Page 23 of Bound By Dance and Desire

“Are you going to share?”

Andrei paused. “I was under the impression you didn't want to know anything that would detract you from your current focus.”

“And not knowing is safe for me?”

“Little can harm you while you’re mine.” He released me.

I frowned and stretched on my tip toes, restless. I needed to move, but he wasn't letting me put physical space between us.

“That's one of the problems, Andrei. You've admitted you're a High Lord. What happens when—” I faltered, not able to voice the words though that was silly. I mentally smacked myself. “What happens when I don't interest you anymore? Can you guarantee me it will be a safe, amicable split?”

“No.” His faint smile matched his conversational tone, and did nothing to soften the frigid, impenetrable steel of that one word.“Forgive me. I've given you the wrong impression. There will be no end to us, Hasannah, other than my death.”

Skeletal fingers tapped along my spine. “Mine seems more likely.”

He shook his head. “The only circumstance under which I intend you die is if my body is already at your feet. If I cannot protect one mortal woman, I am not worth my lineage.”

I stared up at him, second guessing the decision that every second now was becoming more and more foolish. The decision to keep my head in the sand because I couldn't sacrifice an iota of concentration on my goal.

“I think you'd better tell me, Andrei. Tell me what this is for you.”

His gaze weighed me a moment. “You won't try to run from me?”

I covered my eyes with my hand. “Well, this isn't exactly inspiring confidence.”

He laughed, and tugged my hand down. “No. Fine, I warned you.” A faint grimace on his face. Then it smoothed with his sigh. “We are bound. Soulbound. The binding isn't complete, but it's there and unmistakable. It's a defect of my bloodline.”

The word soulbound was chased by defect as my human mind tried to rifle through the very inhuman implications of his statement. I'd read a little about the Cassanian culture and the surrounding territories of this realm. The great city of Ninephe that rested near the equator of this planet, several weeks travel.

“You mean like soulmates? Like we were meant for each other?”

He actually rolled his eyes. “It's a binding, and an anchor, and a chain.” He said the last word as if it was a curse. “A gift and a threat.”

“It doesn't sound fun for either of us.”

“At times it won't be.”

My heart sank a little more with each word. He didn't sound happy.

“I'm sorry,” I said. “Is there anything I can do to make this easier for you? If I'm not accepted into the company, I'll be returning to Earth realm anyway.”

“You will be returning to Earth realm,” he agreed with another one of his easy-concealing-hard smiles, “over my dead body.”

“So we're establishing a theme here. You're going to have to choose how you allocate your dead body. You only get one.”

“If you say so.”

I had no idea what to do. What he'd revealed was too large, too complex for me tobegin to unravel right now. I had the knowledge, I understood a little better what this was. . .not dating, a date was a food. . .and now I could better set my expectations.

“Should I think of this as kind of like an arranged living apart long term relationship?” I asked.

That might not be so disruptive. Heseemedfairly well-adjusted, not all ragy alpha predator Fae like we'd been warned.

Andrei—Lord Andrei, I supposed—opened his mouth, closed it, giving me an indecipherable look. “You're attempting to wrapme into a neat little parcel you can set aside and forget about until I'm convenient. I will not be ignored, Hasannah.”

“You said you wouldn't interfere in my dance.” My back stiffened, and I heard stone creep into my tone.

“And I won't, but I can't make promises for others. I'll try to keep your presence unknown for as long as possible. Unless you wish to be known.”

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