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My eyes scanned his as I willed the persuasion to return. Almost immediately Marko’s features softened.
“I just wanted to look good for you. I wanted you to want me. Instead you’re acting like I did something wrong. You’re being mean to me. I can’t believe you’d yell and shake me for doing something you asked me to.” Tears welled and I could almost laugh at how real the actions appeared. I was pouting, looking up at him through my lashes as his eyebrows drew in regretfully.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I told you to learn and I shouldn’t be angry with you. You have every right to be in my mind. I guess it’s Aetas blood that is making me defensive. I’m sure he didn’t like people in his mind. Please, forgive me.”
His arms pulled me into his body and I couldn’t stop the smile from greeting me in the mirror I face.
“Do I look pretty? Do you love me like this?” I pulled back pushing my persuasion through his stare even more.
“You have to ask me that?” Marko’s hand cupped my cheek as he learned in, kissing me. His other grabbed my ass, pulling my body into his. “You have no idea how many times I’ve imagined you like this. So exposed, and yet concealed in all the right pleases.”
The lamp on the table behind me rocked as he pushed the back of my thighs against it. The next thing I knew, he reached out and cleared it with his hand.
I’m going to fuck you like this. It’s not a dream anymore. You made this real and now I will have it.”
“I would have done this a long time ago had I of known.”
I was lifted to sit on the table. The sheer material fell over and between my legs at the slits. Marko growled, gripping my waist as he lowered and pulled me down to kiss on my thighs. When he looked up into my face, there was a yearning there. A longing I didn’t quite recognize. It was as though he was looking at me for the first time. Love. Yes, he loved me. I knew that, but why was this different than before?
Knocking had him standing. A threatening sound rumbled his throat, filling the space. “It’s Colin. There’s a problem. I have to take care of this. Just …” His hand rose even as he walked and threw open the door. Whispering erupted and he looked over his shoulder, still staring, longingly. When he finally turned, he was so angry that it left me concerned. “It might be a little bit. I can’t fucking believe of all times, I have to leave you now. Perhaps I should tell them to handle it on their own.”
“No,” I rushed out. “I’m fine. Go ahead. I’ll keep this on. I’ll be waiting for you.”
A smile stretched across his face, but it was just as fake as mine. He threw me one more look, scowling before he shut the door behind him. My grin instantly melted away. I turned, facing the mirror once again. Before I could so much as try to figure out why Marko suddenly liked this look, the door swung open. Hunter jolted to a stop as his gaze met mine in the mirror.
“Wow. My queen.” His head bowed. “I’m sorry, I …thought the training room was empty.”
“No you didn’t,” I said, turning to face him. “You can’t lie to me, Hunter. We’re bonded, remember? And I’m stronger and more experienced than you.”
His mouth twisted. “I’ve miss you. I wanted to see you. Marko, I don’t think he wants me around you anymore. He keeps pushing me away. I don’t understand. He encouraged me to get close to you. Now, all he does is order me to leave.”
“Encouraged you?”
Hunter nodded. “After he was first turned. He said I had almost just as much right over you as he did because I was your bonded now. He was just yours, legally. Something like that. Anyway, it’s starting to piss me off. You are my mate, dammit.” He walked closer. “And I can’t stand being away from you. You’re all I can think about. Do you think of me?”
“All the time,” I admitted.
A frown came to his face. “This is so unfair. I want to kiss you. I wanted to hold you, and I can’t. He’ll kill me if I do. I know this. It’s written in the looks he gives me. He’s waiting for me to cross the line. He wants an excuse.”
“He can’t kill you, Hunter. If he did, he’d kill me. Besides.” I headed toward the door. “I wouldn’t let him hurt you.”
My hand extended toward him and Hunter walked over to take it. I tried not to think about how wrong this was. Not because he wasn’t my legal mate, but because I truly had forgiven him and it was too baffling for my vampire to understand. The truth was, I longed for him. I loved him, again. The bond was making sure of that.
“Where are we going?”
“The City of the Dead. I wish to speak with Aetas.”
Chapter 21
Hunter
I couldn’t hide the awe as I followed Tessa through the City. We’d been silent up to this point, but as I saw the memorials for the fallen enforcers I couldn’t help but stop and show my respect.
“This place is amazing. So much energy. So much history.”
Tessa’s hands clasped as she gave a nod. “Yes. And it’ll only get more intense as we get closer to Aetas. His power radiates even after death.”
My hand trailed over the black marble and I couldn’t help but frown as I turned and began walking again.
