Page 19 of The Forbidden Dragon King
I scream, as he lands on my back, driving me down to the ground. I bang my head on the floor, and for a long moment can do nothing but lay still, frozen in dazed shock.
Blood trickles down my temples, blinding me.
Bard is pinning me down with his weight, bruising me. His claws tear through my cloak. He raises his head and howls.
When his hot breath ghosts over the back of my neck, my eyes widen in terror. Then his fangs graze my skin.
Fuck.
This is it.
I’m not ready.
Please…
I don’t pray to the Shadow Gods. They can’t save me.
I ball my hands into fists, preparing to scream.
I’ve often wondered what it felt like to our enemies to be chased, hunted, and have their throats torn out.
I don’t recommend it.
Except, when Bard’s teeth slice through my neck, it’s not a killing bite. He’s tearing through into my scent gland to make a bond bite.
I scream but with pleasure and not pain.
The sound is enough to shock both of us, but it’s too late.
I can feel the bond settling into my soul, winding between Bard and me.
I can sense his emotions and soul:A crippling sense of duty and tortured secrets that are destroying him, hidden underneath the quiet scholar who playacts the warrior.
Instantly, the wolf throws himself off me to the side, transforming back into a man.
Bard is naked like everyone who actively takes part in the Mate Hunt.
It’s hard to remember that this is meant to be the best night of most people’s lives, when they find their forever pack.
Bard’s pale, muscled body crouches in a shaft of moonlight like he’s readying himself to fight. The red tattoo of a wolf on his shoulder, which marks him out asan Alpha, stands out brightly. His thick brunet hair tumbles to his broad shoulders. His large, forest green eyes are wild with confusion and panic.
He rubs over his mouth and jaw in frantic motions.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer.
Dazed and in shock, I pull myself up to my knees, holding my hand over my bond bite, which is already starting to magically heal over.
Bard appears as shocked as I am. “I didn’t mean to.”
“What? Hurt me?”
“I was meant tokillyou. My wolf decided to mate you.” Bard drops his hand to the side, then notices with a hiss of disgust the ruby crescent moon soul bond mark, which has now risen up.
“Oh.” I huddle a little further back from him, trying to hide my hurt but knowing that with wolf shifter bonds it’s impossible to.
By the way that Bard is grimacing, it’s obvious that my distress is an inconvenience to him.
