Page 65 of Knotted By the Triad

Damn it. Why was I blushing again?

“Well, you know, I do like to be worshipped,” I joked.

“Good. Because you have three alphas who want to do just that.”

I scoffed. “Not three. Just one. The others haven’t apologized yet, and they haven’t told me if they plan to leave Mei Lin. Listen carefully, Daemin. I do not share what’s mine. Also, my dragon hasn’t claimed them.”

That last part wasn't entirely true. I didn't mention the way my dragon had first whispered Mine while I'd been staring at Kai's smile. Daemin, however, went strangely quiet.

“Has your dragon claimed me?” he asked.

For the first time since I'd met him, Wu Daemin actually looked unsure of himself. I considered teasing him. After everything he'd put me through, I probably deserved at least thirty seconds of watching him sweat.

But then I realized everything I was blaming him for hadn’t even happened yet. Sure, he was rude last night. But he hadn’t mistreated me, ignored me, taken Mei Lin’s side, rejected me, and then tossed me into a tower.

None of those things had happened yet. So, I couldn’t keep blaming him for what he’d done in the book. Last night, he’d almost died saving me. That was the Daemin my dragon had claimed, not the Daemin from the book. And that Daemin was making my heart melt for him.

“Yes,” I admitted. “My dragon has claimed you.”

The uncertainty disappeared from his face. Daemin smiled. I’d thought him handsome before, but when he smiled, he was downright gorgeous. My dragon stretched toward him again, pleased with herself, as if she'd personally accomplished something. Daemin adjusted me in his arms and started walking again.

“I will take care of you now, mate. I plan to take care of you well.”

Look at my silly ass, blushing again as I snuggled closer to his chest.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ZURI

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The bathroom was at the end of the hallway, decorated in the same dark tones as the rest of Daemin's home. Dark stone covered the floor and walls, and black wood framed the large mirror above the washbasin.

A glass shower occupied one side of the room. Daemin carried me inside and carefully set me on my feet. My hands remained on his shoulders for a moment while I made sure my legs weren't going to betray me.

“Can I undress you?” he asked.

Suddenly, I felt shy. Me? Shy? I didn't know what the hell was wrong with me. I'd never been a shy woman. However, having Daemin standing in front of me, wearing nothing but a towel while asking permission to take my clothes off had apparently awakened a bashful bitch I hadn't known existed.

Instead of trusting my mouth, I nodded. Daemin stepped closer. His hands went to my clothing, and I noticed the slightest tremble in his fingers.

“Are you nervous?” I asked, unable to hide my smile.

“I've never done this before,” he admitted.

Oh, right! In CiCi's book, all three of my alphas had been virgins. Somehow, I'd forgotten that little detail while staring at the impressive package beneath Daemin's towel.

My smile widened. “Take your time.”

He started undoing my clothing with an intense concentration that made me want to laugh, but I held it in. The man could kill a dragon without hesitation, but my clothes were giving him problems.

“Are you ready to tell me why you were in the forest?” he asked while fumbling with my shirt.

“I went out because I was hoping to rob some smugglers along the road,” I admitted.

Daemin froze. He slowly raised his gaze to mine. I could practically see him replaying my words in his head.

“You were trying to get money for your courtyard, weren’t you?”