Page 32 of Forsaken Fate

Grayson’s lips were at my ear, nipping at my ear lobe. “I’ve been waiting for this more than I can tell you.”

“I’m happy to finally be here too,” I answered, putting a hand up to touch his cheek.

“No,” he said. “I mean what you said about wanting time alone. I didn’t get the chance to properly welcome you to the house the other night. Time to fix that right now, baby.”

He summoned magic so quickly, it took the wind out of me. His eyes flashed blue then yellow. His fangs dropped. He grabbed me, moving so fast I had to practically run to keep up with him or have my arm torn off. Grayson led me down the hallway back to Diana’s bedroom. When we got inside, he slammed the door behind us and picked me up over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry, tossing me on the bed where I landed in an ungraceful heap. My skirt hitched up past my knees and Grayson was on me before I could say anything.

“I don’t want to wait anymore,” he said. No. He growled it.

“Grayson,” I gasped.

No. No. No. I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t had a chance to use my own borrowed magic. Another of my secrets. Another of my lies.

“We don’t have to wait for the Gathering,” he said. “I can mark you here. Now.”

“No,” I said. “You promised me. I want the ceremony.”

“Shifters have been claiming mates for centuries without the ceremony. Not even every pack in New York comes to the Gathering. We can do what we want.”

“It’s just a few more days, Grayson,” I said. “And it matters. It will be good for you to have witnesses when you mark me. They need to know that you didn’t force me. That I’m taking your mark of my own free will.”

His eyes stopped glowing. His fangs receded.

“It’s just a few more days,” I repeated. “Then we have the rest of our lives.”

I went to him, placing a hand against his cheek. It was a risk. Grayson’s moods were growing more unstable. If he shifted fully into his wolf, or called on the Source, he could overpower me.

He snapped his teeth.

“I want you by my side,” he said.

“Always.”

“I mean it,” he said. “When I mark you, I expect you at my beck and call. You have one job. To give me an heir. To help me build a pack.”

“It’ll all work out. You’ll see.”

“You have no idea the pressure I’m under. I have to be stronger than she was. If you can’t produce. If you’re lying to me…”

“I’m not,” I said.

Grayson’s eyes went hooded. It always happened after he called on his wolf. That was the secret he thought I couldn’t see. He had trouble controlling his shifts. The few times I’d seen it, Grayson became almost comatose for half a day afterward.

“It will be better after the Gathering,” I said.

Grayson grabbed my arm so hard I knew it would bruise. “Mine,” he said. “No one else’s. You’re not to so much as look at another man. Understand?”

“Of course,” I said. “You’re hurting me, baby. I’m tired. It’s been a long morning. I’m just going to lie down for a while. Then we’ll have dinner together. I’ll make sure the cook makes your favorites. I’ll take care of everything. You look tired too. You should rest.”

He let go of me and staggered sideways. Water poured from his fingertips. It was unbidden, chaotic. It seemed it wasn’t only his shifter magic he had trouble controlling. Grayson lunged toward me. I sidestepped. Then he sat down hard on the edge of the bed.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

He held a hand up but seemed nonverbal.

Grayson’s phone rang on the bedside table. The noise snapped him out of whatever stupor he was in. He cursed as he saw the caller ID. “Get out,” he said.

I did. I stood in the hallway, listening in through the door.

---