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“Sire, is everything alright?” a voice rasps from outside my tent and I growl.
“Stay the fuck out.” Our business has nothing to do with my men.
For five minutes the chase between me and Kenna goes on, until I finally have enough and pin her down on a thick carpet and her eyes flare.
“Xerxes, don’t do this!” she yaps, thrashing. “I don’t know what you think I am but I’m not your cattle...!”
At that, I laugh and she stops struggling, looking at me in shock and I loosen my grip around her. “This is for your own good, woman.” And for mine because I want her to carry my mark. “It’ll give me a peace of my mind, knowing it’s on you. Knowing that nobody will touch you when they see that you’re mine.”
She gulps. “Will I be able to wash it off later?”
“No.” It’s permanent. And a sign that we’re permanent. The mother of my child can’t walk around without it. It would be too dangerous.
“Then I think I’ll pass,” Kenna quickly says and my heart turns into stone and I withdraw.
“I can’t force you,” I say in a harsh tone as disappointment digs in me but then she bites her lip, looking at me like she’s ready to roll over and show her underbelly and I frown.
“Will it be a big one?”
My pulse speeds up. “I’ll make a smaller one for you.”
“Will it hurt?”
“Nothing compared to giving birth.”
Her eyes roll. “I wouldn’t know anything about that.” She points at her tiny waist. “Obviously.”
Not yet but she will eventually. I’ll make sure of it.
Pulling her into my lap, I ignore her little gasp and move her robe aside to get to her wrist and then I dip the tip of the stick in ink. My body stirs, my eyes fluttering. This is a special moment and it’s never been done before. No female has ever carried our mark and what I’m doing would be considered a violation by many but fuck them. She deserves this and she needs to be connected to me, our skins need to carry the same symbol and we need to be linked.
“Breathe,” I tell Kenna and then I start my work, beginning with the handle first and she does a twitch at the first prick but then she settles, murmuring it’s not as painful as she thought. It’s because I’m being careful and taking my time. Normally this would’ve taken five minutes but with her it takes half an hour.
She sits through it bravely and once I’m done, I press a kiss to her temple. “Good girl,” I murmur as warmth spreads in me and she lets out a hum and looks down at the symbol of the dagger.
“It’s pretty.” She tilts her head to the side. “Everyone back home are gonna freak when they see it.”
“Then don’t show them. You don’t need to expose your wrist to anyone but me.”
“My wrist?” she sniggers, allowing me to blow on the ink to soothe some of the lingering tenderness. “What would you think if my boob accidentally popped out during CrossFit?”
I let out a purring that’s more of a growl and she startles. “That I’d have to kill anyone who saw it.”
Kenna licks her lips. “Thing is, Xerxes that...I actually believe you.”
“You should. I don’t make empty threats.” And those men who tried selling Kenna are already dead. My men informed me of their fates this morning. “And I don’t make empty promises either. Remember what I told you?”
She breathlessly shakes her head and I scowl.
“I told you you’re mine.”
“Oh that...,” she says a little anxiously and she looks down at the ink. At the proof.
“If you have any objections then tell me so now while I’m still able to control myself.”
Lowering her head, Kenna plays with the frills of the oriental carpet, murmuring. “And if I say I do? Will you then pull me up on your horse and take me to the nearest airport?”
I’ll take her as far away from that airport as I can, yes.
