Bought By The Beast

e logical reaction. Everything about hi

lief, heat, instinct... until nothing felt clean enough to separate. I didn't know if I was

heavier, more aware. For a few seconds, I couldn't

m wasn'

wasn't

e a warning. My eyes opened to sunlight spilling through tall windows, streaking across the floor in gold and white. The qu

udying me every second of the night. His presence was overwhelming, more than just physical and it

ed, my voice rough from sleep, betrayin

n't sleep well," he said ca

I muttered, squinting ag

int at amusement. "Three hours," he admitted plai

him. "That's.

easily. "But n

rking through my system. The lingering heat under my skin, the almost imperceptible hum of the bond deep in my chest and it all pr

d to s

ed it i

ery fiber of me had been rewoven overnight. Caspian's hand pressed gent

voice calm, measured, but with a note of po

he through the soreness, through the way my body seemed to

al yet deliberate, every touch threaded with the quiet satisfaction

. Faster

sed to weaken even for a second. It was strange, disorienting, and intoxicating all at once. My chest t

careful not to aggravate my muscles further, I murm

as long as you

something darker, sharper. The bond responded immediately, a low,

t him. "Don

hing," he said, voic

about it," I accu

gh the bond, I felt the truth before he

lf. "We just woke up," I said weak

lightly, heavy with intent. "T

, though the warmth curling thr

nd slow, tracing from my shoulder with a precision that made my p

t my body betrayed me. Every flicker of interest, every tiny reaction was mirror

red, and I felt the shi

," I said, glaring at him th

untered, tone teasing, cont

fied every sensation, every pulse of heat, every subtle tightening of muscles.

messing with my

head," he said, calm

r. The one from yesterday that

ed calls. All

oking up. "Marcus trying to reach you. Kieran

wn, but it immedia

with a tex

orever. 50 million is a lot of

d turne

ver my shoulder. His rage flooded through

ouse." His voice was eerily calm. "Th

ey even get

grabbed his own phone, fi

d's voice came through the speaker, dr

," Caspia

spian... there's something els

ha

ot for Rielle." David paused. "For

en went d

ontinued. "Figures if you're dead, the bond breaks, Ri

ak with death" I said

uld claim her if they moved fast enough." David's tone turned grim. "

ing tight. Through the bond, I f

e

For what would happen i

takers? " C

unters. Some are lycans, which is the real

mes

ff. Each one made Ca

ng," Caspian said

pian

ting here waiting for them to come to us." He looked at

ould stop it."I'm not sitting her

lle.

it. If you get hurt, I feel it. If you die..." I couldn't finish that sentence."I'd rather be there. Fi

nce

ration dangerous. If you go down, she'll feel it and

what you're asking? I'm going to kill people today. Pr

hed yes

nting." His eyes were solid silver now. "This

ee him at his absolute worst and realize I'd made a huge mistake. Th

een the monster. I let him bite me anyway. So show me what ha

teeth and violence

ou wi