Page 71 of The Blood Moon Oath

Her eyes widen just slightly, surprise flashing in them before she manages to hide it. “Wait... Is that really possible?”

I grin, my eyes dancing with amusement. “You have no real concept of how powerful our magic is, do you, kitten?” I lean in closer, my lips brushing against her ear as I whisper, “And what you’re capable of.”

She drops the blade from my neck, and I feel a rush of breath escape me, not from fear but from the raw tension between us. Her fingers slide away from the cold steel, and she squirms in my lap, eyes flickering with something I can't quite place. She looks down at me with that fiery edge I’ve come to love about her.

She’s straddling me still, her breath a little uneven, the heat of her skin seeping through the fabric of her clothes. I can feel her pulse against mine, like we’re wired together, and that same spark of mischief dances in her eyes.

She squeaks, and before I know it, she clings to me. That little sound has a weight to it, something between surprise and anticipation, and I can’t help but laugh low in my throat.

“Kitten,” I say softly, my hands firm on her waist, keeping her close, “all things will happen in their due time.” I flex my arms slightly, pulling her down just a little more, just enough for her to feel the heat of my body beneath hers. “Patience is a virtue.”

She doesn’t say anything for a moment, but I can feel the tension crackling in the air around us. Then, slowly, she slides down my body, her legs brushing against mine as she moves, and I hold her tight, my grip like a vice. My cock is hardening, as it always dose around her. The little minx. The little sigh she lets out when her weight shifts is like a drug to me, and I could get lost in it if I’m not careful.

She leans back slightly, looking down at me with a mix of frustration and confusion. “I’m frustrated,” she admits, her voice almost a growl. “I want to know what my powers are. How to use them. All of it.”

I raise an eyebrow, feeling the heat of her frustration rippling through me. I chuckle softly, knowing this is one thing I can’t help her with. “You should talk to Finn about this,” I tellher, my voice still amused. “He’s really the expert when it comes to magic. Me?” I flex my arm, showing off the muscles underneath my tunic. “I’m more into brute strength than anything like magic.”

She laughs, but there’s a touch of exasperation in it. “I know, Torin. But it’s just...frustrating. I need to understand what I can do. What Ishoulddo.” Her eyes meet mine, searching for something in me—something she hopes will give her clarity.

“Magic is not my forte, kitten,” I say, almost apologetic, but then I can’t resist, flashing a grin that shows my teeth. “But when it comes to other ways tousethat frustration, well... I’m your man.”

She rolls her eyes at me, and I can’t help but laugh. But the sound dies when I see that there’s more weighing on her than just the magic, something deeper, more personal.

“I don’t understand my place among the three of you,” she says, the words slow, like she’s trying to piece them together in her mind. “Kael told me that I was his. That Ibelongto him now. But then the next morning... I woke up alone in my chambers. In my own bed. If I can even call it that.”

I feel something stir inside me, something I don’t like.Kael.I thought I knew my brother, thought I understood him, but this... this wasn’t right. I feel a surge of anger, hot and burning, crawl under my skin.

“Thatbastard,” I mutter under my breath, the words thick with irritation. She looks at me, surprised, but I can see the frustration in her face. I don’t want to hear that he left her like that. I don’t want to hear that he just tossed her aside when she was vulnerable, when sheneededsomething more.

“He shouldn’t have left you like that,” I say, more to myself than to her, but she hears it. “After your firsttime... that wasn’t right. He should have stayed and cared for you.” My hands tighten slightly around her waist, pulling her a little closer, my gaze narrowing with intent. “I’ll speak to him about it. He’sbetterthan this.”

Sable looks down at me, eyes scanning my face, and she sighs heavily, like she’s letting out all the air she’s been holding in. “It doesn’t matter,” she mutters. “I didn’t expect any warmth from Kael, to be honest. He’s always been... distant.”

Her words hit a little too close to home, but I won’t let myself show that. She’s right in some ways. Kael is distant, closed off. Always has been. It's how he was raised and how he learned to survive. Butthis? This isn’t right. She deserves more than that.

Her voice softens, almost like she’s uncertain. “And you?” she asks, eyes meeting mine, challenging me. “What about you, Torin? WhatamI to you?”

I grin, letting the question roll around in my mind for a moment. I know the answer. I’ve known for a long time, but I’m not going to give it to her so easily. Not yet. I want to hear her say it. I want to see her struggle with it a little.

“You’re my kitten,” I say, my voice low and thick with meaning, the words hanging between us. “Are kittens prisoners?”

She stares at me for a moment, the challenge in her eyes flickering for just a second, and then she smirks. “No. Kittens are pets,” she says, but there’s something else in her tone now. Something that feels like...ownership.

I chuckle darkly, enjoying the play of words between us. “Perhaps,” I say, leaning in just a little closer. “But cats are the freest creatures. They come and go as they please.Youcome and go as you please, kitten.”

She cocks her head, raising an eyebrow at me. “Then can I go?” she asks, a little too cheekily for my liking. “Can I leave whenever I want?”

I don’t let her go yet. Instead, I pull her closer, feeling the press of her body against mine. She’s testing me, pushing my limits. And I’m more than happy to play along.

"I hope that you willcomemore than you go, kitten."

She slaps me lightly on the chest. It's playful and I love it.

“I will address all of this with Kael,” I say, keeping my voice low, serious for a moment, before I pull her back in, holding her close, “but first, I want tofightyou again.”

Her eyes widen with a flicker of surprise, but it’s the kind of challenge I can see her wanting, deep down. “You want to lose again?” she asks, her voice incredulous. “You’reinsane.”

I grin, loving the fire in her eyes. “You know you like it, kitten. To me, it’s foreplay. But I’m not going to let you get away so easily this time.”

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