wrist and he gave me a scathing look, but carried her inside. After giving Adelade one last kiss, I began to walk towards the river, and, after only a few minutes, Bronson was beside me.
“I told you she wouldn’t be safe there.”
I frowned. “She may be a human, but don’t treat her like a china doll. She held herself well.”
“What if they had turned on you, and attacked her? The shifters don’t always have control over their wolf minds.”
I clicked my tongue. “I protected them both, as I said I would.”
He gripped my arm. “I know you drank from her.” His eyes were a dark obsidian and his hand was so tight on my arm that it actually hurt.
I raised my eyebrow. “What of it?”
He pulled me close. “She’s mine.”
I showed him my teeth, warning him. “She offered it to me, and I partook because I was wounded.”
“That is not up to you, you should’ve asked me first.”
“Ask you? You think that I have to ask you?”
I growled, having enough of his impertinence, and blasted him with my power. He crashed against one of the trees that lined the bank and slid to the ground. “You forget who is Master. Don’t ever question me again or I swear that starting this night, you will never touch her again. This is your last warning, Bronson.” I towered over him. “Now, go to the docks and find another to drink from tonight. She will be weak and needs to rest.”
“You have no idea what she is to me,” he groaned, his back injured from the blast and unable to stand. “I have stalked her since she became a woman, and she haunted me in my dreams. It has been my only desire to have her writhing under me, to become united as one, even as her blood ran through my veins. And with one sting from you, it has all slipped away.” His voice caught and he stared towards the river, unwilling to look at me.
“I used no venom when I bit her.”
He looked at me now, his eyes wide. “You allowed her to suffer so? No wonder she slept.”
I rolled my eyes, my anger calming. “You are never satisfied.” I held my hand to help him up, he was fully recovered now. “Come, and let her rest tonight, and then tomorrow you will take her into your bed and give her her every desire. And then you shall have your fantasy, or nightmare, as you see it, and be content.”
He glared at me, and when he didn’t take my hand, I laughed. “Oh, Bronson, you are such a child.” When he stood up, using the tree for support instead of my offered hand, I sighed. “You would think that after you have been given permission to give in to your deepest desire, you would be a lot more enthusiastic. And grateful.” I began to unbuckle my pants. “Have it your way. But as for me, I’m going to cleanse my body, and my soul, in the river.”
He began to walk away but I stopped him with my words. “Whatever happened to the fae I requested?”
“She arrived earlier today.”
“Good.” I nodded. “Send her outside to me, even if she is sleeping. Send her with some clean clothing for me.”
Only his back answered my instructions, but I knew that he would follow my command. I turned to him again. “Bronson.” My voice was a command and his feet turned to me even though his will was against it. His face held the scorn and anger that he felt.
“If you lose control with Lula, I will kill you myself.”
After a while, when I was bathed in the river, I climbed back up the hill and saw the fae waiting for me. She was clutching my clothes to her chest and staring at my naked body as I walked up the path to the house. Her eyes were a deep blue, and her hair was woven in golden strands, with a vine of soft flowers arranged around her head.
I held my hand out and she stared at it in awe.
“My clothes?”
She jumped and shoved them into my hands. “Of course. Sorry, sir.”
I took them and began to dress. “What is your name?”
“My name is Raisa.”
“How old are you?”
She jerked her head back. It was impolite to ask an old being their age, and most of the fae in this area were very old, but I was tired and didn’t bother with niceties.
“I’m unaware in the