Page 93 of Marked By the Dark Lord
“My definition is my own,” I told him. “It’s different for everyone.”
He thought about it, then nodded. “I have claimed you, Mila. On several occasions. I want you as mine. Nobody else's but mine. The idea of us not being together, of you not being with me, is repulsive. The thought of you being with another man drives me berserk with rage. You don’t belong there. You belong with me.”
“Great,” I said, fighting down the insane lust that surged through me every time he claimed me as his like that. It was tough to hate when such a powerful, hulking person stated something so unequivocally like that.
But it wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
“That wasn’t the right response,” he said, confused. “Was it?”
I shrugged. “It wasn’t wrong. I believe you when you say all that. I feel it. And I’m okay with it, Korr’ok. But it’s onlyhalf.”
His brow furrowed.
“Also,” I said, “can we finish this somewhere else? Maybe where the guards, half the city, and your brother’s headless body aren’t watching?”
That snapped him out of it. He started barking orders at the guards, then called to the people of the city, asking for volunteers to come into the House and begin work on restoring it.
Dozens came without hesitation. I watched as he effortlessly slid into the position of Lord of House Duloke.
He might have never wanted the responsibility, but there was no denying it. He was born to it.
“Come,” he said, taking my hand and leading me over to Fahll’ok, who was standing around uncertainly, waiting to be told what to do.
A wave of nerves tightened my shoulders as we drew close. Despite what Korr’ok had told me, I couldn’t help but feel like he wanted to choose her. The woman of his past. ThetrueFae, not a half-breed like me.
“You’re free,” he told her. “You may go.”
I touched his bicep. “She has a son,” I said quietly. “Your brother was holding him hostage.”
The snarl that exploded from Korr’ok sent both of us women back a step. “Of course he did. Come, let us get your child. I would have you never set foot in the House again unless it is your desire, Fahll’ok. You’ve been punished enough.”
Then he tookmyarm and led me into the House.
It wasn’t how I expected a human to handle such things, but as I had to keep reminding myself, I wasn’t among humans anymore. I was living with Fae, and they were very, very different.
Chapter Forty-Four
Mila
“Have you had more time to think about what I said?” I asked as Fahll’ok and her son exited the throne room, excited to start a new life somewhere far from the seat of power.
All my worries had proven to be fruitless. I should have known it was just Kraw’ok trying to be a dick by showing her to me. Another way he’d sought to undermine his brother.
“I have,” he said thoughtfully.
“What did you come up with?” I asked, curious about where his mind was leading him. Would he understand what I needed him to say? What I had to hear before I could truly let myself be with him?
“You said I was only saying half of what I had to say. And that threw me for a loop at first,” I rumbled slowly, “because I was saying everything. I was telling you that I wanted you to be mine. I claimed you in front of everyone.”
I stiffened as worry built that he hadn’t understood what I’d meant.
“It wasn’t until I saw Fahll’ok and her son together that it came into perspective.” He stood, turning to face me on the chair I sat in on his right, a much smaller, less ornate version of his throne. “You are mine, Mila. I will claim you in front of anyone, challenge anyone for you. And I do so because I want you. BecauseIcare aboutyou. Those are my feelings. I long for you. Every minute we’re apart, my body aches for you. My mind misses you. My soul misses you. The very core of what makes me a Faerie isbetterwith you around.”
A smile blossomed on my face. Hehadunderstood.
“That is why I want you to be my wife,” he said, dropping to one knee. “My lady. The half-human, half-Fae woman that Ilove.”
I stared.
