Page 62

I set my pitcher on the nightstand and sit on the edge of the bed. When I offer her hers, she doesn’t budge or even look my way.

I scoot closer. “Baby, please.”

That’s what does it. She snatches it out of my hand and glares at me over the rim. Water runs down her chin while she drains it dry. I’ll take the attitude if it gets her drinking.

I start the tub running hot and pull towels and washcloths from the counter. I grab her fresh underwear and a nightgown out of the dresser. She needs more clothes here, but that’s a problem for tomorrow.

I reach for her from the doorway. “Come on, baby. Let me take care of you.”

Aya eyes my open hand before she slides off the bed and takes it. Her fingers are hot in mine, but she doesn’t squeeze back. I lead her into the bathroom, where the tub is nearly full and the mirror has gone white with steam.

She raises her arms for me to pull her dress over her head. Her breasts are bare in front of me, dark peaks and every soft curve I just had my hands all over. My dick stirs in my sweatpants. My dragon wakes up hungry for more. I shove him down because this isn’t the time.

I kneel on the tile. She watches me with tired eyes while I ease her panties down her legs. That’s when I catch a faint smear of blood inside them. My dragon snarls at the sight. She’s bleeding and sore from the claiming, but she was still ready to sneak out of here and walk through the dark by herself. Anything out there could’ve caught her scent.

I glare up at her as she steps free. “You should be resting.” The growl in my voice is pure dragon. “Not jumping out of windows.”

Aya’s about to argue. I grip her hips and bury my mouth between her thighs. I press the softest kiss I’ve got to her pussy. She gasps and tries to step back, but I keep her there.

“Ezra—”

I go back for more, slower this time. She tastes like us. She whimpers and threads her fingers into my short locs. My scalp tingles when she grips them, and I almost forget why I’m down here.

I make myself sit back. “You’re bleeding, Aya. I claimed you just hours ago, and you tried to run from me.”

She glances at her panties crumpled on the bathroom floor. Shame thins her scent.

“It’s normal,” I tell her as I get to my feet. “But you running off isn’t. You scared the shit out of me.”

She won’t meet my eyes. I don’t take any of it back. If she tries another window, I’ll board up every one in this cabin and sleep against the door. “Get in the tub, baby.” I steer her toward it. “You’ll soak, and after we rest, we can go out for our first hunt as a mated couple. Before we have to deal with all the pack business between our families.”

“And the Mer people?” she asks, side-eyeing me.

I sigh. “Yes, we aren’t leaving out the Mer people.”

She plants her feet. “I want to see Sirena again.”

“I know you do.” My dragon huffs at the name. I take her elbow and help her over the edge of the tub.

She shuts off the water and stands there in the steam instead of sitting. I tap her hip. “Sit down and soak, Aya.”

She raises a brow. “You aren’t getting in with me?”

I kiss her before I strip out of my clothes and step in. We sink down into the hot water together. The heat gets into every muscle she wore out on me tonight. Aya curls back against my chest. She winces when she shifts her hips, and I don’t say a word about it. My dragon and I deserve an award for that. My mate is going to age me into dust.

I run the washcloth over her shoulder and down her arm without touching her claim mark. She goes loose a little more with each pass.

“Tell me about Sirena,” I say. “She’s the one who pulled you under?”

“Yes.” She’s already going drowsy on me. “She could smell that I was House of Zorah, and my eyes…” She flaps a dripping hand at her face. “She knew I was Levi’s daughter.”

“Mmmm.” I keep washing her with smoke curling out of my nose.

“She wasn’t trying to hurt me, Ezra, really.” She turns her head against my shoulder to check my face for a fight. “They were so spooked when they realized I was fated to you. A Stormscale. They released me immediately and retreated.”

I wring out the cloth and start on her left arm. “I thought they were trying to take you from me,” I admit. “I didn’t know.”

“I know you didn’t.” She slides down until the water laps at her shoulders. “Their queen allowed a small pod to travel to Wintermoon’s border. To test the waters. See if it was safe for the rest of them.”