Page 12 of Faerie Marked

“How did I knowwhat? That you are spectacular?” he clarified with a wink.

“That we are fated mates. The news had to come from somewhere, or someone.” I was grasping at straws and did not care. Uncle Will and Kendrick’s advisor were engaged in their own small talk. They would provide no answer. “My uncle told me it was the pack elders who decided the match. Did you speak with them?”

Kendrick grabbed hold of my hand and raised it to his chest, pressing it against the fabric of his shirt so I felt the steady beat of his heart. “I knew the first time I saw you. I felt it in my heart, like a thread drawing us together. The pack elders confirmed the match with their scryers. It’s meant to be.”

I didn’t believe a word of it. The insincerity in his impassioned statement sent shivers down my spine.

Everyone turned to stare at me as I broke contact with Kendrick, pushing away from the table. “I’m sorry, I need a minute.”

“Tavi, is everything all right?” Uncle William asked.

“Of course. Just give me a moment,” I stated and rushed for the nearest powder room.

It wasn’t until I was closing the door behind me that I could draw a breath, in and out. Every part of me ached and I realized then I’d been holding tension in my body where it didn’t belong.

A few deep inhalations helped to slow my heart. I stared at myself in the mirror. Auburn curls framed my face; delicate emerald-green eyes looked shadowed like I’d taken a couple of punches to the face. Stress, if I had to guess, though it wasn’t a shock. Instead of looking confident and in control, I looked hunted. Ready to bolt.

It wasn’t the image I wanted to project, the image of quiet confidence and assurance. I threw a pointed look at my reflection and accompanied it with a wagging finger.

Get a grip on yourself, I told my reflection sternly.You can get through this. It’s one dinner. Make it through dinner and we can figure the rest out later.

I didn’t believe myself, though. I didn’t expect to.

The few moments of peace awarded to me disintegrated the moment I opened the door to see Kendrick leaning against the opposite wall, waiting for me.

“What are you doing out here?” The question was out before I thought better of it.

His smile turned into a leer. “You ran off.”

Close, he was too close.

“I hardly call going to the bathroomrunningoff,” I said with sweet venom. Then tugged at the hemline of my dress to cover more skin. “You didn’t need to follow me. I have been doing this alone for a long time.”

When I moved to get past him, he shifted, blocking the way. I finally realized the full breadth of his shoulders. The imposing set of his body and the way his muscles were for more than just show. This was the wolf who had won the alpha status of his pack by sheer and brutal force.

“Excuse me, I need to pass,” I said softly. Hating how my voice trembled.

“I wanted a moment alone with you without your uncle and myadvisorbreathing down my neck.” The way he said the word made me think the title was nothing more than honorary. Kept around due to tradition and nothing more.

“I’m sure there will be plenty of time for us to be alone in the future,ifthis match goes through.” There was enough dismissal in the tone I took a small bit of satisfaction in saying it to him. But the thought of being alone with Kendrick had my head spinning and my mouth going dry in the worst way.

He stepped closer. My breath caught and, nostrils wide, I sensed his musk. Instead of the scent turning me on, I wanted to run far and fast. “What if I don’t want to wait?” he asked.

A laugh bordering on hysteria burst out of me. “Then I’d say you’re out of luck.” A show of false bravado, and one he saw straight through if the heat in his gaze was any indication. “You have no choice.”

I tried to step under his arm and lost my footing when he shifted again, sweeping me back against the wall and caging me with his body. Heat prickled on my skin, and my chest ached.

“Tavi…” he breathed. “You really are spectacular. I wasn’t lying. Beautiful in a way few can match. Your skin…” He dropped his face lower.

“Let me go.” It came out as a whisper, damn it. Not as the demand I’d intended. I hoped he didn’t think I was playing coy with him.

“Don’t you feel it?” Kendrick leaned forward, drawing the scent of me into his lungs. He trailed his finger down the side of my face and neck. Further south until it rested on my collar bone. “This connection between us? Fated mates.”

No.

Every part of me rose in protest to his nearness. This wasn’t how I should feel. Was it? His fingertips skimmed up my arm and goose bumps rose in their wake.

“Let me go, Kendrick.” I didn’t care about being reduced to begging. “Please.”

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