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She recoiled like I’d slapped her. Not the response I was looking for, and I had to admit, it pricked my temper.
“I thought that a blood bond can’t be forced on a thrall,” she said. “That it was my choice.”
My back teeth set. “Most thralls don’t spy on the syndicate that employs them and expect to live.”
“How is this giving me a choice?”
“You do have a choice. But think.” I aimed a pointed look at her abdomen. “Do you want to return to Lilith Island under my protection—or not?”
She went white around the lips. “You think Brien would hurt the baby?”
I hesitated, tempted to lie if it got her to agree. But that wasn’t fair to Brien.
“No,” I admitted. “The child is my spawn—I’ve made that clear. Brien will welcome them into the syndicate. But after they’re born, I can’t make any guarantees where you’re concerned. My spawn belongs to the syndicate now. But you—?”
I let the implications hang there. Eden was smart; she’d understand. After she gave birth, she’d be expendable. Brien would be justified in locking her in the cell for the next decade…or even expelling her from Maritime Syndicate Territory. Some primuses would even make sure she suffered an “accident.”
“He wouldn’t,” she said hoarsely.
“D’you want to chance it?” I was being the worst sort of bastard, threatening a pregnant woman, but fuck ethics. Being nice had gotten me fuck-all with Eden.
Her throat muscles worked. She glanced at her fisted hands, and then back at me. “Why do you want this so bad? What do you get?”
Did she really not know? “You, Eden. I get you.”
Pain ghosted across her fine-boned features. Her mouth twisted. “You know I saw you last night with that woman.”
I lifted a brow. “And?”
Eden was a thrall. A warm body, one the syndicate had bought and paid for. She knew better than to expect me to be faithful.
“So is that how it’s going to be if I accepted your blood bond? You get to fuck anyone, but I only get you?”
I considered her. I’d regretted putting my dick into Coral almost as soon as I’d removed the condom. I wasn’t making Eden any promises. Hell, she was lucky I hadn’t made her watch. However…
“I need to feed from other thralls. You know that. But you don’t want me to fuck anyone else?” Catching her chin in my hand, I rubbed my thumb over her lower lip. “Then you know what to do.”
She drew a slow inhale. Her body inclined subtly toward mine.
“Say yes,” I coaxed.
Her eyes squeezed shut. “I—I need to think.”
I sat back on my haunches, baffled. “You want me. And you want your baby safe, don’t you?”
The gaze she sent me was pure blue fire. “Of course I do.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. “The problem is it’s my life—and the baby’s. So I just don’t know.”
The hell with this. I’d all but promised to be exclusive with her. For an unmated vampire that was a major commitment. Before we returned to Lilith Island, I wanted her under my protection.
I shoved her foot into the second boot and stood up.
“I already told Brien you accepted my blood bond. It was the only way. A blood-bonded thrall belongs to her master, not the syndicate. If you want to tell him I lied, that’s up to you. So.” I held out my hand. “What’s your answer? Yes or no?”
She looked from my hand to my face. Her chest rose and fell in a quick, tight inhale. The silence stretched until I actually wondered if she’d refuse—and then what would I do?
