Page 42 of The Bonds of Nyx

Fire roared in my veins, begging me to claim my third mate.

But before I could do more, he pulled away and dropped his forehead to mine, breathing deeply. “As much as Ineedto take you, to be inside you, we still have to talk. You have enough to worry about. It’s too close to your mating with Elias anyway, and shifters tend to be a hell of a lot more possessive over their new mates.”

I hesitated a moment before nodding. Disappointment filled me, but I pushed the feeling aside. “Yeah, I’ve gathered as much. I don’t want to cause any issues between you two.”

Adrian smirked and pulled away, dropping my hands. “Don’t worry, Ivy. Once the bond is completed, Elias and I will be as close as brothers.” He shrugged, the smirk turning into a half-smile. “Which I know he’ll hate for a while. My father used to tell me how hard it was for him to fit in with my mother’s other mates. He’s the youngest of them all, and at the time they’d been with her for more years. It was hard on him, but he still worked to befriend all of them for her. Elias and I will work our shit out for you, you don’t have to worry about that.”

I smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” His eyes brightened as he pressed me back into the door. “And thanks for not pushing the mate bond thing. I know it must have hurt, but—”

“Ivy.” His eyes glinted as he wedged his knee between my thighs. “Stop apologising. We’re going to be mated no matter what. I’m here for you.”

I released a breath, relief flooding me while something else awakened in me. “I know. And I do trust you, Adrian. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

“I still intend on making it up to you, Ivy,” he murmured, placing his hands on my hips and giving them a squeeze. Heat flashed in his eyes. “And I can’t wait to make you mine.”

I trailed my eyes over his body, well aware of the hard length pushed into my soft stomach. Of his hands still holding me, trapping me between him and the door. Heat flared in my cheeks and in my belly as I rocked into him.

His low groan sent a warm tingle over my skin. “Careful, Sweetheart, or you’ll start something you regret.”

“There are still things we need to talk about,” I replied, biting down on my bottom lip. “And you’re the one still holding me like you plan on fucking me against this door.”

Adrian sighed, his breath fanning my neck. A very large part of me hoped he might take me against the door, completing the bond and finally be mine. The more logical part of me knew we needed to talk.

It seemed the more logical side of Adrian was winning, because he slowly released my hips and pulled away. His pupils were huge, and there was a hunger in his eyes that called for me.

Clearing my throat, I crossed my arms over my chest and regarded him carefully. “Your mother is the Queen, but that’s not really important, honestly. How do you…feel about being my mate?” My voice came out quiet, and I hadn’t realised just how scared I was of his answer.

“Having you as my mate is the greatest blessing Nyx could have given me.” His eyes glistened as he reached for my hands and entwined our fingers. “When I was close to death, and I feltour bond, I told myself I must have been imagining it. That Nyx surely wouldn’t gift me a bond with you. But waking up with you beside me, and realising it was true…” His throat bobbed as he swallowed and rubbed circles into my skin.

“So, you’re okay with all of this?” I asked.

“More than okay, Ivy.You’remy mate. My other half. The only person I will ever love. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

A lump formed in my throat. I believed him completely, and yet fear still claimed a small part of my heart anyway.

15

IVY

PAIN.It pulsed in my veins and crackled against my sensitive skin, licking at invisible wounds, and turning my own flesh against me. I writhed against the agonising fire coursing over my body, painful ropes of heat holding me together despite wanting to completely tear me apart.

Blood coated my hands and rolled down my body like rain. I peeled my eyes open, but I wasn’t in bed anymore. I was standing in Kerry’s bedroom, Maeve’s dagger on the floor at my feet. But instead of the guards I’d killed, a different body was slumped over, their blood pooling around them like a dark shadow of death.

Before I could scream, warm hands pulled me from the dream. I gasped, my eyes flying open as Elias pulled me onto his lap. I struggled for a moment, body trembling, heart still pounding with the revelation.

I’d killed Kerry. It had been her body on the floor, her blood on my hands, coating my skin.

Elias smoothed a hand over my hair, murmuring words of comfort that made no impression in my mind. I couldn’t make them out, not with my blood rushing in my ears. But I pushed my face into the crook of his neck and breathed him in. With each breath, the panic slowly subsided, giving way to the scent of pine and whisky that washed over me.

“You’re safe,” he whispered, his voice calm and comforting as it finally reached my ears. “I’m here, my sweet Angel. It’s me.”

I shuddered and finally peeled myself away to take him in. Stress lined his eyes, and his lips were pursed in a frown. Gently, I dragged my fingers over the worry lines and smoothed them away with my thumb.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, blinking away fresh tears. “I’m sorry.”

Elias shook his head and pulled me closer, his strong arms a band around my trembling frame. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I wish I could chase away those nightmares for you, Angel, but I know I can’t.”

I let my eyes slip shut again as I listened to the steady, strong beat of his heart. My magic pulsed as I trailed a hand down his bare chest. He’d been in wolf form when I’d fallen into the darkness of my nightmares. One of the girls had been in bed with me, but now, I could feel that we were alone.

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