Page 13 of Magic Claimed
Distance and time would weaken a bond. A panther shifter had been brought to the castle years ago. Her mate was vicious and beat her often. She’d run from him, exchanging information about the Panther Territory to Esoti for somewhere safe to live. He’d allowed it, and she had been very forthcoming with information. Over time, the bond between the Panther shifters weakened. Enough that she didn’t feel him inside her and she knew he’d never be able to track her down. After that, the female disappeared, and I didn’t know if she’d gotten away from the castle or if Esoti had no more use for her and had killed her himself.
The thrum of the Alpha and Alpha seconds’ emotions pressed on me. If I concentrated, I was sure I’d be able to differentiate each one of them, but I shut that down. Mates weren’t platonic. It was simple biology riding their instinct though. They didn’t like me. They didn’t know me. If there was no bond, I was sure I’d be overlooked. There was nothing about me that screamed attractive.
“Esoti is expecting me back,” I said.
Jarom’s dark gaze sharpened. “Yes, he will be, won’t he?”
“You’re our mate. You don’t have to go back to him. We will protect you,” Eike said.
“You don’t understand. He’ll find me,” I said, ignoring the way Alerick’s eyes narrowed.
“He’ll never know where you’re. We can keep you hidden,” Eike said.
The collar tightened. Esoti was getting impatient, quicker than he normally would be. Something was setting him off. The metal dug into my skin, pressing on my airways. I winced, my fingers resting on the warm metal, knowing there was no way I’d be able to relieve the pressure.
Alerick slid his fingers beneath mine and felt around the collar from the front to the back. His brows lowered. “How do you get this off?”
“It doesn’t come off,” I rasped, my mouth dry. I stepped away from him, but his large hand curved over my bare shoulder, keeping me in place. Heat and sparking awareness sunk through my skin, into my bones.
I was far too aware of the press of his bare chest against me. His skin filled my vision and his cinnamon scent sank into me. I swayed forward, helplessly drawn to him. The need to touch him was too tempting. Overwhelming. Unwanted.
My hand fell onto the planes of his chest before I knew I’d moved my arm at all. I arched my back; a subtle movement, but one that crushed my breasts against his body. If I dropped the blanket, there would be nothing separating us.
His gaze rose from my collar to my eyes, the depths gleaming with answering awareness. I tumbled into the promise they held. Of being wanted. Of beingseen. Things I’d dreamed about. Things I would never have. Things I had to ignore.
So many reasons.Toomanyreasons to ignore the bond.
“No!” I wrenched my gaze from his. I pushed away from him, my hand sliding from his chest. The collar tightened, crushing my throat. My legs faltered beneath me and large hands lowered me to the couch. I clutched my neck, my breath rasping.
“What’s wrong, Little Mate?” Alerick’s face was etched with concerned lines. I grabbed at him, unable to speak. My vision hazed in the first stages of suffocation. It would get worse.
“Get Anise!” Alerick roared.
“No!” Jarom spat. “She’s pretending, to get back to Esoti.”
“I said, get Anise, Eike,” Alerick snarled, his words reverberating with potency. The air crackled with Alpha power that rippled across my skin. I whined as it sank through my skin.
Jarom’s jaw tensed, his hands forming fists as his lips lifted, showing lengthening canines. He bristled, tension making him shake as anger poured from every cell in his body.
“Jarom. Get yourself under control.” Alerick said.
Fear jolted through me, sharp and uncompromising. I shuddered, the prickling sensation burrowing into my bones. Jarom’s eyes snapped to me before something like shock crossed his features. He spun, striding to the fireplace.
“Eike. Go,” Alerick ordered.
The door slammed against the wall as Eike ran out. It didn’t matter who came. No one could help me. Desperation made me curl my fingers around Alerick’s bicep and I forced the words out. “Wand. Have to. Go back.”
“What wand?” Alerick rasped.
I winced, swallowing past the restriction in my throat. “Collar tightening. Won’t stop. Get Esoti’s wand. Errand.”
Alerick’s expression hardened. “Is this Esoti’s way of calling you back to him?”
I nodded. “Slave collar. Does what he likes. To me.” My words were only sounds on a gasp. I tried to blink away the haze, but my vision was growing steadily darker.
Suddenly it was important they knew I told them the truth. They’d take me back to Esoti in an attempt to save me, and then I’d simply stay away from them. They weren’t welcome at the castle. There’d be no way they’d ever find me again. Hopefully, the bond would fade to nothing and then we could all forget about this nightmare. “Not lying. Not spy. Don’t know wolf. Truth. Get back. Collar. Kill me.”
Alerick’s gaze slipped between the collar and my face, his eyes hardening. “Damn Esoti to the coldest parts of the seven hells.”
