Page 55 of Stormbinder King
But how could I have done that? The ice must have been a foot thick. . .
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“What would happen if you did claim me as your mate?” I asked the Alpha King later that week.
I had finally begun to see evidence of spring—slightly longer days, the snow melting away, green buds beginning to show in the forest trees.
Symeon was sitting in a chair in the village, repairing fishing line.
“I don’t know,” he said harshly.
“But you’re driven to claim me,” I asked from a safe distance, clutching my cloak tighter. “From my scent?”
Soon it would be warm enough to go without it.
Symeon paused and glared up at me.
“Yes.”
I said nothing, and he narrowed his eyes.
“I will never claim you. Do not ever run in front of me,” the King ground out. “Do not ever display strong emotion in front of me.”
“What if I don’t want to obey you?” I asked.
“You must,” he said. “I have no idea what effect claiming you would have on your protective binding. I expect your obedience on this matter, Andromeda.”
“I didn’t ask to be your fated mate,” I said pettily. “Asshole.”
I turned to leave, but Symeon caught my arm, his fingers biting down despite my protective spells.
“You will obey me, Andromeda or you will be punished. I will not risk your safety.”
“Since when do you care about my safety?” I hissed at him, but he would not let me go until I agreed to obey.
But I had no intention of keeping my promise.
A promise made to a brute was not a promise at all.
What I was contemplating was dangerous.
What would happen if I activated his Alpha instincts to claim me?
I might get hurt.
Jack’s binding spells that tied me to him would resist it.
But anything was better than living in this helpless purgatory, tied with a dripping cunt to a man who had betrayed me.
Andwhat if it broke the spell?
The risk was worth it.
So on the first warm day, the first day when the streams and rivers flowed and the snow had retreated to the distant peaks, I went out into the forest.
I knew Symeon’s favorite hunting grounds.
I just had to get there without him catching wind of my scent.
