Page 132 of The Bond That Burns

She looked caught off guard. “I thought...”

“You thought what?” I said furiously. “What do you think I’m here for, Pendragon? I want to protect you, for fuck’s sake. So let me, dammit.”

She laughed. “Protect me? You’re intent on being my tormentor half the time, Blake. Do you even remember any of the fucked up things you said to me at the start of the year?”

I flushed. “I was...upset. I felt... betrayed.”

“Betrayed?” She shook her head, gazing over at the stacks, instead of meeting my eyes. “How do you think I felt when you fed from me that first night?”

“I was wrong, all right? I fucked up. I know that now.” The words burst out of me like a dam breaking. But to my surprise, it felt good to say them.

Might as well go all the way, I decided.

I sank down onto my knees dramatically. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done that. There. I’m on my fucking knees. Begging you, Pendragon. Look at me. You wouldn’t kick a man while he’s down, would you?”

She shook her head but her lips were twitching. “Get up, Blake.”

“Not until you’ve said you forgive me,” I said stubbornly. “I’m an asshole. A bastard. A blackguard. Sure, I’ll admit it. But I want to help you. You think our bond is bullshit? I respectfully disagree. But who gives a shit? The point is, Iwillprotect you. And...I won’t torment you anymore.” I cocked a grin. “I mean, I’ll try not to. Unless you ask me to.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure. Whatever you say. Get up, Blake. You’re being ridiculous.”

I pressed my hands together in a mock prayer, unable to wipe the grin off my face as I looked up at the soft curves of her face. “C’mon, then, Pendragon. Just say you forgive me. We can jump ahead to the part where we defeat Viktor and save the whole damned world.”

She crossed her arms and tossed her head, fiery curls falling in around her shoulders. “You think this is all some joke? That you can just kneel there and charm your way out of this?”

I shrugged. “Hey, it usually works.”

She burst out laughing. “You know what? You’re impossible.” Then she surprised me and growled. “Seriously, impossible, Drakharrow. I’m not Regan.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “You think I’d have gotten on my hands and knees for Regan? Oh, no, Pendragon. This is just for you and you alone.” I said the words slowly, putting a seductive edge on them and I saw her bite her lip. Success.

“Get up,” she repeated, but it was a whisper this time. “Get up, you impossible, ridiculous fool. Fine. I guess I forgive you. Happy now?”

Iwashappy. Happier than I’d been in a long time. No, more than happy. I felt fucking ecstatic.

I rose to my feet and stepped towards her. She didn’t back away. I noticed how her breath hitched the closer I got. “I may be a fool, but here we are. Together. Again. You’re stuck with me, Pendragon. You know that, don’t you?”

She sighed, stepping back slightly. “We need to figure out what we’re going to do about Viktor, about all of this. I have to tell Nyxaris. I don’t know what he’ll say. But in the meantime, you can’t just keep throwing yourself into fights with Kage or anyone else anytime you get jealous or think I need ‘defending.’”

“Noted,” I said, though my grin probably told her it wasn’t a promise I could keep. I took another step towards her, then leaned down, letting my voice drop to a whisper. “But I mean it, little dragon. I’ll protect you. From Viktor, from Kage. From anyone. Even myself, if I have to.”

Her head snapped up, her green eyes flaring. “You think I need protecting? As if I’m some fragile little...”

“No,” I interrupted, my tone firm. “Not fragile. You’re the strongest woman I know. But even strong people need someone in their corner. Let me be that for you. The world is against you, Pendragon. You think Kage is the man to stand by your side? So be it, if that’s who you ultimately pick. But look at me. Really take a good fucking look. BecauseI’mthe one standing right here, right now, begging you to let me be with you. Not Tanaka. Me.”

Her lips parted, but whatever she was going to say disappeared as I reached for her. My hands slid to her waist, and before she could argue, I gently backed her up, guiding her towards the nearest shelf. The motion was so fluid, so natural, that when her back met the edge of the books, she didn’t even protest.

The glow of light from the hanging lantern overhead caught the details of her face—the stubborn look in her eyes, the faint flush on her freckled cheeks, the bloom of red on her parted lips. She stared up at me, her breathing shallow, hands by her sides, as if just waiting to see what I’d do next.

She wasn’t mine, not really. Not until she truly said she was. But every part of me burned at the thought of anyone else touching her, holding her, kissing her.

Fuck self-control, I thought, as I leaned down and captured her mouth with mine.

For a heartbeat, she froze. Maybe she struggled with resolve just a second longer than I did. Then her hands came up, not to push me away, but to pull me closer. She kissed me back. Hard.

The way her fingers gripped the front of my shirt, the way her lips moved against mine—it was as if all the tension between us these last few weeks had finally snapped, giving way to something we couldn’t hold back any longer.

I kissed her fiercely. As if trying to erase every argument, every insult, every moment of doubt between us. And she let me, meeting my passion with her own.

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