Page 122 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

My attention was shifted from Orion’s solemn profile when Riordan passed the bloodied cloth back to him and then tenderly cupped my jaw. From the way his golden eyes searched mine almost frantically, I knew he was not only concerned for myphysical well-being. He wanted to know if his demonstration had frightened me because he knew how I felt about grotesque violence.

“I’m shaken, but I’m okay,” I assured him, placing my hands over his to give them a squeeze.

“We should be interrogating the assassin right away,” Orion advised Riordan quietly enough that no one would hear him. But I did not miss the eagerness in his voice, and it made me seethe with the knowledge that he was trying to steal our king away before our consummation.

Thankfully, Riordan looked confused as he dropped his hands from my face.

“You can question him tonight and give me a report tomorrow afternoon.”

“But don’t you want—”

“What Iwantis to finally be with my mate tonight,” Riordan interrupted him in a frustrated hiss that was still low enough that no one else could hear. “I have gone just about mad waiting to claim her, and nothing will keep me from her,” Riordan added unconditionally.

The fierce, unadulterated lust in his voice almost made me buckle at the knees.

“She was just targeted—” Orion began to protest.

“I can protect her,” Riordan insisted in exasperation, and after his demonstration, there was no doubt of that. But then he looked at me, searching for my thoughts in my expression, and I knew that the only thing that would keep him from me… wasme.

Orion looked at me when he realized it as well, and I could feel his eyes burning into me, but I didn’t dare look at him. I looked straight at Riordan whose wings tensed.

“I trust you to protect me. And I… was done waiting a week ago,” I reminded him with a shy smile.

Without another word, Riordan went to one knee in front of me. The sight of him, this enormous warrior king in his golden armour and a crown, kneeling for me was enough to make my heart kick. But even more astonishing was that his kneeling made everyone else take notice and sink down too. Including the former queen and Orion who knelt more slowly next to me like he was reluctant.

Riordan reached for my hand, turning it over to place several kisses on my wrist and knuckles. He did not look remotely uncomfortable despite all the eyes on him.

“Amira,” he beseeched me, and I sucked in a breath at the visceral ache in his voice that he didn’t bother to hide. “I wish to pledge all that I am and everything that I will become to you. I wish to bind myself to you and become wholly yours in heart, body, mind, and soul for the rest of my life. Will you accept me as your mate?”

My skin was tingling with an emotion that seemed to shoot down my spine. I had never experienced such a sensation, purely an emotional arousal, but it was electric. Heat flushed in my cheeks and on my chest, and I wasn’t totally sure if it was excitement or embarrassment for my strange reaction.

“Yes,” I hissed hoarsely, hardly able to get in enough air to answer him. “I accept you,” I spoke louder.

Probably I was supposed to have some poetic things to say back to him, but the gods knew I was not that person. Luckily he rose quickly, fluid and powerful, and he kissed me before I could have said anything. And it was not a chaste brush of our lips. He didn’t seem to care anymore what anyone thought of us as he kissed me like he needed my lips to breathe.

The King’s Council had encouraged him to claim me with conviction and transparency, so I supposed they were getting their wish…

He pulled back far too soon, leaving me practically gasping for air as he turned to give instructions to Ares and Helena.

And I caught sight of Orion’s face, so splintered and devastated with heartbreak that it made my heart ache in anguish for him.

He did not notice my stare, but I watched as he got his emotions under control before Riordan turned to him with orders for interrogating the assassin. But he still looked terribly brittle and hollow as if he might shatter apart.

It haunted me as I was led back to Riordan’s apartment to prepare for consummating my mating with the king.

“Gods, Amira, are you alright?” gasped Sofia once we were clear of the crowd and almost at the building.

“I’m fine! Really, it was over before I knew what was happening. Thank you,” I added to Ares, but he was too focused on our surroundings to acknowledge my thanks. “Remind me what happens now?” I prompted Sofia.

“Now we get you changed and wait for the king to come to you. Then I leave you,” she advised me with a grin that was definitely not very chaste of her.

“I have to change?”

“You weren’t expecting to wear this dress?” she gaped, fingering the fine silk. “He is probably going to wreck whatever I put you in and this dress was expensive.”

I gaped at her, but she was too busy ushering me through the door of the building to notice that my cheeks were flushing at her suggestion.

Ares was a few strides behind us while Helena walked ahead to check around all the corners first. I knew something was wrongwhen she came to an abrupt halt in the hallway with Riordan’s door.

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