Page 23 of To Quench Her Thirst

Drago frowned.

“So none of the human males you’ve been with has taken the time to pleasure you before taking you?”

She shook her head sadly.

“No. I kind of gave up on finding a guy who wanted more than a ‘wham, bam, thank you Ma’am’ encounter after a while. I haven’t had sex inages—not since you became my Protector, anyway.” She sighed. “I guess I kept hoping that you would have an interest in me. But when you didn’t, I decided that Lx Sambla was the next best thing.”

Drago felt the Drake inside him roar with possessive rage.

“Don’t say that fucker’s name to me,” he growled. “It makes my Drake angry.”

“It does?” Her eyes widened for a moment…but then she yawned again. “Tell him I’m sorry. I just…gave up any hope of having you, that’s all.”

Drago didn’t tell her that he’d given up any hope of having her, too. As much as he wanted her, it just wasn’t going to happen. His Drake was too dangerous—too possessive. In fact, he needed to get away from her now if he was going to keep it contained. Being intimate with their Fated Mate had brought the beast inside him much too close to the surface. If it burst out of him now, it would demolish the bedchamber and very possibly kill her.

“I’ll tell him,” he said. “But now I have to go.”

“Do you really? Can’t you sleep in here with me?” She looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Please? It’s lonely and cold in this big bed all by myself.”

Drago wished he could do as she asked—wished he could climb into bed with her and hold her close all night. But he knew that was a recipe for disaster.

“Afraid not, baby,” he said gently. “It wouldn’t be safe—my Drake…”

“What about your Drake?” she asked, frowning sleepily.

Drago shook his head.

“Never mind. It’s just better if you stay here and I go back to my own room.”

Gently, he pulled up her dress and then tucked the covers around her so she wouldn’t get cold. By the time he finished, Addison’s eyes were already closing.

“G’night…Drago,” she murmured.

Drago stood for a moment beside the bed, looking down at her. Her lovely cheeks were still flushed from the pleasure he’dgiven her and her flame-colored hair was spread around her head like a halo of fire. Gods, she was so beautiful it made him ache!

But I can never have her,he reminded himself.Never. It’s too fucking dangerous.

Reluctantly, he turned away before he could lose his resolve and went back to his own room.

He didn’t know that he’d taken the first step on a path he couldn’t turn back from.

13

ADDIE

Addie was dreaming of a tea kettle whistling. Her grandmother had an old-fashioned one from the seventies that she still used. It was white enamel with big, yellow sunflowers painted on either side. Grandma always had it sitting on the stove, ready to go because she loved tea so much. But it wasreallyloud and sometimes she would let it go on and on, whistling forever because she was a little deaf…

“Grandma, it’s too loud!” Addie muttered, tossing in her sleep. “Turn it off—can’t you hear it whistling? Grandma, please!”

But Grandma never came. Eventually her dream of the old-fashioned tea kettle dissolved and she sat up in bed, blinking sleepily. For a moment she couldn't remember where she was. Then it came back to her—she was sleeping in a bedchamber located in the Palace of Sheelash on Crimson Moon. Also, her Grandmother had been dead for ten years.

But if I’m not at Grandma’s house then what is that whistling, shrieking sound?she wondered sleepily.

She looked around the dim sleeping area, noticing that the round bed she was sleeping on was enclosed by a swath of black netting.

Like mosquito netting,she thought.Especially to keep bugs and biting insects out.

No sooner had the thought entered her mind than she saw something outside the flimsy barrier, clinging to the net. At first she thought it was just a shadow…but then it moved.

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