Page 9 of Bonded Chaos

“As my mate, you are the single greatest threat to me.”

“Then let me go. Be rid of me,” she pleaded.

A dark chuckle rumbled from my chest as I stalked closer to her. Cadence darted to the side, backing herself into a corner as she stood trapped between my bed and my armchair.

My hand moved toward her face, and I gripped her chin between my thumb and forefinger. I angled her head until she was facing me, refusing to let her escape my gaze, and her nostrils flared in anger.

“So my enemies can get their hands on you?” I tsked. “Do you even understand the power of the mate bond, Cadence?”

She clenched her jaw but didn’t respond.

“As my mate, should any harm come to you, I would be left weakened.”

“That’s only if the bond is fully formed,” she scowled. “And I have no intention of accepting anything that comes from you.”

My gaze traveled the length of her, taking in the swell of her breasts and the way her hips flared, before settling back on her face.

“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” I murmured. “Besides, acceptance brings its own rewards, which reminds me, what magic do you possess?”

“I… I’m a healer,” she stuttered.

“A healer,” I hummed. “I won’t deny I’m a little disappointed.”

Indignant rage flashed across Cadence’s face, and she curled her palms into fists at her side.

“Since I’m worthless to you, there is no reason to keep me here.”

An amused smile pulled up the corner of my mouth. Did she think she could escape me?

“You’re smart enough to understand that fate doesn’t work like that.”

Cadence scoffed. “And how would you know anything about my intelligence, or lack thereof? You don’t even know me.”

“Your rapid quips for one,” I replied as I lifted a single brow.

Cadence’s cheeks flushed crimson, and a look of pure frustration contorted her beautiful face. She was doing all that she could to warn me away from her, and she’d only piqued my interest.

Cadence let out a resigned sigh. “Look,” she said as she raked her fingers through her hair.

I was struck with the overwhelming desire to wrap her silky strands around my fist and yank her to me as I conquered her mouth with my tongue.

Mine,an insistent voice snarled inside of me.

“I have a family back in the Seelie Kingdom. They will be worried. I can’t let them think I abandoned them or that something untoward has happened to me.”

She eyed me up and down as if to say something untoward did, in fact, happen to her. I wouldn’t argue the point. I was comfortable with the actions I had taken to secure her, no matter how unscrupulous she may find them.

“So, write them a letter. I’ll ensure they receive it.”

“Argh!” Cadence screeched. “I don’t want to write them a letter. I want to go home!”

“And as I’ve already told you, that’s not happening.”

Cadence lunged for me, and I grabbed her wrists in one of my hands as I spun her around, pressing her back against my front.

“Listen closely, Cadence, as I’ll only say this once.”

Her breasts heaved under my forearm, which held her hands pinned against her chest.

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