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Julian’s eyes circle the room. “Why what?”
“Why the hell are you dragging this out? Put him back in the cell for some undisclosed amount of time. Or anything other than death. This trial has to end. There are more important things to do.”
“It’s not that simple, Marina. The Council is here, and I need to make an example of him. I’ll drag things out as long as necessary because I need them all on edge when I interrogate them. I will get to the bottom of who might’ve been working with Byron.”
“They’re not on edge, brother,” I say, rising from my seat. “They’re bored. Annoyed even. Now’s the time to switch gears and put Addy out of her misery.”
“And where were you for the majority of the trial?”
“I was still with Shante.”
“And?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Marina smirks and I want to tell her to piss off. If she only knew how wrong her assessments were.
Don’t get her killed.
What a fucking mess. It’s either agree to the bond or risk her dying. We don’t even know all of the ramifications to the blood bond.
“You’re an idiot. You know that?” Marina says, glaring at me.
“What the hell did I do?”
“I see your face. That stupid resolve. You’re bound and determined to let the best thing that could ever happen to you slip through your fingers. And for what, Law? Ego? Self-preservation?”
“What? You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Marina,” Julian warns, and she lasers him with a glare that threatens harm.
His hands lift in surrender, and I want to tell him what a pussy he is.
“I’m going to bed,” I say, heading to the door.
“She isn’t wrong, Law. You’re a fool to deny what all of us can clearly see.”
I turn to look at my brother over my shoulder. “I’m not pushing Maggie away. I’m trying to figure out how I keep her safe.”
I let the door slam behind me, hoping to convey that her safety is all I care about.
My feet carry me to my room in the royal quarter. I’ve been avoiding it for the very reasons I told Maggie, but she’s right. It’s much more comfortable, and even I can’t deny that.
I throw the door open and about choke when I see Maggie sprawled out on my bed reading. It’s not what she’s doing but what she’s wearing that seizes my throat.
Tiny navy shorts that just barely show the swell of her ass and a tight white tank top that hardly covers her ample breasts.
“Hi, sunshine.” The words come out gravelly, but she doesn’t notice, if the smirk is any indicator.
I doubt she planned for seduction, but that’s what she’s doing all the same, as she crawls onto her knees, scooting to the edge of the bed, motioning me forward. My body does as she commands without one second of pause. Her siren’s call falls over me and I haven’t a chance in hell of resisting.
When my knees hit the mattress, I bend down as she leans up, capturing her lips between my teeth.
I kiss her, hard, but pull away just slightly.
“It’s been a rough day, sunshine. I’m not sure you want to venture down this path. I’m unlikely to fight it, even if I should.”
I’m losing control. The thought of her being hurt—or worse—makes me feel helpless. I can’t lose her. I won’t.
Her hands land on my chest, trailing down and leaving molten heat in their wake. When her hands get to the bottom of my shirt, she grabs and lifts. I help her by pulling it over my head the rest of the way.
“I don’t want you to fight it, Law.”
That’s all she has to say. This dance between us was always going to end this way. It might have taken me a little longer to realize it, but only a fool would keep resisting this pull.
Having all of Maggie might not be what’s best for her, but I’m bastard enough to take it anyway. Except this time, I have no intentions of letting her go. After this, she’ll be mine. I’ll keep her safe and there won’t be a need for the fucking bond.
