Page 35 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

He should be angry enough to find me unappetizing. My bitter tongue should be why I appear revolting and unpalatable to him.

“No, I can’t get that in my head!” I snap back bravely. “You have me locked up in here like a guinea pig that you’re feeding for whatever unimaginable reason you have.”

Stryker’s eyes grow wide as he stares at me in disbelief, but I continue, boldly stepping forward and uncrossing my arms.

It must be ridiculous in his eyes to witness me being so melodramatic, but I couldn’t care.

If I’m going down, it won’t be without a fight.

“Let me guess… You handpicked me because of my size. I’ll make for the tastiest meal for your dragon tongue, right? Hah!” I scoff, a scornful chuckle following. “If you think I’ll lie down and surrender, you have another thing coming to you, dragon man!”

My chest heaves uncontrollably as I lug in deep breaths while my pulse races unfathomably fast.

Stryker only lifts his brows in response to my bitter words.

I thought he’d curse at me again, but instead, he bites his tongue and shakes his head slowly.

“That’s what you think you’re here for?”

I throw my hands up defeatedly. “What else would I be here for?”

I’m so frantic, that I don’t catch the movement when Stryker crosses the room. It’s too late when he grabs my shoulders and forces me to compulsion.

“Look into my eyes, Camilla…”

The flurry of emotions I feel right now is too much to bear. Horrified by myself and the shockwave of awareness that rushes through me now, I glare at him and grate through my teeth, “Take. Your. Hands. Off. Me.”

To my surprise, he does as he’s told and retracts his hands without protest, taking a step back. His reaction to my command reignites my courage to stand up against him and force aside my conflicting feelings.

He nods slowly, and deliberately, as he lifts his eyes to mine, appearing defenseless.

“I don’t mean to harm you, Camilla,” he says softly. “I only want to protect you.”

“Then tell me why you have me locked in this bedroom!”

Something inside him shifts when I raise my voice, his eyes losing their softness as a flash of brilliant golden thunder crosses the earthly depths.

“Because you’re my fated mate!” he bellows gruffly. “You’re my mate, dammit! And I will lay my life down for yours!”

Stunned by his declaration, I gasp and recoil into myself.

Mate?

What does he mean?

What kind of sick, twisted fate is this?

Fated mate?

“I—I don’t understand…” I murmur as if in response to the questions running rampant in my mind.

I can’t make sense of his claim, let alone wrap my head around the fact that he’s not trying to have me on the dinner plate for his next meal.

He gives a disgruntled sigh, hanging his head. “Of course, you wouldn’t understand. You wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to explain. You have no idea how much it pains me to see you in this state. How…” he meets my eyes again, calmer as the emeralddepths glow in their soft color. “... How strained I feel, wanting only to protect you.”

“How is this—”

“No!” he cuts in sternly, rising to his full height and compelling me to crane my neck to look up at him. “You saw what happened out there, in the mortal world. I won’t let that happen to you ever again. I am meant to be your protector, from all the dangers that lurk behind you.”

---