Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 242728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1214(@200wpm)___ 971(@250wpm)___ 809(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 242728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1214(@200wpm)___ 971(@250wpm)___ 809(@300wpm)
My wrist burned from where he held me, but I didn’t try to pull away. I didn’t give him that satisfaction. Instead of fighting to get free, I stepped into him and summoned Quelis’s children. My arm erupted into white-hot light, fire crawling up to my shoulder.
Aktor flinched but didn’t let me go. His fingers locked tighter as my fire and silvery smoke licked over his hand, making his dark skin glow but not hurting him.
“We are both fire chosen, Runa. We are one spirit now, thanks to the bind. Whatever power you use on me won’t hurt because it recognises me as a part of you.”
Sickening despair filled me.
Letting me go, he said, “You’ve made me a promise, so allow me to make you one.” His eyes flashed with dark conviction. “One day, perhaps not soon, but one day...you will welcome me into your furs. You will beg me to kiss you. You will willingly spread your legs and bear me heirs because no matter where you go or what you do, I will always be there. I didn’t want this. Neither of us wanted this. I don’t trust you, I don’t like you, but I do trust my Fire Reader and if he says this is what the flames decree, then I will obey. You have my absolute word I will not hurt you again. But I will demand proof that you are not a danger to my family.”
For the first time, a flicker of regret filled his eyes. Rubbing the back of his neck, his fingers tangled in the string of his bison horn necklace. It jingled with beads against his chest. “What I did to you...it was a mistake. I took it too far and my apology is sincere. Kivva and I grew up together. His parents joined our clan when he was a babe, travelling from Karfe to settle with us. His parents never really fit in with the clan, and Kivva was outcasted because of it. When his parents died from fevers, leaving him with no one, we grew close. Very close—”
“Why are you telling me this?” I cut in. “I don’t care about Kivva. He would’ve killed Darro twice over if Darro didn’t have a swift gift of healing. You are nothing like your father, Aktor. He would never do what you did.”
His jaw worked as his familiar temper flared, but he swallowed it down and said stiffly, “I’m telling you this so you understand that Kivva was my brother. He was my friend, and I trusted him.” Looking at the cold fireplace, he added, “When you were found by the river, he muttered about your origins. Despite his own place in our clan being adopted, he tolerated very few outsiders. He didn’t like you. He talked about you a lot, and...his concerns began to taint how I saw you too.”
I held up my hand, laughing incredulously. “You’re blaming your actions on Kivva? You expect me to absolve you of holding a dagger to my throat and forcing your body onto mine just because he told you to?”
“No.” He scowled. “I’m saying...I took my role as protector of my people too far. I used violence against you when I shouldn’t have, and I...” His eyes tightened. His throat worked as he swallowed. With great reluctance, he forced himself to look up and catch my furious stare. “I’m...sorry, Runa. I’m sorry that I let him encourage me to do that.” His cheeks heated, revealing the truth of his confession. “I was raised better than that. And now I have a lifetime to make it up to you.” He grimaced. “You’re my mate—”
“Not yet, I’m not. And never will be if I can find a way free. It was you who held me down, not Kivva. You who threw that spear into Darro, not Kivva. Kivva is dead and—”
“Dead thanks to your savage’s wolves.” His eyes blazed with loathing.
“Dead because he let hate into his heart instead of kindness.”
“Dead because a wolf tore out his throat right in front of me.” His hands fisted by his sides. “Just as you can’t forgive me, I can’t ever forgive the foreigner for that.”
“His name is Darro. And I don’t care if you’ll never forgive him. You have no power to say he isn’t welcome here. He has the word of the chief and the Fire Reader. He can stay—”
“Until I become chief,” he snapped. “If he decides to stay. If he thinks he’s keeping you safe by lurking over our matehood, one day, he will learn that his existence here is unstable. The day I become chief, he will be banished. It’s as inevitable as us becoming mates.”
“Nothing is set in stone,” I hissed. “The future is nothing more than hopes and worries.”
“The fire has read the future. It gave you to me so I can be the one to protect you from suffering and death. It gave you to me, Runa, not him. Think on that for a while, and perhaps you’ll finally see that I am the better male for you. The only male.”