He fell silent for a moment, then nodded. “The debt to her parents is officially repaid.”
“I’m not sure they would agree with that,” I replied. “You let the Council use her as bait.” It was a sore topic between us. I’d wanted to take her at the coffee shop several months ago, but he’d convinced me to let Shade bite her.
“We needed Constantine to come out of hiding,” he said, repeating the statement he’d used several times over the last few months.
“And you wanted to put a leash on Shade,” I added. “Yes, I know. I’m just saying, I don’t think her parents would appreciate her being used as a pawn.”
“The Council was going to use her whether we approved or not. This just allowed us to make use of the predicament.” He shrugged. “Her parents would understand. They signed her up for this fate when they agreed to the temporary mating.”
“Fifteen years isn’t temporary,” I said, disliking the term.
He clapped me on the shoulder. “It’ll feel temporary when you reach my age, Kai. You’ll see.”
I forced a smile. “Sure.” He still assumed I intended to undo the mate-bonds. It had always been my plan to do so. Even when I’d seen her in the coffee shop, I’d still meant to shatter our connection.
But then she’d undone the enchantment with the song we’d taught her all those years ago.
And I’d joined her in a dream.
The moment our eyes met, I felt as though I was looking into my very soul and finding my other half. My childhood best friend had grown into a gorgeous woman with sexual needs I couldn’t help but fulfill.
Seeing her in that manner had felt like my first time, which was insane. I’d fucked women, most of them human and during a feeding. The enchantment over our bond had muted her to a dull ache, one I’d never intended to keep.
Then she’d shattered everything with a throaty moan and a voice that beckoned sex.
I hadn’t been able to look at another woman since, and that’d all just been foreplay in our dreams. It was a total mindfuck that I didn’t know how to fix.
Well, I had some ideas. Most of them involving a few nights in the sheets. But my instincts said that would never be enough. There was just something so intoxicating about Aflora. Our history only heightened the sensation, leaving me utterly conflicted about the future between us.
What will she think when she learns the truth? I wondered, checking in on her progress through our bonds.
She was still quietly dismantling the enchanted ropes around her torso. Soon, she would reach the ones in her mind, and that was when the real fun would begin.
My heart skipped a beat, anticipation thick in my veins.
“Let’s go debrief the others,” my father said, interrupting my inner musings. “Then Dakota can tell us what Zen said in the clearing.”
Zen. My teeth clenched at the name. The infuriating female continued to intrude on my plans, her aptitude for fortune-telling an annoyance I wanted to end.
It was why we’d put Shade on a leash. He was her grandson, thereby tying them by blood. Which meant Aflora now had access to that entire line of power, consequently enabling me to play as well.
I hadn’t explored the bonds yet. But I intended to, just as soon as Aflora became a willing participant. Otherwise, I risked hurting her in the process. And I would only pursue that avenue if she left me no choice.
Until then, I’d seduce her my own way—with puzzles of magic.
She wouldn’t admit it, but the net she fought now intrigued her. I could feel that excitement thrumming inside her as she unwove another strand.
My little star loved a good challenge. And she’d just met her biggest one yet. Me.
“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?” my twin demanded as I stepped through the threshold into our suite. “Where’s Aflora?” Tray added as he noted my solo entry.
“That’s a great fucking question,” I snapped.
Shade had vanished into smoke after dropping the bomb about Aflora’s Quandary Blood mate.
No elaboration or explanation. Just poof! Gone.
Jackass, I snarled in my head, furious with the Death Blood. I intended to rearrange his face the next time I saw him. Or perhaps kill him. Because what the fuck?!