Tegan’s eyes widened in understanding as she got to her feet. “No one knows? None of your little sycophants know about your Mark?”
“Tegan…” Cord warned her, but she was already at the door. “You cannot get out, little tiger; I thought you would have noticed after six days.” His tone was mocking, but she ignored him as she lay out on the floor where the food flap was.
“Cord has the Mark of—”
She was suddenly mid-air, and his hand was over her mouth. “Don’t,” Cord hissed in her ear as he held Tegan against him. Her back was to his chest, and although Tegan was above average height, about five eight, the Castor still had to bend to speak in her ear. “Speak not of the Mark, Tegan,” he whispered quietly into her ear.
“Why?” Tegan asked as she tried to move out of his hold.
“Becauseyoushouldn’t know about it.No onecan know.”
Tegan stilled as his arm tightened around her waist. She could feel the tension in him as he held her against him. “You do not deserve my loyalty.”
“I did what was best for you,” Cord said as he released her and pushed her gently away from him.
“I’ve been in here for days,” Tegan snapped. “Days.”
“And I would keep you in here for longer if I could!” Cord snapped back. He inhaled deeply, obviously struggling with his own temper. “But…I need to let you go.”
“Why?” Tegan asked him as she watched him glare at the wall. “You obviously do not want to.” She gave a mirthless laugh.
“What?” Cord drawled as he looked her over lazily. “Nowyou want to stay?”
Tegan turned away from his mocking tone. “I hope you burn in hell.”
Tegan’s breath caught as she felt him behind her. “No, you don’t, little tiger.” His words were a whisper against her ear. “If I burn in hell, I’ll make sure you burn with me.”
Tegan spun to look at him in disbelief. “That’s a despicable thing to say to someone.”
Cord shrugged indifferently. “I don’t lie.”
“You lieallthe time!” Tegan exclaimed, incredulous.
He grinned at her, and she was so overwhelmed with the sudden change she couldn’t find a thing to say. “I need to return you to Headquarters, but I think I should bathe you first.”
“You will not.” Tegan was glaring at him again. “I am not leaving until you tell me why you took me and why I have been locked in acell.”
“I needed to protect you,” Cord told her brusquely. “The danger has passed…for now.” He frowned as his thoughts drifted.
“How do I know thatyouare not the danger?” Tegan asked him quietly.
The Castor looked at her, his eyes hooded. “We are mates, bonded.”
“They say it could be a trick.”
“It is not.”
Tegan took a shaky breath. “You said you could break it.”
“I cannot.”
“Have you tried?” she asked him softly.
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Why did she feel so disappointed that he had tried? “How many times?”Did it matter?she questioned herself.
“Too many.” Cord’s voice was blunt and heavy with the truth.