“Aaron—“
“Didn’t your father try to kill me?” The memory of broken ribs and blood in my mouth rises unbidden.
She opens her mouth, but I continue before she can speak.
“You crossed the territory line without permission. Twice.”
“I’ve been across that territory line before. You are my mate.” I reach up and brush my fingers along her claim mark. Her eyes flutter closed and her head tips back against my arm.
A low sound escapes her, primal and wanting. I could take her right now and she would not stop me. But I’m not building our mate bond on her being too dazed to refuse. When she’s ready for cubs she’ll let me know.
She pushes herself up before I can get too pleased with myself, and the loss of her warmth leaves me cold.
“We aren’t fucking right now. I want to know what is going on. Your mother said she didn’t know where you learned that kind of magic.”
She climbs off me and I sit up, wincing again at the headache. I hold my hand out and let blue-gold pulse from my fingertips.
“Well. My magic seems to have a mind of its own sometimes.” I close my fist and the light flickers, then sparks back to life. I grin. “Like your tail.”
On cue, her tail comes up and brushes my cheek. She scowls at it.
“I don’t fully understand my magic,” I tell her. “But I know I don’t have to study spells the way Ma and my sisters do. I just need to be in close proximity to a witch or warlock. My magic does the work.”
Her brow furrows. “Your magic steals from other witches and warlocks?”
I shrug and let my hand drop to the blanket. “That’s a good way to put it.”
“Ohh.”
She watches my hand drop and stays fixed on it. I clear my throat and pull my knees up and press my palm to my temple again, the pain a welcome distraction from the conversation.
“Do you want me to get you some coffee?”
“No, baby. Stay here a minute.” The thought of her leaving, even just to the kitchen, sends a spike of panic through me.
I close my eyes and breathe through it. She’s quiet beside me. Her tail still flicks soft against my chest.
“I understand why you left me.” I open my eyes and look at her, letting her see everything I’m feeling, all the fear and regret and desperation. “What I did, shielding myself and not givingyou a say in our future for children, was selfish. Let me fix this, Mara.”
“And fix things with King Amir,” she reminds.
Irritation flares, but I don’t argue. She holds every card right now and I would sleep on the porch for a year if that’s what it took to be near her.
“Mmhmm,” I murmur.
“And my father, too.”
I look away, swallowing the scoff in my throat. When she shifts like she’s about to slide off the bed, I whip my head back so fast my headache punishes me for it.
“Yes. Of course, baby.” I’ll agree to anything if it means she stays.
I grab her tail mid-swing, pull the tassel to my lips, and kiss it. She glares at me, but her tail falls limp on the bed. Her lion is submitting to me.
I reach for her thigh and squeeze, needing the connection, the warmth of her skin under my palm. “I have demands of my own too, Mara.”
She stills, watching me, wary.
“When things get tough. When I do something stupid that makes you so angry you want to claw my eyes out. Don’t leave me.” I move closer and cup her face in both hands, my voice dropping. “I’d rather you just claw my eyes out.”
