Page 40 of Masked Fate

He turns off the water and steps toward me, and I can’t help myself—my eyes drop to his huge, beautiful, very hard cock. He has a piercing through the head, and my mouth waters a little.

“Eyes up here, little witch,” he rasps, his name for me now gentle—an endearment even—now that things have changed.

My eyes raise, following his command without him having to use any of his magic. Speaking of, “Don’t you ever use persuasion on me again, Soren. I will give you one for free, but the next time is going to cost you.”

His eyes had turned black with gray swirling through them when he used his magic. It was eerie. His muscular arm reaches behind me to grab a fluffy white towel, small droplets of water falling on me in the process. “I’m sorry. I knew something was wrong. It was fucking calling to me… I can’t explain it.”

I think the more Soren and I interact, the more the mate bond fought against my magic. I should have known I couldn’t hide my secret forever.

“When did you know?” he asks, roughly drying himself the way men do.

I step back, putting a little space between us before replying, “While you were in our dungeons, I was away in the Shifter Kingdom, getting to know Salem and networking our new alliance. I had no idea you were there. When I returned, Rave had already found and saved you. When I went to visit him in Aravelle, I saw you standing outside with Rave. The two of you were sparring, and you were still so injured from what my mother did to you. Your neck…” I trail off, remembering the bloody mess it once was. “I felt sick with what she did to you, Soren. And the moment I felt the bond, I freaked out and zipped away.”

“I thought I sensed you once,” he admits, hanging the towel up and lifting my chin with his thumb and forefinger. He rests his other palm against the wall. “Only for a moment. I thought I was going crazy.” He swallows, his throat working. “This has fucked me up, Pandora.”

I don’t know what he wants from me right now.

Does he expect us to suddenly become some happily-mated couple?

He hated me.

And us being mates doesn’t change anything he said.

His harsh words cause my chest to tighten uncomfortably. “I don’t know what to say, Soren. But I need some time to think—”

“You’ve had years to think, little witch,” he replies in a low murmur. He rests his forehead against mine and closes his eyes. “I’ve had fifteen minutes. Why is it that you need space and I don’t?”

Fuck.

“I don’t know, Soren,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Maybe it’s me who suddenly found some standards.” And then I zip back to Allyria.

Tears drip down my cheeks as soon as I land on my bed.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Soren

Her words keep replaying in my head all night. After tossing and turning with only an hour or so of sleep, I notice my eyes are bloodshot the next morning.

Maybe it’s me who suddenly found some standards.

I have no doubt I deserved that parting shot, and it definitely hit its mark.

I couldn’t feel any worse if I tried.

After a shower, I ask Celeste, who works in the castle, to order me a new bed, mattress, and sheets. I tell her I need it delivered to my bedroom today.

I never want to see that look in my mate’s eyes again.

If the roles were reversed, I’d feel fucking sick too.

I destroy all my sex toys and replace them with a few items she might like if she ever decides to explore them with me. I test the strength of the cuffs and the weight of the leather paddle, smirking to myself before packing it away in the cupboard.

Astrid is sitting in the dining hall with Rave when I step inside, eating breakfast together and laughing at something the other said. My eyes touch the mating bands at their wrists, wondering if I will ever wear the same.

“Did you both know?” I ask quietly, sitting down opposite them.

Astrid straightens, eyes flaring as she takes me in. “Are you okay? You look exhausted, Soren.”

---