ya's
oor o
r, back pressed against the cold wood. Her heart lur
steps
on her. His expression does not change. No
," Jasp
. The silk gown clings to her, wrinkled and hea
behind him. The lock
himself a drink from the decanter. Amber liquid splashes in
s frozen, w
r walk?" Jasper as
tches. He knows.
voice falters.
nk. He turns to face her, leaning back agai
spying," J
ust... I
you hear
ns. She cannot speak.
s the room in three long strides. He stops in front of her, clo
me," Jas
Araya whisper
ot change. No shame. No gu
Jaspe
r sides. "And you're my mate. My hu
itch, almost a s
es
hy
a slap. Araya stares at
t said words under the moon? Because your father needed to m
flin
away. "This bond is a form
it?" Araya's voice crack
lks to the bed, sitting on th
You could have refused. You're the
y eyes cold and flat. "Your father
t deeper tha
he blinks hard, refusin
ssing it onto the chair. He unbuttons his
re," Jas
does n
narrow. "I sai
em. She crosses the room slowly, every step f
s in fro
r neck. His fingers are cold, firm, possessive. He pulls
e silk loose. The gown slides from
efore him, exp
l and detached. He does not speak. Doe
her back o
gasps. Her hands grip the furs beneat
down, suffocating. His hands are rough, eff
nderness. No w
y d
ep from crying out. Pain flares, sharp and immediat
not stop. Do
n ragged pulls. She feels used. Hollow. Lik
beneath the humiliat
sp
re, flickering li
bo
tretching between them. A thread of
s breath hitches, just for
does no
way. He stands, dressing quickl
he ceiling. Her body aches. He
oning it with swift, precise mo
head, watching
per says, hi
tightens. "Pl
id, d
coat and stride
the furs around her.
He opens the door and
er, w
closes be
around her shoulders. She crosses to the door
k, lit only by the
teps echo, dis
on the cold stone. His scent lingers in the
ickly, her h
a corner, disappear
e corner, follo
/1/105573/coverbig.jpg?v=e983430f77c74c247ca23a68761bb378&imageMogr2/format/webp)