Page 39 of Hers to Keep

“To me, yes.”

“And will they come for me?”She asked the question as casually as she could manage, but her hand tightened around Dohal’s.

“In all likelihood.Though I think the two of us together—especially once the circle is closed—should be more than a match for them.”

“So, this course oftransactionwith you will put her in additional danger?”Dohal grumbled, his disapproval obvious.

“I’m not sure if additional is the correct word.They will probably come for her anyway once they find out who she is, regardless of whether she claims her place, because of the threat she poses.To the status quo, she is a very dangerous creature.”

She turned to Dohal.“Could that have been what Vincent was talking about?”

“Perhaps.”Dohal focused on Ashdei.“Tell me something that is a lie, demon.”

Ashdei replied without hesitation, “I’m not at all envious of the way her memory of your night together made her magic light up the entire fucking room.”

Dohal smirked.“Far from infallible for one such as him, but I do not think he has told you any lies thus far.”

Ashdei looked straight at Mari.“While it is certainly in my nature to be less than truthful and withhold information for my benefit at every opportunity, it is not in my best interest to do so with you.”

Saints, she believed him, even without Dohal’s barometer as confirmation.Why did she feel so certain?The implications of it made her uneasy.She turned to regard her dragon.“You think I should entertain his plan.”

“I think the decision is yours.I just want you to have all the information when you make it.”

She stared into his cosmic eyes, wanting to know how he really felt about her considering this course, but unwilling to ask such a vulnerable question directly while Ashdei could hear.It was important that she know because of the secret she kept.“You said once that more protection was better.Do you still feel that way?”

Dohal bared his deadly fangs in a grin.“I am not threatened by him.You will always be mine.”He wrapped his large hand around the back of her neck and pulled her into a blistering kiss.

Chapter 13

Allofthetroublesof the last few days faded away in the wake of Dohal’s overwhelming passion for her.Mari leaned her head back to give him better access to her mouth, and he plundered freely with a growl of approval.Her magic finally came to heel, wrapping around him eagerly.He set his thumb under her chin so that she looked up at him as he pulled back and favored her with a sweltering smile.

I would do anything to protect you, bavi,he spoke into her mind.But sharing you is no hardship, because what is between us has been lifetimes in the making, and nothing can break it.

Affection for him swelled in her chest.“I’m yours.Today and always.”She reached up to grab his horn.“I want you tonight.”She had something she desperately needed to share, and she wanted to do it alone with him first.

An expression of concern softened the severe planes of his face.“It’s unwise now that we know the Old One is so close.It will leave you vulnerable.”

“I can keep watch until she’s recovered,” Ashdei said.

Mari turned to look at the demon.She’d all but forgotten he was there in the tumult that was Dohal’s regard.His face was an impassive mask, but something simmered under the surface.Without thinking, she reached for him with her magic.

His blue-fire eyes widened, and the strange wildness in him surged in response to her touch.He was out of his chair and had crossed half the distance between them before he came to his senses, shaking his head to clear it.

Oh yes,the goddess crooned inside her.He’s delicious.Rather than moving to protect her and Dohal from his sudden advance, her magic embraced him.He was a force of nature—imposing and ominous as a thunderstorm.His power sparked over her tongue, tasting like sex and sin, and she wanted to devour him.

Next to her, Dohal lowered his face close to her ear to murmur, “Would you like it if he watched?”

“Yes.”She drew the word out long as she drank in the sight of him.She loved how obvious it was by his posture that he wanted her as badly as she did him.In this moment, she had a hard time remembering why she’d rejected his proposal.

Ashdei looked between them.“Not what I meant.”

“Isn’t it?”Dohal dropped a hand to her thigh, his claws light and teasing along her skin as he dragged them up to the hem of her skirt.“Would you deny her if she commanded it?”

The blue-flame eyes dipped to follow the progress of Dohal’s fingers.His voice was hoarse when he answered, “No.”

She favored the handsome demon with a smile, because she could feel his urge to please her quivering along her magic.“Would you deny me anything?”

Ashdei seemed surprised by her question, but his response came quickly, “I would not.”

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