Page 23 of Caution

“No.” I shook my head. “Take me tomyhome. I am not going anywhere with you to drink your mind-control wine or whatever else you're trying to get me to do.”

“Again, not possible. Not yet,” he said. “I'm the last person who would do you any harm, Ambrosia. You have to trust that.”

“I actually don't, but thanks.”

Without waiting for him to respond, I pushed my car door, lowkey surprised when it opened, letting me know I wasn't locked in.

I quickly recovered from that surprise though, climbing out of the car to start walking back down the driveway.

“Where are you going?” Cassius called after me.

“Home.”

“You'realreadyhome,” he said, in front of me now.

“Stop doing this shit!” I yelled, pushing at him to no avail.

He didn’t move.

“Why should I amend my behavior for you?” he asked, turning as I continued past him. “Who are you to me?”

I stopped, turning to glare at him. “I thought I was yourbonded mateor something.”

“Oh.” He chuckled. “So you want the privileges of that, but not any of the duties?”

“Not being snuck up on, not being subjected to you disappearing and reappearing, popping around like a fucking magician is aprivilege? That's wild.”

“It's not that wild.” Cassius chuckled. “My point is, you don't get to ask things of me while denying the very title that gives you the power to do so.”

“So if I accept you as mymate,you'll do what I say?”

“In certain respects, no, it's not that simple. In others, yes.”

I sighed. “Will gettingstraight answersto my questions be one of the things that you do? Meaning, none of the cryptic bullshit.”

“Of course,” he answered. “I'll tell, and even show, you everything you want to know. As far as possible, at least.”

“You keep hedging.”

“I’m not hedging, I’m trying to be transparent.”

“Okay then clarify what you mean.”

“It just means I don’t know everything. I'm not a memory keeper.”

“A memory keep—you know what?” I said. “I want you to write all this shit down. With a glossary of terms or something. All the knowledge of thesemystic beingsor whatever the fuck. I need to know.”

“So are you saying yes?” he asked. “You're agreeing to our bond?”

I smirked, already knowing exactly howbondedI planned to get to this motherfucker, but I needed those answers.

“Yes.” I nodded. “I agree to be your bonded mate.”

His fangs were in my neck before the words had fully left my mouth.

Seven

Ishould have thought about it a lot more.

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