Being chosen by Luame to be bonded with the mother wolf. Crossing an ocean of people to meet her, touch her, bask in her. Watching her tear apart the only person who was brave enough to stand against Sunella, and help free my sister.
My body was out of control. Edric was pumping like a wild man, spreading sweet, tortuous pleasure to every corner of my soul. He was everywhere. All of me. Everything from my mind to my core was being consumed by him, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I forgot why I wanted to.
The delicious agony crested, then exploded. I came hard, bending my body in half, and screaming for more than just the pleasure.
Searing hot fire poured into my mind, burning away the vestiges of who I used to be and leaving behind something new, something better, and something wholly unwanted.
We collapsed in a tangle of sweaty bodies, Edric slumping on me and pinning me to the bed. The high of being with him and just having the most incredible sex I’ve had in a long time faded fast. The only thing I was thinking of now was how I could get out from under him and beat it out the door.
“Oh, gods,” Edric croaked, making my muscles tense. “Volana, you... can’t. You just can’t.”
Growling, I shoved out from under him, rolling onto the balls of my feet. Edric moved just as fast, jumping over the bed frame and crouching down—getting ready to strike.
“Your memories,” he gritted.
“Stop.”
“It’s all in my head. Why you killed Castor. The horrible thing he made you do. Everyone who knew and did nothing to stop it and”—Edric lurched back, shock slackening his jaw—“Destiny.”
“I said stop!”
“Oh my gods. Oh my gods.” Edric paced, clutching his head as my memories tumbled into them. “OH MY GODS!”
“You said that already,” I snapped. “Ignore what you’re seeing. They’re my memories, not yours. You have no right.”
“I have no right?” he cried, whirling on me. “My gods, Volana. What you’re planning— What you’re going to do— You’re the one who has no right! You can’t murder all those people!”
My eyes narrowed to slits. “Watch me.”
“You’re insane! You do know that, right? You’ve completely lost your mind!”
“Well, I’ve lost everything else, so why not my mind?”
“You’re crazy!” If I looked up the word hysterical, the man’s face would be right next to it. “Out-of-your-mind nuts! You can’t think I’m going to let this happen. You can’t—”
Edric sliced off so abruptly, I started.
Scowling at me, Edric suddenly started inching toward the door. “Is she going to kill me too?”
“Fuck’s sake, you’re an asshole to the end! Of course I’m not going to fucking kill you!”
His scowl only deepened. “Then what is your plan now, because you can’t possibly believe I’m going to let you do all the things I just saw in your head.”
“If you saw what was in my head, you know exactly why I’m going to do those things, and you know why you can’t stand in my way.” I kicked off the bed, storming to the closet. “This is the worst post-sex pillow talk in the world, by the way. Great job fucking that up too!”
“Are you kidding me?” Heavy footfalls chased after me. “You’re mad at me right now?”
“All you had to do was take the money and go, but nooooo,” I cried, waving my hands. “You couldn’t resist tempting my wolf on the way out, and now we’re bonded. Thanks a lot!”
He gaped at me in disbelief as I shoved my arms into my robe. “You’re not changing the subject with your nutcase nonsense right now. Putting aside the fact thatyouwere the one who couldn’t keep your hands off me, it doesn’t matter because we’re bonded. I saw everything, and your plan—your ultimate plan—ends now.”
I turned on him, gazing at him coldly. “And then what?”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh no, don’t pull the clueless act now,” I said, crossing my hands. “You want to get all moral and self-righteous on me, so you tell me what we do? How do we stop Destiny?”
Edric stood stock-still... and silent.