“Is that all?” Xavier asks, his tone bland.

His father stares at him for a beat longer. Then his gaze shifts, zeroing in on the bathroom door. I freeze.

Xavier moves, blocking his father’s line of sight. His broad back conceals me, and I’m able to breathe easier.

“The summons,” the man says, his voice hard.

“What about it?”

“Read it,” his father orders.

Xavier’s cool expression remains. “I already know what it says.”

“Read it, son.”

I press my lips together, not understanding what’s happening. Without looking at his father, Xavier tears it open and pulls out a small slip of black paper. His expression remains unchanged, giving away nothing. Meanwhile, I’m standing with my mouth hanging open.

With an exhale, Xavier asks, “How long do I have?”

“Until the ceremony. It’ll add another feather to your wings.”

Xavier nods and places the slip of paper in his pocket. “I’ll get it done. Now get the fuck out.”

His father gives him a stiff nod and turns to leave, closing the door behind him. The silence is deafening. I watch through the small crack, waiting for Xavier’s reaction.

When he pivots, he’s calm and collected. The look in his eyes, however, is pure fire. “How much did you hear?”

I open the door, my cheeks heating. “Everything.”

“Good.”

I jerk back, surprised. He stalks toward me, his gaze focused, his mouth set in a hard line. His anger is a physical presence, swirling around him.

I swallow, my throat suddenly dry. “What's going on?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

I narrow my eyes. “That’s not good enough.”

“Delilah.”

“Xavier,” I say, imitating his tone.

“Don’t challenge me. Not right now.”

I lift my chin, unable to stop the small act of defiance. He shakes his head and grabs my hand, tugging me forward. He walks us back into the bedroom, the mattress dipping when he sits down and drags me onto his lap.

He slides his fingers around the nape of my neck, his thumb stroking the skin there. His touch is gentle. I hate it.

Well, I’m trying to hate it.

“Look at me,” he says, his voice quiet but firm.

I don’t comply. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I have to leave, Delilah.”

I turn my head, my gaze colliding with his. “You’re leaving?” When he nods, panic expands in my chest, making it ache. “Someone just threatened to kill me, and you’re talking about leaving me here? Am I going to have to fend for myself? Or are you going to hand me over to another recruit?”

He growls, the sound deep and dangerous. It skitters along my skin, raising the tiny hairs. “No one will fucking touch you,” he says. “Especially not another recruit. I already told you: I don’t share.”

“But your father said⁠—”

“I won’t let that happen.”

I stare at him. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because the only way that’ll happen is if I’m dead.”

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

“You’d die to protect me?”

He grips my neck, his finger digging into my skin. “I’d die for you, yes.”

“Don’t say shit like that.”

He arches a brow. “Why not?”

“Because you don’t even know me.”

He releases my neck to grab the hem of his shirt. I lean back and he lifts the material, exposing his chest. It’s the things wet dreams are made of.

There’s a scar on his shoulder, along with a tattoo of a bird perched on it. I’m no bird-ologist, but I guess it to be a falcon or maybe a hawk.

“Look,” he says, pointing to the scar. “This is from the knife wound you gave me three years ago.”

I stare down at the pale line on his skin, my mouth going dry. Guilt churns in my stomach, and I shove it away. He shouldn’t have been sneaking into the house.

But he did save me that night.

“What about it?” I ask.

“That’s how long I’ve been watching you. Since then, I’ve learned everything I could. Your likes and dislikes, your dreams and fears. Every important detail of your life, I know.”

I blink at him, trying to absorb his words. “Why would you do that?”

He lowers his shirt and places his hand on the back of my neck, gripping it again. The pressure is slight, but it has me leaning into him.

“Because,” he says.

“Not good enough, Xavier,” I say, throwing his words back in his face.

“Because I’m obsessed with you.”

OceanofPDF.com

Chapter 35DELILAH

Xavier’s words echo in my head, filling the air with their significance. This is insane. He can’t be serious.

I open my mouth to call bullshit, but the look in his eyes stops me. There’s no humor, no teasing. Nothing except the truth.

I shift uncomfortably on his lap, and his gaze darkens. His fingers tighten around the back of my neck and he brings me closer, his face inches from mine.

“I told you before, you’re mine. The other recruits have never had the privilege of touching your body. I have. They’ve never tasted you. I have. And they sure as fuck haven’t heard the sound of you coming. But I have. That’s why I marked you. That’s why I’ll kill anyone who thinks they can take you from me. Do you understand, Delilah?”

I suck in a breath, his confession a jolt to my senses. “Xavier.”

He presses his forehead to mine and inhales. “Fuck, I love the way you say my name.”

“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”

“Be a good girl.”

“And if I’m not?”

“Then I’ll punish you.”

I blink at him, half turned on, the other half—the smarter one—apprehensive. “What about the other recruits? What will they do to me?”

“Nothing, if they know what’s good for them. All of the recruits took a vow of celibacy for our senior year, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try other things with you. Things I’d kill them for. You have to be careful while I’m gone.”

“Xavier,” I whisper.

“Yes, bride?”

“Don’t leave me here alone.”

“You won’t be alone. June is here.”

June. I forgot all about my friend, which makes me a piece-of-shit human. My only consolation is that Xavier is a force of nature, one that destroys you before you have time to protect yourself.

I shake my head, my chest heavy. “She’s hurt and probably traumatized.”

“But not my girl.” He looks at me with pride, stroking my cheek. “I’m going to talk to Declan. He’ll watch over you while I’m gone. With him having his own bride, he’s the least likely to fuck you.”

“Benjamin can do it. Erm, I mean, watch over me, not the other thing.”

“Fuck no,” Xavier says, his tone sharp.

He tightens his hold on my neck to the point of discomfort. I try to pull away, but his grip is too strong, so I glare at him. Xavier only leans closer, his eyes narrowed.

“Never say another man’s name to me in my fucking bed.”

I swallow, my pulse pounding at the dangerous edge in his voice. “But he’s family.”

“I’m your family now, Delilah. It’s only a matter of time until your name matches mine.”

“You’re fucking crazy. And you need to let go of my neck. You’re hurting me.”

His fingers fall away, and I rub the ache in the column of my throat.

He watches the movement, his eyes darkening. “You have no idea what I want to do to you, do you?”

“No, and I don’t want to know.”

“Liar.”

“I don't know what your problem is, but I’m not letting go of Ben,” I say, desperate to change the subject.

“Your loyalty is one of my favorite things about you, but it’s misplaced. It belongs to me now.”

I roll my eyes. “Get fucked.”

“Careful, little raptor. That’s a very tempting offer.”

I scowl. “Ben⁠—”

“Enough,” he says. “I don’t trust Benjamin with you.”

My heart jumps, and I suck in a sharp breath. “Why? He’d never hurt me, unlike some people.” I give Xavier a pointed look.