“Did you know?” I wondered out loud. “Did you know I could access Quandary Magic?”
He considered me for a long moment before saying, “I was told of your potential, yes. I didn’t believe it until I felt you override the choker your first week here, and I’ve been doing everything I can to help you hide since.”
I frowned. “Help me hide?”
“You didn’t think Kols was the only one assisting you, did you?” His lips quirked upward. “He’s been in your head just as much as I have, Aflora. Surely you’ve figured that out by now.”
“He helps me during class.”
“And at night,” he added, a sinister grin entering his icy eyes. Somehow that look only made him more handsome, in a sinful sort of way that made my heart pound.
Then his words registered. “He knows about the dreams.” Not a question, but a statement, my lips parting. “But I thought that was because of our bond!”
“No, darling. Dream manipulation is old magic. You make it easy because you don’t know how to defend against it, and none of us have bothered to teach you how. My reasoning should be obvious, but you’d have to ask Kols for his purpose in your mind. If I were to guess, I’d say it was his way of fighting an obvious attraction. For me, I just want to play with my feisty little mate.”
I scowled at him, which only made him smile harder.
“You’re a rare diamond among a sea of jewels, Aflora. I can’t blame Zeph or Kols for wanting you. I’m even willing to share, but you are mine first and foremost. Because my claim is deeper. And soon, we’ll finalize our mating. Then the truth can be revealed. At least in parts.”
“More riddles,” I muttered, shifting to my back, only to have his hand yank me back to my side.
“Providing all the answers would weaken you, Aflora. Riddles, as you call them, are what make a Quandary Blood thrive. And there are some facts in life that must be discovered on our own in order for us to flourish. But that doesn’t make me any less here for you. I’ve been helping you from the beginning, more than you’ll ever know.”
“Helping to torment me and taking me against my will,” I mused. “Such an amazing mate you are, Shade.” I couldn’t help the thick sarcasm in my tone, my mind at wits’ end. “You destroyed my life, and now I’ll die because of it. And you won’t even tell me why.” This time he let me fall to my back.
I closed my eyes, tired of talking to him.
He wasn’t going to give me anything useful.
He never did.
“You weren’t the only one not given a choice,” he said quietly some time later. “We’re all pawns on a board serving a higher purpose. A fate that may or may not come to fruition. Only time will tell.”
“What does that even mean?” I asked, opening my eyes to find him propped up on his elbow and gazing down at me with sadness in his eyes. “Someone told you to bite me. Did they not tell you why?”
“I already knew why, Aflora. But that doesn’t mean I wanted to take you against your will, that I wanted to force a bond on you without even knowing you.” He cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. “If it’s an apology you want, Ican’t give it to you. Because I don’t regret it. Not anymore. Not after learning so much about you. I see now why our fates were destined to intertwine.”
“Because of my Quandary Magic.”
“No, because ofyou.” He leaned in to kiss me, his mouth questing against mine. “I know none of this makes sense, that you blame me for everything that’s happened, and you’re fully within your right to feel that way. But one day soon, you will understand, and you will thank me for forcing this upon you.”
“Not likely,” I grumbled, the words brushing his lips.
He grinned. “I very much look forward to proving you wrong.”
I knew he wouldn’t be able to, that it wasn’t possible for me to ever thank him for dragging me into this world and destroying my life. But I couldn’t stop the rush of heat that overwhelmed me as he kissed me once more.
I hated him.
Wanted tohurthim as he’d hurt me.
Yet the fire he lit inside me stoked higher with each touch, lick, and nip between us. It proved that lust and hatred truly were neighbors in the circle of emotions that dictated us all. Because the passion between us burned hotter and hotter every day.
“I hate you,” I whispered.
“I know.”
“I wish I’d never met you,” I added, a hoarse growl in my tone.
