Page 123 of Land of Shadow

“The longer it took you to find the cure, the more time I’d have to undermine Gregor and find a way out for you.”

“But youhelpGregor.” I sit up and look at him. “You fight for him, kill for him. You keep him propped up.”

He gives me a level stare, his eyes bluer now. “I do what I have to do to ensure his belief in my loyalty.”

“Including killing innocent people.” I push away from him, but he wraps his arm around me, keeping me in his lap.

“Yes. I’ve killed many. I’ll kill more.” He says it so simply, like a fact from a textbook. “To keep you safe, I’ll do it gladly.”

“Why are you so obsessed with me being safe? We aren’t together. We aren’t?—”

“You’re my mate. I will fight and bleed and die for you.”

“You’re delusional!” I try again to wrest myself free of his grip but get nowhere.

“Would you like me to stop telling you everything you want to know?” he asks, his arrogant smirk back in place.

I groan, my irritation like a burr under my skin. “Fine.” I settle against him under protest.

“When I realized you were mine?—”

I scoff.

He ignores me and continues, “I couldn’t let anyone know.”

“Why?”

“If Gregor were to discover I’d found my mate, he’d have both of us impaled. I’m of his line. If I were able to bring forth a mate and eventually an heir from a true mate bond, I’d be the biggest threat to his reign he’s ever experienced. He’s never officially claimed me as his son, but that would force his hand.”

“I’m lost.”

“Vampires have a defined hierarchy.” He toys with my hair.

“Right, Gregor’s at the top. I get it. Vampire politics.”

“Gregor, then Theo, then—grudgingly, of course—me.”

“Why doesn’t he claim you as his?”

“Because my mother was a human.”

I make something akin to a croaking sound. He’s half human? Every moment spent in bed with him replays in my mind in fits and starts. “Are you saying humans and vampires can breed?”

“Of course.”

“Fuck!” I try to stand.

Again, he doesn’t let me.

“We didn’t use protection. I didn’t think—We—Oh, god!” I press a hand to my face.

“You aren’t with child.” He kisses my shoulder. “I would know. I would smell it.”

Relief washes over me right along with indignation. “Stop smelling me!”

“Impossible.” He pulls me closer, his nose at my neck. “The most delicious scent in the world.”

When his lips ghost along my skin, a pleasurable shiver runs down my spine. I lean away from him. “Stop trying to distract me. Why are you telling me all this?” I ask. “Just to keep me from going outside?”

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