I ignored them.
My colloquialisms clearly didn’t belong in this realm. Just as I didn’t. But nothing could be done about that now.
Except maybe kick the tulip arse of the Midnight Fae who had forced me into this situation.
He watched my approach, amusement dancing in his features. “Hello, gorgeous.”
His expression and words infuriated me so much that I couldn’t stop my fist from landing right in his face.
A hush fell over the air around us, shock displayed on the faces of those flanking Shade. I didn’t care. I wound up my fist, ready to hit him again, only to find my wrist caught in his hand.
His smirk died behind a mask of annoyance as he used his grip on my wrist to yank me into his hard body. “It seems you need a lesson on how to properly greet an old friend.”
“Old friend?” I huffed a laugh. “Yeah, you’re certainly not that.”
My knee angled upward, aiming for his groin.
But I hit his thigh instead.
His eyes narrowed threateningly. “Who taught you how to fight? A flower?”
He whirled me around in a cloud of smoke that clogged my lungs and blinded my vision. I spun, searching for freedom, only to find my back pressed against something hard. Squirming, I tried to escape, but another wall hit my front, two strong palms grasping my hips and holding me in place.
“Let me go!” I demanded.
“Too late for that, princess,” he replied, his lips against my ear. “You’re already mine.”
I grasped his shoulders—confirming Shade was the wall in front of me—and tried to use the surface at my back for leverage to shove him away.
But he remained immobile, his strength overpowering mine far too easily.
A whimper caught in my throat. He’d ensnared me in less than a minute, capturing me in this thick, smoky blanket. “Don’t you dare bite me again,” I snapped, feeling utterly helpless and infuriated at the same time.
“You came at me, baby,” he whispered menacingly. “What kind of mate would I be if I didn’t punish you properly, hmm?”
“I’m already being punished, you willow stump!”
He chuckled, shaking his head against my neck. “Darling Aflora, we really do need to improve your vocabulary.” He kissed my racing pulse, sending a shiver down my spine that seemed to settle in my lower belly.
No, not a shiver.
A tremble.
One that ignited a subtle quake inside that terrified me even more.
Because it meant some sick and twisted part of me enjoyed his touch.
I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing that sensation to subside. No. No. No.
His teeth grazed my skin, stirring goose bumps down my arms. “Please don’t,” I begged, my nails digging into his cloak.
If he bit me again, it would deepen the bond. Kolstov said Shade had only initiated the bond and a second bite would seal it. Then a third… I shuddered, unable to finish the consideration because I couldn’t allow that to happen.
Or any of it.
I needed to stop him.
To fight.