Page 9 of Own to Obtain

Kyus nodded, lifting a shoulder. “I heard you say that you tried to make him happy, that you try to be everything he wanted you to be. I heard you say that you adore everything that makes him Alpha.”

A prickling heat rushed over Shaya but she refused to break her gaze from Kyus.

“I heard you say you claimed him as your own,” Kyus added, “that you entered into his family willingly and found joy in the land he loves.”

“Then you weren’t listening properly,” she said evenly, as the heat flared. “There is a reason why I did all of those things.”

“I was listening very carefully, Shaya…” Kyus said gently. “… and observing also.” She squeezed Shaya’s hand. “He didn’t force any of those things from you. No one could. You love him. And now you are lovesick for him. That is why you feel like this.”

Shaya hesitated, suddenly unsure. “Lovesick?”

Kyus nodded. “You miss him. You want him so badly you cannot function.”

Shaya stared at her, shaking her head. “It’s not that,” she said haltingly. “We were bonded. The absence of the bond must have… done something to me.”

“No,” Kyus said softly. “What you are feeling, how you are acting, it is not unusual, Shaya. It is not the result of your dulled bond. It is the result of you being away from the Alpha you love.”

Shaya exhaled harshly. “We don’t know what the result of the potion is,” she said, trying to explain. “This could be a side effect.”

Kyus smiled at her. “I guarantee you, it is not.”

Shaya pursed lips together, unwilling to believe her. Yet in the back of her mind, she connected that the dream of Kardos seemed to stave off the effects of the greyness.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Kyus added. “We cannot help who we fall in love with.”

“I still don’t think that’s what it is,” Shaya said stubbornly. “I didn’t know when his father asked me and I still don’t know. I don’t see how you are so sure.”

“Get some sleep,” Kyus said, reaching over to stroke her arm. “We will talk again in a couple of days when you’re stronger and eating properly.”

Shaya sighed in frustration, but a twinge of guilt pierced her when she saw the untouched bowl of foods on the side table by her bed. “All right,” she mumbled, lying back down to sleep.

“I’ll be back in a few hours.” With that, her sister picked up the bowls and left.

***

The pulsing of the bond filtered through to her mind as she slept, and once again she woke with a weight on top of her.

“Kardos,” she breathed in surprise as he angled his mouth onto hers.

A sweeping rush of sensations clawed over her skin as their bodies pressed together, making her gasp in his mouth. The tingling between her legs crept up inside her as though anticipating what was to come, and her hair stood on end as his tongue plundered her mouth, sucking her lips and groaning heavily like a man starved. Shaya succumbed to the feeling, letting it carry her away to the place she could be content.

When he rose up to look at her, the uncompromising hardness lingered in his eyes. “I am coming to get you in three days.”

At that, Shaya smiled. This was definitely a dream. It was unlikely the real Kardos would wait that long.

The Alpha peered down at her, his eyes flicking down to her smile. “Have you been drugged, Shaya?”

“No.”

“Shaya.” His voice was low with warning.

“No one is drugging me,” she insisted. “My sister gave me some oils to help me sleep, that’s all.”

The Alpha was silent as he examined her. “You told me I was beautiful.” He watched her closely. “You’ve never said that before.”

Shaya lowered her eyes, self-consciousness threatening before she realized there was no need to be embarrassed or shy. This was private; only in her mind.

She lifted her eyes back at his. “I’ve never said it to the real Kardos, no.”

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