you deciding to use the bond as an excuse to break off your engagement.”
Ouch. Way to sucker punch me in the chest, Saxon.
I can’t breathe for a second, but when I recover from the blow, all I can say is, “I see.”
His angry countenance morphs into something else. I don’t know what he sees etched on my face, but whatever it is, it changes his attitude. He seems regretful now, but it’s impossible to tell the reason for that look. Is he regretting his statement or regretting acting like an ass?
“I’m sorry. That sounded way harsher than I intended.” He puts his hands on his hips, dipping his chin. “I can’t be responsible for you breaking off your engagement to that nimrod. That would turn the magical community against the king.”
Oh, Saxon. I know that. It stings that you don’t seem to care about me. But hell if I’ll let you see how much you’re hurting me right now.
“You’re so conceited,” I hiss. “What makes you think I’d consider you a better alternative than Calvin?”
Now it’s his turn to grimace. Even without some crazy-ass vampire bond controlling my hormones, I’d pick Saxon over Calvin any time, given the chance. Too bad I tossed away that option when I made a deal with Elena Montenegro.
“Well, we can spend the entire evening trading insults, sunshine. But it doesn’t change the fact that we’re mated, and we can’t be.”
“What do you want me to do about it? I know nothing about vampire mating bonds.”
“You’re a witch, aren’t you? Solomon believes there’s a spell that can annul the bond.”
“Oh, Solomon knows about us too?” I throw my hands up in the air. “That’s fucking great.”
“He was helping me in the beginning, but with all the drama involving Lucca, Vivienne, and Boone, my problem wasn’t his top priority anymore. That’s why I had to come to you for the potion. I’ve been using it to numb the effects of the bond.”
I pull my hair back, yanking at the strands in frustration. “Oh my God. Whose brilliant idea was it to use a potion against a siren’s thrall to fight a vampire mating bond?”
“King Raphael’s.”
I freeze, and then, like a deranged woman, I laugh so hard that my belly hurts. I must be losing my mind. “Of course. Vampires and common sense. Clearly not two things that go together.”
“Are you done making fun of this situation?” Saxon asks, irritated.
“Shut up, jerkface. You’re not going to boss me around in my own home, bond or not.”
In the blink of an eye, Saxon is on me, hand around my throat, face inches from mine. His hold is not tight; the fury in his eyes is threat enough.
“Let go of me before I hex you again.”
“No. Don’t you understand? This is no joke. Do you have any idea what it feels like to be near you and not be able to touch you? Protect you? I almost lost my mind when I found out you faced Boone’s followers alone. I’m in constant pain. I can’t taste the blood that I drink from others, I can’t fuck anyone else.”
My stomach does a backflip at his admission that he can’t screw other women. My crazy heart is doing cartwheels in celebration.
“I’ve been in pain too, okay? Perhaps not as much as you, but I didn’t have a potion to numb whatever I was feeling, because I didn’t know what the problem was.”
“I don’t understand how someone so stubborn, so infuriating, can beguile me this much. Half the time I don’t know if I want to punish you or love you.”
I inhale deeply. Is that a declaration of love? No, it can’t be. “I think it’s clear which way you’re leaning.”
Clarity returns to his eyes, then his expression changes into one of regret. He steps back, releasing me, and like an idiot, I miss his closeness. The yearning hits me hard then. Every molecule in my body is drawn to Saxon. He’s the sun, and I’m a lonely planet getting pulled into his orbit.
“I’d never hurt you,” he replies softly.
“Because I’m your mate.”
“Not because of that. I’m not a monster who beats females for fun. It would be different if you were a seasoned warrior like Manu and we were at war.”
“I thought she was a spoiled princess,” I say callously, only because I need a distraction from the overwhelming impulse to attack Saxon’s mouth.
Crossing his arms, he squints. “I know what you’re doing. It’s not going to work. I’m aware of