Page 13 of Reluctant Rebel

He grinned, revealing dimples. “We have that in common. Jinx …”

And that’s when it hit her. She wasn’t going to have to beg for time to reconcile her emotions. Nor was she going to have to let him down gently.Because he’s about to reject me,she thought silently. It was in his tone. The realisation hurt so much that she looked down, expecting to see blood draining from her chest.

“You don’t want me,” she stated, beating him to the punch. Because wasn’t that what it boiled down to?

“It’s not that,” Mikhail rushed to say. He took a step closer, and Jinx immediately took one back. He sighed, shoulders sagging. “It’s just … I don’t know you.”

“And you don’t want to,” Jinx supplied. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling suddenly chilled.

“I do,” Mikhail insisted, shifting uneasily and looking everywhere but at her.

“Uh-huh,” Jinx said dryly. “That’s why you look as uncomfortable as fuck. You know, I’m not going to jump yourbones right here and sink my teeth into you, claiming you as mine for all eternity. That’s not how matings work.” Even though her tiger was clambering to do just that. “I don’t know you, either.”

She snapped her mouth closed. Why was she giving him so much pushback? She didn’t want a mate any more than he did. She should be relieved.I didn’t expect it to feel like this,she acknowledged.I didn’t expect it to hurt.How naïve she had been.

“I know all that,” Mikhail said, looking pained. “It’s just that I’m the King.”

It was like a punch to the gut. Mikhail didn’t want her because she wasn’t good enough for him. Sure, that was a part of her own reasoning. But it was brutal coming from the one person in the world who was supposed to want her unconditionally. “Of course. You’re royalty. And I’m just me. Forget I said anything.”

When she turned to leave, Mikhail put his hand on her bare arm. His palm was hot against her skin, sending tingles radiating up her arm and throughout her body. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as an electric current seemed to pass between them.

Time seemed to slow as Jinx became hyper-aware of every point of contact—the slight pressure of his thumb against her inner wrist, the brush of his fingertips along the sensitive underside of her forearm. Heat blossomed where they touched, spreading like wildfire through her veins. Her heart began to race, pounding so forcefully she was sure Mikhail must be able to see it through her chest. Her legs felt weak, and her knees threatened to buckle. She swayed slightly, her body yearning to be closer to his. Inside her mind, her tiger was churring like a maniac.

She tried to compose herself, but it was nearly impossible when he was still touching her. Could he see the effect he was having on her? The thought was enough to snap her out of the mating haze. Clearing her throat, she managed to speak. “Let me go.”

“Huh?” Mikhail questioned, staring at her unblinkingly. He seemed to be just as stupefied as she was.

Jinx gritted her teeth and reached out, grabbing Mikhail’s wrist. She tugged, repeating, “Let me go.”

His eyes widened, and he immediately released her arm. “Shit!” He stepped back and shook his hand like he wanted to get rid of the memory of her touch. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“The physical connection between mates can be intense. Especially in the beginning,” Jinx explained thinly. “Apparently, it settles.”

“Good to know,” Mikhail mumbled, frowning down at his hand. Then his eyes were back on hers, steady and intense. “You are not unworthy to be my mate.”

Jinx flinched, spinning around. She didnotwant to hear this. But Mikhail stepped around in front of her, blocking her escape. He was close enough that she could feel his body heat, but he made no move to touch her again.

“Will you look at me?” Mikhail requested gruffly.

Jinx shook her head. “Nope,” she replied, keeping her gaze stubbornly downcast.

Mikhail’s chest rose and fell with his deep sigh. “Fine. At least keep your ears open, okay?”

That brought her head up. “How do you close your ears?”

Mikhail looked aggrieved as he replied, “I have no idea. But Sabre manages to do it all the time.”

She was surprised into a giggle. Mikhail’s pupils dilated, and his nostrils flared. When he began to lean into her, she took a hasty step back, her amusement fading. “No more touching.”

He shook himself out of whatever daze he was in. “Right. Of course. Sorry. As I was saying, my reluctance to be mated has nothing to do with you as a person. I swear it on the life of my brother. It is an honour, a blessing, and a true gift from the heavens to be yours to claim. With everything in me, I wish I could accept such a miracle. But, Jinx, I don’t have that freedom. My life is not my own. It belongs to the people of Purgatory. And I owe them so much. They think I’m dead. They think their king is dead. Imagine if I showed up after deceiving them for so long: no resolution to the drama plaguing our world, my killer brother still on the loose, and a new mate on my arm. That would look …”

“Really fucking bad,” Jinx supplied, comprehension dawning.

“Yes,” Mikhail agreed, his voice low and filled with a mixture of longing and regret. He paced away, his movements agitated. “The crown I wear is not just a symbol of power but a burden of responsibility. Every decision I make, and every action I take affects the lives of millions. I have so much work to do before I can even think about something for myself. If ever.” He looked at her, his expressive face shutting down. “I have to work. I can’t have a mate.”

As far as excuses went, a work commitment was a pretty shitty one. Unless, Jinx thought, feeling incredibly sad for him, you were the ruler of a world filled with supernatural creatures. “Your duty to Purgatory comes before your own desires,” she stated.

Mikhail swallowed roughly, and he nodded jerkily. “Always.”

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