Page 59 of Blade's Battle
“Maybe you should consider blood-bonding that redhead you were with.”
Blade stopped short. “You’re jealous of Henrietta?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” Anna finally met his eyes. “She’s cute. And Tess says she’s a nice woman.”
“Henrietta’s very nice, but she’s not for me. You are. I thought last night would have proved that.”
She tried to smile. “Last night was everything and more, but. . .”
“Give me, giveus, time, Anna, before you say ‘no’ to the idea of blood-bonding.”
“I’ve already told you I won’t say yes no matter what. You need to accept that.”
“Maybe you need to accept that Kurt is dead and not coming back.” Blade winced at his callousness as she inhaled a sharp breath.
“Your wolf’s been pushing you, hasn’t he?” she asked outright, her face as hard as stone. “That’s why you’re being an ass. I told you I’ll find a solution to keep you from going feral. I stand by my word.”
“I still have plenty of time, Anna. I’m in control of my wolf. I was caught off-guard at Liam’s. It never should have happened, but it did because I got lax and trusted him. I’m not used to working against him. He’s a sneaky son-of-a-bitch at times, but I’m learning his tricks. You calm him Anna, which is how I know we still have plenty of time to get to know each other properly like you want.”
“This isn’t about what I want, Blade, but about what you need.”
“I need you.”
“You need a fix to the feral problem, and I’m not it, at least not through blood-bonding. I’ve already been married.”
“You didn’t say you don’t want me, Angel,” he pointed out.
“Blade. . .”
“If you don’t want me, if you have no feelings for me, say it. Here and now, and no lying.”
“Please, Blade, don’t make me say it,” she begged, shaking her head as she averted her eyes.
“You can’t say it, because you care about me.”
“Of course I do,” she said, her voice soft and tired. “Give me time to solve this for you, okay? Just because I failed the first time doesn’t mean I won’t get it right this time.”
“The first time?” he asked. “What happened, Anna? What happened to Kurt? You’re not helping anyone by avoiding whatever it is that has you thinking you don’t deserve to be happy.”
“Kurt’s dead because of me,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. “I killed him.”
Chapter Ten
ANNA
Blade stood there completely stoic. She felt relieved having finally told him, but from his expression, this conversation was far from over.
“We need to talk,” he said, taking her hand in his and leading her down a path. He left the tray behind on the chair, but she had already lost her appetite.
He led her to a small but private overlook far from the compound. As she pulled away, she could hear the slightest of growls from him. Neither he nor his wolf was happy with her.
She let her hand trail along an oblong pinecone hanging low on a spruce. The flakey seed scales crunched between her fingers, so very fitting as it seemed everything she touched of late withered and died. When she opened her hand, the wind swept the fragments up, scattering them on the ground by a tree stump, one with a salt lick no less. The last time they’d come across a salt lick, Blade had been shot and she had nearly drowned.
“What do you do to the hunters who get this close to your camp?”
Blade was pacing near the edge of the overlook, too distracted by whatever was on his mind. When she pointed at the salt lick, he cursed under his breath.
“They shouldn’t get this close if our patrols are doing their job. I’ll let Damien knowafterwe talk.”
