Page 96 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood
“I would prefer you stay far away from myintentionsaltogether.”
His lips curve up at this. “Perhaps you should learn to control them then. I cannot help what slips through the thin walls of the bond.”
“Why am I here?”
He finishes what’s in his glass, enjoying the taste as though I’m not even there. He’s wearing a loose-fitting tunic and baggy pants that still somehow emphasize every part of his body. The dip of his collar reveals the rippled muscles that lie beneath. The fact that the gods made something this cruel so beautiful may have been the reason that they ran away.
“Intentions, Adina, intentions.”
I drag my eyes away from his chest to his black orbs, and my cheeks heat when I realize that he caught me watching him.Felt me watching him.I try to ignore the growing tension between my thighs and focus on the moment. It’s just the bond, I remind myself.
Are you sure about that?
Don’t you start.
“If you don’t explain what I’m doing here in the next five seconds, I’m leaving.”
“Gods, that mouth of yours is a dangerous thing.” He rises to his feet, coming to a stand between me and the door, and causing me to turn to face him. “To answer your question, my dearmate,the nobles of my court felt it fit to break protocol and arrive early. And tonight I will need to host a welcome dinner.”
The playful nature dies in him with his words.
“I don’t understand.”
“It means that I will be required to entertain our guests during their extended stay, and I need to feed.”
Slowly, I take in the information, my mind reeling. This must be the start of what Ember warned me about. The Blood Vows.
“Why exactly are they here?” I pry.
He steps closer, and I suck in a breath.
“That does not concern you.” He takes one of my curls between his fingers. “All I need is for you to be on your best behavior.”
I slap his hand away and scowl up at him, which only makes him laugh.
“I’m not your pet.”
“No, but you are my mate, and if anybody shows any ill will toward you, I will have no choice but to put anendto it.”
“You mean…”
“I mean, I need you, for once in your life, to just follow the rules.”
There is a seriousness in his tone that makes me hold the quip on the tip of my tongue. I may not like him or anything he stands for, but I understand the impact of our court being weakened and what that would mean for every human that resides here.
“Fine.”
He watches me for a moment, his eyes scanning mine as though he is searching for something, and then the usual cocky arrogance returns.
“Good.” He takes a step closer, and my treacherous mind becomes a muddle of thoughts. He dips his mouth to my ear, sending goosebumps scattering all over me. “Where would you like me to bite you?”
His whispered words fill my ear like a lullaby, and I can feel the tug of the bond begging me to give in to everything he has to offer, but I fight against it. I straighten my back and take a step back, offering my wrist.
He smiles down at my outstretched arm and wraps a hand around it, tugging me toward him until I can feel the fan of his breath against my lips. My heart thunders inside my chest as I watch him lift my wrist to his mouth.
“You don’t need to make it…feel good,” I whisper, and his eyes meet mine.
“I’m afraid the bond despises the idea of me giving you anything but pleasure.”
