To escape.
He murmured something that I didn’t hear beneath the chaos rattling around inside me. The noose around my neck kept me from accessing my earth essence. But somewhere within, there was a link to dark magic—because of Shade. I just needed to use it against him.
Pushing away from reality and ignoring the shadowy smog cloaking my vision, I searched deep in my mind for some sort of link. Anything that didn’t belong. Anything that I could use.
His tongue danced up the column of my throat, his touch temporarily drawing me back to the hands on my hips and the growing arousal pressing into my lower abdomen.
The flame inside me inched higher, yearning to dance with him in an intimate way that neither of us could afford. It had to be the bond. This compulsion to give in to him sexually and do whatever he requested.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to cave.
I’m stronger than this.
Don’t let his mind tricks overwhelm you.
Focus.
With a deep breath, I dove back into my mind, frantically searching for a path to follow that would lead me out of this complication. Because giving in to him and these indecent urges wasn’t an option.
Tying myself to him more would harm us both.
Not that he seemed to care.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Aflora,” Shade murmured. “I know I have, but it was never my intent.”
“Lie,” I choked out, torn between what he was doing and saying and my desire to fight.
“No, darling. I’ve never lied to you, nor will I ever lie to you.” He kissed my jaw, working his way to my mouth. “You can hate me—and you should—but I promise there’s a reason.”
“What reason?”
“Fate,” he replied cryptically before sealing his lips over my mine.
I refused to open for him.
Refused to kiss him back.
Refused to fall into this lustful trap.
He made no sense. Had ruined my life. Wouldn’t give me any details on what he wanted. And now had me trapped against some tree or wall, surrounded by a thick essence I couldn’t see through. Were we still at the bonfire? Or somewhere else entirely? He seemed to be able to teleport, in addition to controlling my mind. What else could he do?
Heck, was this even real?
I’d dreamt of him almost every night this week, waking up in a variety of orgasmic states, all brought on by his mouth and hands. Were the dreams a response to his bite? Or was he manipulating me?
I hated that I didn’t know.
Hated more that I didn’t know how to stop him.
His tongue danced along the seam of my mouth, requesting entrance.
I denied him.
His grip on my hips tightened, causing me to wince. I grabbed his neck and dug my nails into his scalp in response, needing to harm him in some way.
Yet all it did was make him smile against my lips. “I love that you’re not giving in,” he admitted softly. “Proves you were the right choice all along. An easy mate would bore me significantly.”
“I’m an unwilling mate,” I snapped. “You ra—”