“I can’t,” he said with a groan while grinding into me. “This is what my father wants.”
“He does?” I frowned. Did I already know this? I couldn’t remember. All I did know was my body needed Alaric’s dick, and if he didn’t give it to me, I’d be in a world of misery.
Hideous spasms sent waves of agony through my body. I tried to swallow my pain, but it was hopeless. A desperate sob escaped.
“What’s wrong?” Alaric cupped my jaw and gazed intently at me. “Are you hurting?”
“Yes!” Another wave of heat washed over me. Was this my magic or something else?
“I should call for help,” he said, but when he tried to roll away, I sobbed harder.
“No, I need you. We must seal the bond.”
The amulet pulsed against my skin, burning hotter than hellfire.
“Raven, we can’t—” But I ignored him.
“Do it, Alaric,” I growled in a rough voice that wasn’t mine. “Make me yours.”
22
Alaric
Avoice inside me told me to stop. It said the forces urging me to complete the bond with the witch had less to do with fate and more to do with my father’s twisted plans.
But I ignored it.
I’d done everything in my power to stay away from Raven. I’d treated her with contempt, gaslit her, and generally behaved like a complete ass whenever our paths crossed. But despite all that, she still wanted me.
I buried my nose in her neck and huffed up her scent like a feral beast. Everything about her inflamed my senses. Her smell, her goddess-damned taste that made me harder than fae-forged steel, and her power.
The power my father craved.
Dad’s words rang in my head.“Siren magic never fails.”
Fuck. Was this why we couldn’t keep our hands off each other? I stared down at Raven, finally noticing how dilated her pupils were.This was no ordinary passionate moment. Yes, she desired me, but was she fully in control of herself?
Somehow, I suspected not.
As much as I so desperately wanted her, I refused to take advantage.
I tried to pull away, but she reached for my sweats to free my aching cock, and the minute her small hand gripped my shaft, I lost what little sanity remained.
Instinct took over, banishing any last doubts I had. She guided me to her opening, and we both cried out when I sank into her wet heat. It was almost too much.
Raven’s sharp teeth pierced my neck, spilling blood, which she licked up with relish.
“You taste good, my mate,” she growled, sounding even more wild than me.
“You bit me!” I roared, torn between rage at the way she’d marked my flesh and satisfaction that I’d probably end up with a permanent scar.
Once again, that fucking irritating voice of reason, determined to ruin the moment, reminded me that such behavior ranked high on the unhinged scale. Again, I ignored it.
“And I’ll bite you again if you don’t fuck me like I need, mate!” she hissed, her pupils now so dilated they almost eclipsed her violet irises. This was siren magic at play, but I no longer cared.
Before I could reply, her back arched, and a pained cry echoed around the room.
“Please,” she sobbed, tears leaking down her cheeks. “Please, it hurts so bad!”
