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He made a sound of impatience. It was the same sound Styx made when he was trying to reason with her. It had to be a male thing.
“You can’t blame yourself forever.”
A part of her yearned to believe him. Being with Ryshi reminded her how empty her life had become. And the delight of sharing her nights with someone who challenged her and made her laugh. She even enjoyed his company when he was being annoying.
But what if she accidentally hurt him? Or he realized that she truly was a monster?
She couldn’t bear it.
A sudden burst of panic raced through her.
“What I can’t do forever is lie here waiting for the minotaurs to find us.” Struggling out of his arms, Sofie forced herself to her feet, determined to protect Ryshi. “We need…”
Her grand gesture to shield the male she was certain was her fated mate was ruined as she took a step toward the nearby opening and promptly collapsed.
Obviously, she was weaker than she realized.
More annoyed than frightened, Sofie plunged forward. Inches from smacking her head on the hard floor, however, strong arms wrapped around her and she found herself being gently turned and stretched out on her back.
Kneeling beside her, Ryshi brushed his fingers over her cheek. “I’m starting to make a habit of this.”
Sofie gazed into his exquisite face, the fight draining out of her.
She didn’t want to push this male away. She didn’t want to return to her lonely lair beneath the mountain. Not without Ryshi.
Reaching up, she grasped the end of his braid, tugging on the leather strap to release the silky mane. It tumbled free in a shimmer of copper fire, framing the stark beauty of his male features. Sofie felt her fangs lengthen as she battled back the intense urge to reach up and tangle her fingers in the glossy strands.
“There’s only one way for me to recover my strength,” she told him, her voice thick with the emotions she worked so hard to keep leashed.
The dark eyes glowed with a pagan heat. “Tell me.”
“I need to feed.”
Chapter 18
Ryshi sensed the change in the atmosphere. He wasn’t sure what had happened. It wasn’t anything he’d said. Or a special way that he’d touched her. It was as if she’d simply decided that she couldn’t fight fate.
Or maybe she was just too tired to fight, he wryly acknowledged.
Whatever the cause, he could feel the wariness ease as a fierce hunger pulsed through the air.
Trying to leash his flare of excitement, Ryshi gazed down at her pale features, lingering on the scar in the center of her forehead. He’d known the story behind the wound would be bad. It took a painful effort to mark a vampire. Fire, sun, or salt.
But not even in his wildest imagination could he have guessed that she’d not only destroyed an entire tribe of orcs, but her own clan as well. His gaze swept down to her body, which appeared ridiculously fragile beneath the pink sweater and jeans.
“The sooner you feed the better,” he assured her, not surprised when the crystal blue of her eyes darkened with a surge of fear.
“Ryshi.”
Ryshi smiled. This female had spent endless years convincing herself that she couldn’t risk being around people. Especially those who might have some special meaning for her. It wouldn’t be easy for her to let down her barriers.
It didn’t bother Ryshi. In fact, as long as he was certain she’d accepted that he was destined to be her mate, he didn’t mind convincing her that he trusted her. And that she could trust him.
With her heart. Her soul. And her body.
Heat flowed through his veins, setting off sparks of hunger as he leaned over her.
“Before you start telling me all the reasons this is a bad idea, let me tell you why it’s thebestidea,” he insisted.
