Page 71 of Blood Bought

“Sounds like it,” Ren laughed. “Any other times you were miraculously saved? Or maybe you felt sick one minute and then drank something and felt better? Bet he’d have cured a damn tummy ache for you if he could.”

“Hmm.” I never got sick as a child, not really, not after the time he had to save my life. Headaches only lasted an hour or two, even the sniffles didn’t stick around for long. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe he was responsible for all of that, but a little piece of me loved the thought of cold, ruthless, spine-ripping Alaris helping me without being seen. “If you three aren’t careful, I’m going to start to think his brutality is just for show.”

Renzo laughed like he was privy to some inside joke, and I could have sworn he said, “He heard that,” but before I could process his words, I was being slammed against the wall by my throat.

Alaris’ fangs were out, but only a fool would miss the mischief in his eyes. “Just for show, huh? Over here minding my own business and I hear my mate’s voice down the hall talking shit about me?” He squeezed. “I think I owe you seven now. Ren, have you seen my paddle?”

“Pretty sure it was with your stuff. I’ll see myself out of this conversation, though. Enjoy.”

He left us alone, and I didn’t miss the way others avoided the hallway we were in.

Smart people.

I was so wet for him already I knew he could smell it, but I needed more of this. “Aww, my poor baby,” I teased.

“Baby, huh?” He leaned in closer, his thumb sliding along my mouth and shoving inside to pull my jaw down. “Suck.”

No tingle of persuasion this time — it was all me, responding to him and the way he turned me inside out with a word. I sucked, flicking my tongue under his thumb like I’d do to his cock, but the growl he let out was interrupted by the last person either of us wanted to see.

“Thought I heard yelling,” Ciro said. “Trouble in paradise? Bloodwhore not being enough of a whore for you?”

Alaris pulled away so stiffly I knew it was taking all of him not to murder him right then. “None of your concern, snitch. Go run to daddy and tell him I called you a name, we both know you want to.”

Ciro smirked. “Nah. I got what I wanted. We’re all good now. Aren’t we, Addy Cat?”

My face burned and I was nearly as angry as Alaris at the fact that he’d helped himself to that conversation, but I took Ris’ hand to keep us both steady. “Of course. Not like anything you did actually affected me or my relationship with him. How could you? Just a bag of... well, nothing.”

Alaris smiled. “Bag of nothing, barely shy of useless. My girl has a point. You should go focus on your training, I’ve heard how you haven’t caught anything on the last two hunts.”

Renzo and Kellian were hovering, I could see them near the end of the hall as they waited to see if Alaris would need them, but they weren’t alone. Ciro’s cronies were near too.

“That’s why we have bait. Or we did until you let yours out of her oath,” he leveled. “And wherehaveyou been, exactly? Hiding, right? Licking your wounds? Shame herscan’tbe licked. They’re all on the inside.” Ciro stepped forward. “The one plus for me that she didn’t wear her bracelet was that I got deep in there. Saw all the things you refuse to look at. The things she’ll never tell you. Wanna know about them?”

“C’mon, that’s enough,” Kell called out. “Just keep moving, Ciro.”

Alaris was seconds away from losing his composure, I could see it in the tenseness of his jaw, in the strained stance he was holding as he considered his next move. “If I wanted to know them, I’d violate her and take them. But I’m not you, Ciro. Show my mate some respect or I will formally challenge you to the death.”

“And you’d lose,” he said simply. “She’s made you weak. Ruled by emotions. You stopped being able to beat me the day she was born, but if you’d like me to prove it to you, I will. Just not yet. I’m actually here for Renzo.” He pivoted, pointing a finger gun at Ren behind him. “My turn to have custody of you, baby boy. Daddy needs you. We found a Shield dead in the Faint Wood, and that couldn’t have been an accident. Pack your things.”

I couldn’t believe his audacity — or the fact that Renzo nodded and turned on his heels to run off. Kell stayed, waiting for Ciro to walk away and then dipped his head to Alaris before he followed Ren.

The energy around us before our interruption had changed. Gone was the playful Alaris that I was quickly becoming attached to, leaving me with an angry Heir without anyone to take that anger out on.

Carefully, I stepped in front of him and cupped his face, gently brushing his cheeks with my thumbs. “You’re not weak, Alaris. And he’s not worth it, okay?”

He met my eyes, staring into them like he was counting the colors inside them and then he kissed my lips softly. “I know. He’s wrong. I’ve never felt stronger.”

“Then forget about him. Renzo was going to show me an area of the castle just for mates, so why don’t you take me there?” I offered. “We can grab some dinner after and I’ll let you have as much blood as you need.”

“Bossy again, Miss Silk.” But he smiled and held out his arm like a proper gentleman. “Luckily, it’s a good plan.”

“I know.” I stepped in just a little closer and took his arm, letting him lead. “I always have good plans.”

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