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Bonus scene

THANK YOU!

Bonus scene

My rooms were dark as I barged into them, swearing I wouldn’t succumb to this fucking bond’s desire to fuck my mate senseless. “Get up, it’s time to go,” I growled, the sound echoing in my ebony horned helmet.

“How about a please, Rokath?” Assyria hissed, sitting upright in my bed and clutching the sheet tightly to her chest. The motion drew my attention there, and a string of curses fled my lips as my cock jumped to attention. There was a reason I decided to don my mask before fetching her.

“Put some fucking clothes on,” I snapped, spinning on my heel and putting as much space as possible between us.

The telltale hiss of match being struck sounded behind me, and a moment later, a hint of warm light filled the room.

“How about a bag for some clothes? Or is that too much for your pet to ask of you?” she threw against my back, her tone threaded with snark.

Smothering my hatred, I went back to the bed chamber and to my clothes closet. Flinging open the door, I pointed into the dark. “In there.”

She rolled her eyes, so very typical of her, and nearly bumped into me as she passed me by. Grumbling, I went to the bed and leaned against one of the thick, carved posts.

When she returned, she slammed to a stop, eyes widening slightly as she raked them over me. The bond flared with desire before I smacked it. With a slight shake of her head, she forced herself to move again, striding straight past me and toward the pile of clothes discarded in a chair across the room. I watched her scoop and pack the bag, her movements stiff and forceful.

She paused when she touched the opaque veils piled there. Curiosity had me narrowing my eyes, wondering what she’d do. Seeming to come to some sort of decision, she straightened and flashed me a sarcastic smile. “Ready, master.”

I flexed my fingers rather than closing them around her neck like I wanted to. Yet I couldn’t help the lust that spread through me like wildfire as she called me that. Her smile fell, replaced by an icy glare.

“Aren’t you missing something?” I growled, flicking my attention away from my fucking mate and to the veils.

“I won’t be wearing those any more. And you cannot compel me to either.” She crossed her arms and popped out a hip in a move that was meant to be sassy but only made me want to sink my cock into her.

Heat wrapped around my neck and shoulders as rage rose. I grappled with my self control, trying not to scream or throw her onto my bed. “Fine,” I gritted out before I could do something else.

Grasping for the upper hand once again, I pushed off the pole and widened my stance as I stared Assyria down. “One more thing before we go. You need to use your magic to make your wrists appear with the brand of the fallen females.”

Her jaw dropped. “You have got to be fucking kidding me!”

I tilted my head, staring at her like a predator would its prey. “The camp believes that your punishment is to be my personal fallen and produce powerful heirs for the Demon cause.”

She vibrated with fury, and I celebrated my victory. Fucking finally, I threw her off as much as she’d thrown me.

“And you didn’t think to tell me this before now?” she snapped, her tone strained. I didn’t have to know her well to tell that this bothered her immensely. Which only made me like the command more.

I shrugged. “You didn’t want to be a male. This was the only other reasonable story to spin about why you are with the army.”

“The only one?” The pitch of her voice grew higher and tighter.

A cold calm settled over me the more fiery she became. I slammed her choice down, ready to get this fucking over with so we could leave. “You can either use your magic to create it, or we can stop at the stables on our way out and I can brand you myself.”

“That’s not a fucking choice!” she shouted, dropping her bag and stomping toward me. One pointed finger stabbed into the shiny black armor over my chest. I didn’t even feel it. “Did you tell Kiira about this?”

“Kiira does not have a say in the matter,” I replied, my tone icy. “Especially after the stunt you two pulled last night. I should have known better than to leave the two of you alone together. Grab your bags and let’s go.”

I spun on my heel and strode to the door, unwilling to tolerate her tantrum any longer. Until something sailed past my head and smashed against the wall in front of me.

Noting my broken lamp, I turned, leveling a lethal gaze on the disobedient female. “It seems you’ve made your decision.”

Shadows swirled around my hands, then leaped out and captured her. If she wasn’t going to comply willingly, I’d force her hand. Magic flaring, I directed her to a chair, binding her so still she couldn’t move. Her own power rose to meet mine, and the bond flared with heady anticipation at the contact.

She bared her teeth at me. “Let me go.”

“No,” I scoffed. I yanked my helmet off and tossed it onto the bed, all the while staring her down. From my thigh, I yanked out a silver dagger. I kept it on my person for such purposes, though I hadn’t used it in some time, much to my disappointment.

Assyria froze, understanding of the seriousness of my threat finally settling over her. But it was far too late for her now.

“Fine, I will use my magic,” she pleaded, eyes wide as I neared her with the blade.

“You had an opportunity, and you threw it, quite literally, away.”

“I am your mate!” she shrieked, thrashing again.

“Which is why I have to have you near me. And yet, you won’t obey, and I can’t guarantee your safety any other way,” I spit out each word with as much hatred as I could muster.

As if to drive home the point, our bond flared to life, almost purring as if it were pleased with our close proximity. I wanted to strangle it with my magic next. Yet as I flipped her wrist over and pinned it in place, I hesitated.

“You are insane,” Assyria hissed at me like a snake. Like the deceptive creature she was. With her rare magic, she’d tricked many. Which was why I couldn’t mark her as anything but mine.

“And you’re a brat,” I shot back, not bothering to look at her as I made the first cut.

She cursed, arching against my shadow binds.

“Hold still or it will be uneven,” I growled, pinning her hand with more force.

“I fucking hate you,” she spat at me like I was the one who had caused this fucking mess. I sliced again, and a scream billowed from her throat with far more volume than necessary. The metallic scent of her blood filled the air, only cut by the salty mix from her face. Slowly, I lifted my gaze, finding Assyria’s burgundy eyes shining with pain and animosity.

Something inside me hated how she looked at me then. Like I was a fucking monster instead of a male doing what he had to do to protect his mate.

I lowered my gaze to the H I’d carved into her wrist. Ruby bloomed around it, and without thinking, I flicked my tongue along the first stroke. Assyria sucked in a sharp breath at the same time a tide of desire swept down our bond. It begged me to do it again, almost compelling me against my will. I lapped at the rest of it, my dick hardening at the taste of her life on my tongue.

She was fucking divine.

Assyria whimpered as I worked up her arm, pressing my mouth along its length, then pausing at the crook of her neck. Her pulse jumped erratically against my lips. I moved along to the other side, easing her pain as I prepared for the second brand.

She didn’t even move as I carved another H. I lowered my mouth immediately to it and licked every last drop up, like I had when I was between her thighs the night before. “Fuck, I can smell your arousal from here,” I groaned.