Page 69 of Masked Fate

“Anything else,” he repeats with a nod.

And then we go to Chaos to kill Declan.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Pandora

Reaching out my hand, I find cool sheets instead of Soren. Rolling from my side onto my back, I stare up at the ceiling, flashbacks of last night hitting me.

He told me he loved me.

He wants us to bond.

Can we really make this work?

Can I trust him?

After a quick shower, I get ready and go find breakfast and Soren, in that order. Instead, I run into Astrid in the hallway to the dining hall and smirk when she raises her brows at me. “And how was your night after Soren jealously whisked you away?”

My cheeks heat as I remember everything he did to me last night. But how the night ended is what I can’t stop thinking about, and how he held me in his arms all night. I’ve never had that before—that warmth and security. Astrid used to be the only person who would show me any affection, and now Soren is handing it out to me in spades, and it’s scary how much I don’t want to lose that. “It was good.”

“I bet it was.” She grins, nudging me playfully with her shoulder. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop laughing last night, but Salem is fucking unhinged. I kind of felt bad for him because I think he genuinely wanted you.”

Salem has always been such a wild card, and I only ever thought he saw me as a possession. But last night, he definitely was acting differently, showing off yet another one of his multiple personalities. If my mother never hurt Soren and Rave never killed her, I would have had to marry Salem.

It’s crazy how fate works.

“He will find his own mate,” I reply, stopping when I hear a woman’s voice say Soren’s name. I grab Astrid’s hand and pull her to a stop.

“What?” she mouths.

“But you aren’t bonded yet, Master,” the voice says in a baby tone. “Are you sure she will give you what you need and know how to take care of you?”

My fingers tighten, and Astrid yelps.

Sorry,I mouth, loosening my hold on her.

I know I should walk out there and handle this situation, but I want to hear what he says. I want to see how he handles it without knowing I can hear them.

“I’m taken now, pet,” he murmurs, and my eyes narrow at hearing that word leave his lips. He shouldn’t be calling any other female that anymore. If he wants to bond with me, those days are long gone for him. “And my mate will give me everything that I need and more. More importantly, I will be everything she needs.”

Okay, that was kind of sweet, but it doesn’t erase him calling her ‘pet.’

Unable to help myself, I quickly glance inside the room and see Soren standing in front of the kitchen stove, cooking something.He can cook?The female, who I recognize as the fae who sat on Soren’s lap one night at dinner, stands closely next to him, looking up at him with nothing short of adoration and awe.

“Does she let you punish her?” she asks as I step back into the hallway, continuing to eavesdrop. “Do you wear your mask and make her submit to you?”

He hasn’t worn his mask. In fact, he threw it out because he’d worn it with other females.

I don’t want him to give up being who he is, but I don’t want to be another pet for him, either.

Am I enough for him?

“That’s none of your business,” Soren fires back, his tone turning low and guarded. “We only spent one night together, and you don’t get to question me. Know your place, pet.”

“She isn’t even your type. You like blondes—”

He laughs a low, amused rumble. “My little witch isexactlymy type. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

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