Page 88 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Does he do that a lot?” Zoe asked.

“Yes.”

“Looks like he enjoys it.”

“I can’t imagine why else he would keep doing it,” I said dryly.

“Maybe because of the way you’re clinging to him?”

I realized my hands were gripping his shoulders and quickly pushed back. He reluctantly let me go and shot Zoe a scowl.

She pointed to the sandwich.

“Less mayo this time, Vedar.” She smirked at him when his scowl deepened.

“Knock it off, Zoe. It’s not smart to antagonize him. Trust me.”

He glanced at me, his expression shifting from angry to something else I couldn’t quite pin. It wasn’t as harsh, though.

“Why do you want me to accept a piece of your heart?” I asked.

He turned back to the sandwiches, and all my frustration returned.

“You asked about the book. A friend, not the one in trouble, gave us several journals that have information about the creatures here. She loaned them to us so we could decide if we wanted to live in Uttira or return home with no memory of this place. We’ve been reading them and have learned that the creatures here will do anything to trick us into giving up all or parts of ourselves. Succubi and incubi want to feed off our sexual energy. Many kinds want to eat our flesh, even though that’s forbidden.

“Now here you are, asking me to take a piece of you, instead. I’m trying to understand how much danger that will put me in. Or worse, how much danger Zoe would be in.”

He slid the finished sandwich to Zoe and had his hand cupping the back of my head so fast I didn’t have time to pull away before he started rubbing his cheek against mine.

The vibrations once again soothed away some of my growing fears. Each gentle brush of his skin added to my desire to feel more of him. Inhaling deeply, I breathed in his rain and wind scent.

“You will be in no danger with a piece of my heart. You will be safe. Forever.”

I melted into his hold again, liking the sound of that and the feel of him far too much.

CHAPTERELEVEN

“Snap out of it, Kelsey,”Zoe said sharply.

The sound of her voice pulled me from my mental stupor, and I jerked away from Vedar’s oh-so-tempting touch. His head whipped to my sister, and he pulled back his lips in a silent snarl.

“No.” I grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me. “Don’t threaten her. Ever.”

His eyes narrowed at me fractionally. My thumb moved against his skin. The tension vanished from his expression, and his gaze turned heavy-lidded. The clicking started up, and it felt like it was in time with my pulse. There was no denying he was doing something to me with the way he acted. It was soothing, yes. But more. It was starting to call to me. I wanted to hear his clicks. I wanted him to rub his cheek against mine while he held me close.

But I didn’t want to lose my sense of self. Ever.

“Why do all the creatures need to trick us? Why can’t they just ask for something like we humans have to do?”

The clicking stopped, and Vedar blinked at me.

“I did ask.”

“You want me to accept a piece of your heart. But what does that mean? Are you going to hand me a kitchen knife and make me carve it out of you? I’ll pass on maiming and murder. Or are you asking me to eat a part of your heart?” I swallowed hard at the thought of that and tried not to gag. “Also a pass.

“Do you understand why I’m asking questions? Your condition is too open to interpretation. My friend’s life is in danger, but I don’t want to risk someone else’s life to spare hers. Megan would be able to—”

His snarl cut me off and made me flinch. His hands grabbed mine when I would have pulled away and kept my palms anchored on his cheeks.

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