Page 27 of Knight’s Salvation

The guy was so caught up with his own mate he couldn’t see how far from a good thing this was. “You would give a defenseless female to me? What if I hurt her? I can’t…this can’t happen.” Shit, his voice broke on the last. He needed to get the hell out of there.

Chaos and Gunner looked away. Rocco, unable to hide anything, winced, but worst of all was the fucking pity Kryos was throwing his way. Fuck that. They already thought he was unstable and bloodthirsty. None of them would try to convince him to claim her.

“What are you gonna do?” Rocco asked.

He lifted his gaze and met each of theirs. “Not a dammed thing.”

“I don’t know. Maybe we have it all wrong?” Kryos said into the silence. “Finding your female has another effect on you that can’t be hidden, no matter how hard you try. Being constantly hard, accompanied by a severe case of blue balls, goes with the territory.” He cleared his throat. “You having that problem?”

Shame and humiliation caused him to dip his head once more, afraid they’d see it written all over his face. He’d never been drawn to another being the way he was Mia, but he couldn’t explain to them the reason he felt nothing but a twisted need he couldn’t define or control, or the reasons he could never claim her as his mate. He was half a male, and being anywhere near him would be like signing her death warrant.

“You’re wrong. I don’t want to fuck her.” The words felt torn from his throat. He knew it sounded crude, and he also knew if he was another male, and was privileged enough to be with her, that wouldn’t describe what they’d do together. No, if he had that honor, he would worship her like she deserved.

Low sounds of disapproval rumbled from all four males. The words hit their mark, ensuring they didn’t get any screwed-up ideas and try to push him down a path he could never take. Chaos cleared his throat. “You’re probably right, then.”

“Sensing her like I did must be a hell-born thing,” he said, knowing no one would question him further. His birth and early years were subjects they all knew to avoid.

Zenon didn’t stick around.

He had a mate; he knew that now, despite his denials. And if he’d been one of the others, he would have gone to her now and made her his. No hesitation like Lazarus. No fucking around.

When he hit the elevator, he couldn’t stop his hands from hitting the button to the floor he knew he should avoid. He should leave the compound until she was gone, but he couldn’t do it. Not now he knew who she was to him. He could never claim her for himself, he knew that. She would never be his, and would never know what she was to him. But before she left, he wanted one thing. Shit, he didn’t deserve it. But he would take this one thing for himself. Just this once.

Looking through the glass window into the training room a short time later, he found her, like he knew he would. She was alone, head down, concentrating on her blocking. He didn’t hesitate. A sense of urgency he couldn’t explain and had no intention of fighting had him pushing open the door. Her gaze lifted to his, and she didn’t look surprised, like she’d sensed him, too, and didn’t that just send his possessive instincts through the damn roof.

Mia had feltZenon as soon as he stopped outside the door. He stared at her now, so much behind that haunted gaze, so many secrets, so much pain. But then he sucked in a breath and all she saw was longing. He didn’t speak, and took a measured step toward her.

“What are you doing?” she said, pulse picking up speed.

Another step closer.

“Zenon?”

She watched for a sign that his demon was in control, but his bright yellow gaze told her that wasn’t the case. The wild, almost feral expression was all Zenon.

“You’re leaving,” he said.

Oh God, his voice. So deep, rough. There was no anger, but a note of something else, something that caused her breath to hitch and her mouth to go dry. “Yes.”

His heavy thighs were braced apart, fists clenched at his sides. “Why?”

That one word hit her mid chest. “Zenon—”

“You’re leaving. Why?”

Because of you, because I can’t be in the same building as you and keep my distance another day. “I want to get on with my life.” Not a lie.

His head dipped and his hair fell forward, covering his scarred but beautiful face. He heaved in another breath then looked up. Jesus. Her sex pulsed at the raw need directed at her. Then he moved toward her, all lethal grace and untamed power. She backed up, but he kept coming. Didn’t stop until she felt the padded wall behind her. He didn’t touch her, but he was close enough to feel the volcanic heat radiating from his big body. She remembered the smooth heat of his skin under her palm, and another pulse of need hit her between the thighs.

“Zenon. What’s going on?” She lifted her hands, but he shook his head, telling her not to touch him.

“I have to do something, Mia.” As he spoke, the fierce mask fell away. He looked almost boyish then, shy, uncertain.

Licking her lips, she curled her fingers into the wall, trapping them behind her back. “Okay.” She didn’t know what was going on, but whatever was about to happen, she knew she wanted it.

“Please, just…you can’t touch me,” he said.

“I told you I wouldn’t,” she whispered.