Page 12 of Magic Claimed
Alerick’s scent wove through me, and I drew it deep into my lungs. An unsettling need flashed through me, pooling low and deep in my belly. Surprising and unwanted. It took all of my self-control to flatten my palm on his solid chest to put some space between us.
“Put me down,” I croaked.
He studied me for a long moment. I’d been on the end of scrutinizing looks before, but none that held the weight in his eyes. I could lose myself in a look like that. I diverted my gaze, needing to break the spell he had on me. “Please.”
“I will let you down because you’re weakened, but know this. You’re our mate. It is something a wolf shifter takes very seriously and when you’re in need, you’ll be tended to. What you request will be denied until we’re sure ’you’re in good health and mind.”
His deep voice rumbled through me, making my abdomen flutter with unwanted sensation. He was Alpha. His word was law and what I wanted was nothing. It only made me more determined to get out of here and away from them.
For the first time in my life, I was happy for the collar Esoti had magically put around my neck. My fingers strayed to the metal that a shift hadn’t managed to remove.
He settled me down on the couch next to him, although his arm remained around my shoulders and his thick thigh pressed against mine. I adjusted the blanket and tucked the edge under my arms to keep it in place. Alerick took the tray from the shifter who stood in the middle of the room watching me with unhidden curiosity. “Thank you, Sedric.”
“You’re welcome, Alpha.” Before leaving the room, Sedric nodded to Alerick, then to Jarom and Eike, as though seeing everything unfold was a usual occurrence. Maybe it was. Jarom definitely had anger management issues.
Alerick placed the laden tray on my knee. A fresh wave of savoury goodness rolled over me. My stomach clenched with a pain-filled twist. My gaze rose to Alerick, unsure. This could be a trick I’d been on the receiving end before. Maybe they wanted me to think the food was for me and laugh when they took it away.
“What are you waiting for, female? Eat.” Jarom had picked himself up and slouched against the desk. He folded his arms across his great expanse of chest looking as though he wanted to rip my head off.
My hand slowly clenched around the spoon next to a big bowl filled with stew. I didn’t want to fall for their trick, but my stomach was jumping into my throat in its desperation for food. “Is this a test?”
Alerick frowned in genuine confusion. “What do you mean?”
I licked my lips, wondering what reaction my question would bring. “If I eat, will there be consequences?”
“Definitely.” I tensed at Jarom’s word. “You’ll get full and put some well-needed meat on those bones.”
Eike cursed, running his hand through his locks. “That’s not why she asked, you idiot.”
“Eat, Little Mate,” Alerick said, his voice gentle.
I ignored Jarom’s stunned expression and dove into the food. I didn’t have to be told twice. Food could be easily taken away. It took me five mouthfuls before I realised I was moaning with every taste. My gaze bounced between Jarom’s curled lip to Eike’s flared eyes to Alerick’s intense stare.
“So much better hot. And it’s fresh too.” I plunged my thumbs into a bread roll. Actual steam rose from the fluffy insides. I broke off a piece, dipped it into the stew and swallowed it almost whole. These shifters knew how to eat. I was six spoons in. My stomach was full but no way was I going to stop eating, despite the cramping.
“Don’t make yourself sick. I’ll have more food brought to you when you’re hungry again,” Alerick said.
I swallowed another bite. There would be no more food because I wouldn’t be here. Alerick’s body heat seeped through the blanket and his heady scent filled my lungs. He was far too close when all I wanted to do was curl against him and go to sleep now my stomach was full.
I slid to the other side of the couch, my eyes on the muscle ticking at his temple. I firmed my hands around the bowl. “Can I take this with me?”
Alerick’s growl caused my abdomen to tighten. He leaned towards me, the leather couch squeaking as he moved. Light moved at the back of his eyes, and then his masculine scent sunk into my body making the place between my legs throb.
I thought he was going to kiss me but he stilled, caging me in a stare I couldn’t break. A strange sense of disappointment wormed through. I didn’t want him to touch me. I didn’t want anything to do with him at all. If I had to tell myself that a thousand times, I would.
The air vibrated with impossible power and unrelenting strength. My attention locked on him no matter how much I didn’t want it to. I was pinned beneath his inspection, unable to pull away, drawn to him like a moth to flame. “Your place is here. With us. Little Mate, you’re not going anywhere.”
Chapter Eight
The collar tightened a fraction. It was a warning meant to get my attention that would only get worse the longer I took to get back to the castle, and I still had to get the wand from Samuel. I couldn’t return without it. Esoti would be beyond angry with me if I didn’t have it and he would get creative.
I glanced out of the dark window. The storm still raged, but it was impossible to know how long I’d been unconscious. It could have been five minutes or an hour and I’d run out of time.
I set the tray on the floor and stood as best I could on my still trembling, shaky legs, but the food lent me some strength. I adjusted the blanket, wrapping it about my body then lifted my chin, bolstering my courage and faced them. “You can’t make me stay.”
Maybe Ishouldstay long enough for the collar to choke me. It wouldn’t be pleasant, but they’d see me die. I’d go back to hiding from them in the castle and that would be the end of that. Not that I looked forward to a death, but this one could be useful.
“I don’t think you understand what I said.” Alerick growled, a low sound that thrummed through me and settled somewhere deep inside. I fought off an internal shiver as his determination tumbled through me. Determination and another emotion I had no name for. Then it hit me. The mate bonds. I already felt them, but they would eventually grow until their emotions would be as clear as a physical touch. When I died and came back, the bonds would flare to life and they would seek me out until they grew so weak they wouldn’t be able to trace it.
