Page 64

“That’s the point. I know you will. You left even though staying close to me was safer because you didn’t want your condition to trap me. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do, but I understand why you did it.”

“I am glad.”

“You shouldn’t be. I’m still furious.”

“I can sense that.”

Robyn raised my hand and placed it against her chest. Her heartbeat pushed against my palm.

“I don’t want to go back to Glasgow and pretend none of this happened. I want you to come with me, even though fitting you into my flat is going to be a nightmare. I want you to meet my sister and my friends. I want to help you find Hallr, and I want to know what you were like before you spent five hundred years being grumpy at tourists.”

“I was not grumpy.”

“You’re grumpy now, so I doubt being trapped on a castle improved you.”

“I have always been respected for my calm temperament.”

She laughed. The sound eased something I had not realised was still tight within me.

“I want the wings,” she continued, running her free hand over the edge of one. “I want the tail that steals my phone and pretends you have no control over it. I even want the ridiculous alien cock, although that may take further investigation. Lots of it.”

My tail wrapped around her thigh.

“And,” she said, looking directly into my eyes, “I want you to give me the mating bite.”

Every muscle in my body tightened. My fangs lengthened, and the scent of her blood became stronger despite the wounds already closing.

“You have just fed me,” I reminded her. “You are cold, upset and standing on a hillside after believing I was lost.”

“I didn’t say you had to do it here.”

“You sounded impatient.”

“I am impatient. That doesn’t mean I want my first permanent alien mating bite witnessed by Cairn and half the local sheep population.”

I glanced towards the sky. Cairn was circling above us, far enough away that he could pretend he was not watching. Typical. He always had to make sure his team was all right.

“The bite will take more blood,” I said. “You should eat and rest first. When we return to the lodge, I will ask you again. If you still want it, I will complete the bond.”

“My answer isn’t going to change between here and the lodge.”

“Then waiting will cost us nothing.”

“It will cost me at least half an hour.”

“You have waited two days.”

“That was before I knew what your cock could do.”

My wings opened in response. Robyn’s smile widened as she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.

I held her against me, keeping my fangs away from her lips. My body wanted to claim her immediately, but waiting no longer felt like rejection. She had chosen me with no certainty that the mating bite would cure the petrification and no promise that life with me would be easy.

When the kiss ended, her face remained close to mine. “You will ask me again, won’t you? I don’t want you deciding that I was frightened and didn’t mean it.”

“I will ask when you are warm, fed and in my arms. You may find that irritating, but I need to hear your answer when there is no immediate danger.”

“I already find it irritating. But yes, ask me again.”