Scoffs!
A tiny human scoffing at me as though I am her underling.
If she were not my mate, if I did not already feel affection for her, I might punish her for such insolence. I have cut many others down for less. Once, I gutted a soldier-in-training for rolling his eyes at me and mounted his head on a stake as a warning to others.
I force in a deep breath, then slowly exhale.
“Answer my question, Gwen. Answer me.” Though I try to keep my voice calm, I do not entirely succeed, and she flinches at the command in my tone.
“Yes, you promised never to hurt me. But they were just words you said. How can I be certain you spoke the truth? You might be lying just so I won’t cause a scene. You might be planning to pounce on me the moment we’re alone together.”
“I could have pounced on you when we stopped in the clearing,” I remind her. “But I didn’t.”
“Perhaps you prefer your victims to be clean first. Perhaps you’re simply biding your time until I finish my bath and then?—”
“Enough.” I straighten and glance toward the door. “We are going to walk inside and request the nicest room available. A room we will share. And you will behave accordingly or…” My voice trails off.
“Or what?” she whispers, growing even paler. “What will you do if I make a scene? Tell me. Please. I want to know just how cruelly you might treat me if I anger you.”
Slowly, I turn her to face me and place my hands on her shoulders.
A dark realization strikes me. She truly expects cruelty from me. Worse, she is trying to provoke me. She is trying to drag that brutality to the surface so she can see it for herself.
Her emotions finally brush against mine again, and what I sense startles me. Fear. Nervousness. But also… admiration and desire.
My heart lifts at the realization.
She is attracted to me.
Whether it’s because she’s starting to sense the bond, or her attraction to me is purely visceral at this point, I find I do not care. Because it is still a beginning. If she does not yet feel the bond, perhaps her attraction will help guide her toward it.
As I hold her gaze, I attempt to arrange my features into an earnest look, though I am unaccustomed to worrying about such things. I have never needed to earn a female’s trust before.
Perhaps I should practice making gentler facial expressions in the mirror later tonight.
Gods.
What an absurd thought… one of several I’ve had since meeting her.
“Gwen, my dearest, if you ever anger me, the worst I will do is growl at you. I will not shout at you, and I will never strike you.” I glance briefly at the door of the inn before returning my gaze to her, and I then find myself admiring the flecks of gold in her dark eyes. “If you truly wish to demand a room of your own once we enter the inn, I invite you to do so. But know this—I will not change my mind. We are sharing a room, and we are sharing a bed. I won’t force myself on you, but I do intend to fall asleep holding you in my arms.”
Her cheeks turn a dark pink, and she draws in a trembling breath. “I won’t make a scene. But I would like to state once more that I strongly object to sharing a room with you.”
I step closer, savoring the warmth that radiates from her body.
Then I lower my face until it is level with hers.
“I’m so glad you’ve agreed to behave for me, my dearest.”
Her eyes flare with surprise, perhaps a bit of outrage.
Before she can respond, I open the door and usher her inside.
CHAPTER 5
GWEN
As Merak speaksto the proprietor of the inn, a skinny fae male I suspect is part-human, I sit in an ornate lounge that’s larger than my house back in Braemar, holding my hands out to the hearth to warm myself. In addition to the numerous velvet-upholstered sofas and chairs, there’s a sparkling chandelier above me, shelves holding more books than I’ve ever seen in one place, crystal dishes that contain glowing, ussha-blessed fruits, and even a large blown-glass bowl brimming with peppermint candies. Unable to resist, I swipe a few of the candies and shove them into my pocket.
