Page 184 of Primal Bonds

She stared at him. To never feel afraid again. Never to feel helpless. That would be a gift indeed.

Temptation sucked at her, seductive as Sindre’s glamour.

Because those feral river fada had stripped her bare in the worst possible way. They’d tricked her into drinking an aphrodisiac, a powerful magical drug. She’d started out fighting them, but in the end, she’d lost all her pride and begged for more.

Suha had explained it was the fault of the aphrodisiac. The drug made you crave sensation—the pleasure of sex, the bite of pain…

“You survived, honey,” the healer had told her, over and over. “That’s the important thing. No one could’ve held out against the dose they gave you.”

But Marjani couldn’t shake the shame. That she’d lost control, begged her rapists for more…she, a soldier and Adric’s second-in-command.

“No.” She backed toward the exit, dagger out, hoping no one saw the tremble in her hand. “I can protect myself.”

“Can you?”

The click of high heels sounded behind her. Marjani spun around as the bodyguard moved to intercept the newcomer.

“It’s Lady Blaer,” said Sindre. “Let her in.”

The guard inclined his head. “As you wish.” He ushered in the fae lady with a flourish just this side of mocking.

“My lord.” She crossed to where Sindre sat on the couch and placed an air kiss on each of his cheeks before turning to Marjani. “So you found the other fada.”

The other fada? Marjani glanced at Fane, but he seemed as puzzled as she was.

“You’re trying to strike a bargain with her, aren’t you?” Blaer’s black gaze moved over Marjani.

An icy sweat trickled down her vertebrae.

“And if I am?” Sindre said.

“Perhaps I can help.”

“Be my guest.”

Anger flared in Marjani. Typical fae, discussing her as if she weren’t there—as if she were somehow less than them. Well, fuck you, too.

A growl vibrated her chest. Inside, the cat tried to claw its way out. She was tempted to let it, but first, she needed more information.

Blaer’s eyes narrowed. “It was you in my tower earlier, wasn’t it? If you’re here to free Corban, I might take you in his place.”

Marjani stared back stonily.

“Not him, then.” The fae woman nodded—and went for the jugular. “But what about the big brown wolf?”

Marjani’s heart skipped a beat. “What big brown wolf?”

“I didn’t get his name. Yet.”

Marjani’s stomach hollowed. Please don’t let it be Luc.

She’d been half-expecting him ever since she landed in Iceland. When she hadn’t seen him, she’d figured Adric had held him off, that her brother had trusted she could handle this herself.

She should’ve known better.

Blaer’s pink lips stretched in triumph. Meanwhile, Sindre looked on detached, like they were pawns on a chessboard being pushed around for his amusement.

Marjani’s fury spiked. Inside, her cougar spat and snarled. Luc might not be her mate, but he was a friend. A good one.

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