Page 4 of A Reign of Malice
No, Ineedhim.
I grab his biceps, my nails digging into the firm flesh beneath my fingers. “Love me,” I plead, my voice raw with desperation.
“Always,” he answers, his voice like thunder, low and commanding.
He pulls me into his arms, his lips trailing a path down my neck, and when his teeth graze the sensitive curve of my throat, I melt. The connection is intoxicating, all-consuming. It’s as if every nerve in my body is tuned to him, to the promise of what we could be.
How is this possible? I can feel him—every inch, every emotion—as though the mate bond has already tethered us together. Happiness swells in my chest, unlike anything I’ve ever known.
He starts to strip me of my clothes, and I reach for him, my movements frantic, desperate to touch more. But just as his fingers brush my skin, the dream begins to dissolve.
Aeson pulls back, his eyes darkening. “Don’t leave me,” he pleads with vulnerability.
“Never,” I vow. But it’s too late.
The scene shatters, splintering like glass, and I wake with a gasp, the sheets twisted around me. My heart pounds as my eyes dart around the room, searching for anything to root me back in the present.
I’m in my suite. Alone.
My chest heaves as I struggle to pull myself together. That wasn’t real. It couldn’t have been. It was just a dream.
But gods, it didn’t feel like one. The connection was so vivid, so raw, it was almost tangible. Like a fated-mate bond.
I press a hand to my racing heart, trying to steady the tumultuous emotions swirling within me. Could this be what’s waiting for me if I accept Aeson as my chosen mate? Could it really be better than I’ve allowed myself to believe?
My wolf paces in my mind, restless and alert. The fog of sleep fades, and with it comes a pull—deep, magnetic, undeniable. I feel it in my bones, in the very core of my being.
We need to find him.
The sun hasn’t risen yet, but through the window, the faint glow of dawn edges across the horizon. I don’t care how early it is. I throw on pants and a sweater, not bothering with my hair or even glancing in the mirror before I slip out the door.
The pull guides me, tugging at something instinctual, and I follow it eagerly. My bare feet move soundlessly across the cool floors as I race through the halls, urgency thrumming through my veins. I let my wolf help, her instincts sharper than my own, her focus unshakable.
At first, I think she’s leading me to Aeson’s chambers, but as our path twists and turns, doubt creeps in. We’re heading downstairs now. Maybe he’s in his office.
But as I turn left instead of right, something shifts. The tug doesn’t waver, but a faint nervousness trickles down my spine.
Where are we going?
We circle the first floor, but each path we take leads us back to the base of the stairs.
It’s okay,I tell my wolf silently, trying to soothe her discomfort.I’ll find him.
She whimpers, her despondency tugging at the edges of my resolve. I don’t understand her reaction. It feels so unlike her usual strength, but the dream lingers, a haze in my thoughts and a need in my chest I can’t shake, no matter how confused she might feel.
I sigh, turning back toward the stairs, only to stop short when Aeson appears at the landing. He’s already dressed for the day in black slacks and a matching shirt left unbuttoned at the collar.
“Sloane?” he says, tilting his head as he studies me.
For a brief moment, I expect strands of his hair to fallforward like they did in the dream. But his hair is slicked back, neat and controlled. Everything about him is polished and deliberate.
Still, concern softens his sharp features as he steps toward me. “Are you okay?”
I grab his hand, the movement almost impulsive. “Let’s go to your office.”
His gaze flickers to my bare feet. “You’re not wearing any shoes.”
A dry chuckle escapes me, though the sound is far from steady. Of all the things to notice, that’s what catches his attention? I don’t bother responding. Instead, I reach for the handle of his office door, only to find it locked.
