Page 55 of Taken to the Deadlands

Her eyes were wide, and she looked at me as if she too couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Oh, and Aris?” Madam called. “You’re banned from the auction.”

I turned to her but was met with a bright light.

“Fuck.” I pulled Mia to me, holding her as close as I could without crushing her.

Moving through the portal caused my stomach to flip, but before I knew it, the light was gone, and instead of the auction house, I was in my own realm.

Mia pushed me away so she could look up at me. A frown pulled at her lips. She was mad at me, and I would take it because she was here.

“You sent me back.”

I nodded stiffly.

“I thought you’d be better with your own kind,” I said. “I didn’t want to. I wanted to keep you so badly, but I knew I was being selfish.”

Her hands gripped my robe.

“I wanted to stay,” she whispered. “I tried to go back to normal, but I kept thinking about you. It’s so stupid because I was living a good life in the Human Realm but as soon as she came to me and offered to bring me back, I just left with her, and I?—”

I swooped in to cover her mouth with my own. She met my kiss back with an eagerness that caused my head to swim. I pulled away just as her tongue darted out.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed.

“You should be,” she said. “I don’t fully understand how this is going to work, but I want it to.”

I sent her a smile.

“It will,” I assured her and motioned for her to look at the house. “I made sure of that.”

Her eyes widened when she took in the new house.

“You remodeled?”

“And got some help,” I said. “There’s a few people I want you to meet, but that can come later, for tonight I want you?—”

She tugged me down to crash her lips to mine. This time, I didn’t try to stop her as she explored my mouth. My hands gripped her tight, and I forced her legs around my waist while I carried her into the house.

“Don’t you dare send me away again,” she breathed against my mouth.

“Never.”

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