“Thank the goddess,” Kyson breathes, his voice laced with reliefand concern.

“I feel better,” I murmur, a yawn escaping my lips. Yet beneath the surface, anger pulses through our bond, radiating from Kyson like an electric storm. Sensing the turmoil within him, I pull my face away from his neck to stare at him, feeling his aura crackling with pent-up fury.

“What’s wrong?” I inquire, my voice laced with genuine concern.

“Someone tried to poison you,” Kyson reveals, his tone filled with determination. “I promise I will figure out who soon. Until then, you are to remain with Dustin or me.”

In confusion I knit my brows together, trying to comprehend it. Why would someone want to harm me? I’ve done nothing to anyone here. Although the gravity of the situation should have sent shivers down my spine, a peculiar distraction captivates my thoughts. My instincts, normally so attuned to danger and survival, seem to be in a state of disarray. No matter how hard I try to focus on the gravity of the situation, all I can think about is the overwhelming desire to taste Kyson.

My instincts are going berserk. No matter how much I try to focus on what he is telling me, all I want to do is lick him.

Carrying me effortlessly, Kyson leads me to our bedroom. Though perfectly capable of walking on my own, an inexplicable yearning keeps me clinging to him, relishing in his warmth and intoxicating scent. My hand absently rubs the center of his chest, eliciting a chuckle from him.

“Something you want?” he asks, amusement etched into his features.

“You,” I reply simply, my voice laced with need. My instincts swirl chaotically within me, demanding the presence of my mate. Before I can restrain myself, my teeth sink into his chest through his shirt, my claws finding purchase in his shoulder as others claw at his pec through the fabric.

A grunt escapes Kyson as he hoistsme higher, making me want to climb into his shirt.

“Your scent is changing,” he purrs, nipping at the mark on my neck as I continue to explore the taste of his skin. A shudder ripples through his body as he tightens his grip on me.

Finally stepping into our room, Kyson kicks the door shut with a deft movement of his foot. “You should rest; you had an eventful night, and Abbie will be calling this morning,” he says, moving toward the bed and gently placing me down on its soft surface.

He attempts to stand, but I swiftly wrap my legs around his waist, tugging him closer. My teeth break through his collarbone, drawing another growl from him and he starts to purr, the calling wrapping around me, and my claws slip out, shredding his shirt even more.

Kyson presses his weight down on me, the calling, the low rumble emanating from his chest as he rolls onto his back, pulling me on top of him. My lips trail over his chest, tracing a path of possessiveness, while his hands move with gentle precision up and down my arms and sides. I revel in the sensation of mauling him, my teeth seeking purchase wherever they can find it. His chin drops as I attack his neck, his stubble grazing my cheek, and a primal growl escapes me when he denies me the satisfaction of marking him.

“I thought you wanted to speak to Abbie?” he murmurs, kissing the side of my mouth. Abbie, it has something to do with Abbie and it’s important; I just can’t remember why. My tongue rolls over his chest, my hands clawing at his flesh.

“She should be calling soon, Azalea,” he reminds me gently, his voice laced with patience and my teeth nip at him, making him groan.

Abbie...remember the thing about Abbie. What is it again? My tongue glides over his chest, soothing the marks I have left behind, while Kyson’s scars remain.

A flicker of confusion passes through me as I realize that not all wounds heal at the same pace.

It is soon once again forgotten, my sole focus on mydesperate need to mark him. I can’t think of anything but wanting to crawl inside the man. Desire courses through me so strongly I can’t think of anything else.

“Love, Abbie. She is calling soon,” Kyson growls, nipping at my shoulder. I try to shake the fog, consuming me and muddling my thoughts. Kyson smashes me with the calling, and I melt against him, pressing my ear to his chest and listening to the sound emanating from him.

“Shh, Abbie is calling soon. You want to speak to her, remember?” Kyson says softly, the calling growing stronger and making my eyelids heavy. I yawn, pressing my face into his chest.

“Abbie! Think of Abbie, Azalea. If you don’t answer her call, I don’t want you to hate me for missing it, so you need to focus. You can mark me afterward,” he purrs, kissing the top of my head. His finger strokes my hair. My claws slip out of his chest as his calling turns to a sedative.

“That’s it, plenty of time for that later, but calm,” he purrs, his fingers moving from my hair and trailing up and down my spine. I blink, fighting the urge to sleep, trying to fight the calling, and my breathing becomes harsher.

“That’s it, love. Fight it. You can fight your urges; just focus on a different emotion or think of Abbie,” Kyson says. My brain feels like mush.

“Abbie is with Kade.”

I blink, the fog in my mind dissipating like a morning mist as I remember I am waiting for Abbie’s call. The nameKadeslips into my thoughts, igniting a fierce growl that reverberates through me. The mere mention of his name fuels a surge of hatred within me, even though I have not yet met him.

I sit up, blinking, my claws sinking into his chest, and he hisses. I stare down at my hands, and Kyson pulls my claws out, and his blood oozes down his side. I move to lick his wounds, wantingto heal them.

“It’s fine.”

I cut his words off, running my tongue over the puncture marks. They heal instantly, and I have no idea how I did it, but I can tell my saliva has changed. It tastes different on my tongue. Kyson looks at his chest. The scars remain, which I find odd. They are fresh wounds and should have healed completely. I glance at his face to see the faint scars from the other night.

“You’re not healing, it scarred you?” I murmur.