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It wasn’t a command, which was worse.
I shut my eyes, breathing shallow.
“He was obsessed with my brother,” he murmured. “I think he’s gone a little… mad.” There was a pause. “They’re gone though. They won’t touch you tonight.” Another long silence passed as I tried to gather my courage.
“Don’t make me force you out.”
Slowly, with blood roaring in my ears, I dragged myself from beneath the bed, more frightened of the idea of him dragging me out.
Zeus was far too relaxed for a pack lead who’d just fought to keep his title. There was blood trickling from his temple, but otherwise he looked unharmed. He beckoned me toward him. I braced, then stepped closer, eyes fixed on him now, trying to understand what I was looking at. There was something wrong with all of this.
I stopped before him, just a pace further than I knew he’d let me remain if he had to command it. His pupils were blown as he looked me over with a frown. He took my hand, head cocked, staring into my eyes with far too much interest. “Tell me, what did you decide?” he asked. “Did he have you, in the end?”
I stared at him, uncomprehending.
“Ebony?” Zeus clarified. “Did he have you?”
I shook my head, mind racing.That’swhat he wanted to know right now?
Only, my answer was wrong.
I’dwantedEbony. I had just been too late.
“Good,” he breathed, nodding almost to himself. “Good. You chose right, Vex. You know the truth.”
The… truth?
What did that mean?
The little spark of me still blazing from Rook’s goodbye, it pushed me to open my mouth and tell him that I had wanted Ebony, but Zeus’s whole frame loosened and there was a faint smile on his face.
It drew me up. He reached up to my face, and I flinched. He paused, lips pressing into a line, but then he shook it away.
“You’re scared,” he said.
I had no response to that. I could barely manage my breathing.
“I was angry, but now there is nothing for me to be angry at anymore,” he said. “Come here.”
Shock hit my system at that command. He lifted his hand to me, beckoning me into his arms. He was right, though. I was afraid. Afraid enough to fight that command, afraid to know what it was he wanted of me tonight.
He sighed, grabbing me by the wrist and dragging me toward him, instead. “Do you have any idea how lucky you are, that it matters to me?”
A breath of fear escaped me as he dragged me onto his lap, still facing him. My nails dug into his arms, fight-or-flight kicking in as I tried to tug away.
“Good, good,” he said again. He held me tighter, something content in his voice. “That’s what I want. Learn to fight me the way I need and we can make this work.”
I fought a low whimper, hating his closeness.
“You’re afraid of me because you can feel it through the bond. You know how much I like it when you hurt. It’s wired into me like it’s wired into them, but that doesn’t mean it has to be bad.” His touch was gentle as he ran fingers through my hair. “I don’t want to ruin you. I could, though. Remember that. Think of all the ways this dark bond could be used to cause your ruin.”
He forced my chin up so I was looking at him.
“But I won’t because you are…” He trailed off, expression wavering as if he’d said too much. Then he shook his head. “You put yourself between your mate and two alphas—the man who’d hurt and rejected you.” His gaze was burning. “Thatwas when I knew you were special. Even with those eyes. You’re more special than I realised.”
I couldn’t move, though my eyes closed as his hand brushed my throat in a silent threat. “Don’t let it get to your head.”
I was shaking, eyes tight shut, needing this to be over. But he said nothing for a long time, holding me close.
