the massive bathtub made from rock.

Mylo stared as it filled up with all kinds of antibacterial liquid, remembering his sudden panic she might not be able to swim. All that naked skin, full breasts, and muscular curves hadn’t tempted him once, but the fact that she might be in danger?

Those gorgeous runes all over skin that was as pale as death, and the horrific scar on her back…he’d felt rage at the sight of them, and once she’d explained, it had faded away to something even worse.

Thirst.

He craved her in a way that didn’t make any rational sense.

Mylo wanted to feast on every mark she’d carved into her body. He wanted to feel her claws on his skin once more, and he was desperate to have her look into his eyes with her golden flames that were so goddamn cold they burned.

Every single breath she’d left on his body had felt like frost and her skin wasn’t the least bit warm. It was cool to the touch, but not the same cold of dead flesh. No, it was like…smooth ice cream. Delicious and creamy, delivering excruciating pain if he ate it too fast.

His feral little mate had lived in an eyrie – a place where they made weapons.

And someone had tried to kill her.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d covered the mark left by a bullet. Someone had tried totakeher heart from him…

Might have even succeeded since she was soulless.

“Mylo?”

“Hm?” He refocused on Samuel and realized his alpha had asked him a question at some point, but he either hadn’t heard it or he’d forgotten it instantly. She didn’t even have to be inthe same room as him to fuck with his head and that wasinfuriating. “What was the question?”

“Did you speak to Valentina?” His alpha didn’t look worried exactly, but he was wary which was why he was still alive.

“Iattemptedto speak to Valentina,” Mylo corrected. “She kept saying she wasn’t allowed to tell me anything because I was an outsider. It tracks when considering what we know of ravens, but it is still…aggravating.”

“Maybe they just don’t want us to know there are ravens with golden eyes.” Samuel sighed and picked up the towel and robe, tossing them over to Mylo to put in the hamper.

He watched as the alpha started washing the combs and brushes as he dumped the fabric in the container behind him, dissecting that sentence until he found what he needed.

“She confirmed she’s a raven?”

“I asked if she was and she said yes, but I’m having a hard time believing it,” Samuel admitted as he put everything away in the box full of hair care and then tucked it back in the cabinet. “There was no sound of a lie in her pulse or heartbeat. Nothing in her voice either. Even her body stayed relaxed, like it was a boring fact.”

“Then why don’t you believe her?” Mylo demanded, feeling irritated, and the fact that he couldn’t hide it made him evenmoreirritated.

“I know ravens can purr, but she’s more feline than avian in mannerisms.” Samuel shrugged and gave the bathroom that was pristine once more a cursory look, like he might have somehow missed something. “I don’t know, maybe it’s just a feeling.”

Mylo would argue that her mannerisms were very similar to Valentina’s, but also…not. She had the same sort of stillness the assassin did and when she moved, it was more animal than human, but she was not emotionless. He could see them on her face as well as her eyes despite her lack of scent.

“I still think we should put her in the cage.” He rolled his shoulders back, the suit feeling tight again.

“We’re not putting her in a cage.” Samuel grabbed his boots and pushed past him to the bedroom. “I promised her I would protect her while she’s in this house if she agrees to stay for a while. I also told her she’s not allowed to kill anyone, and no one in this house would try to kill her.”

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