Page 125 of Hawke

“The sex trafficking?” I muttered.

He nodded, squeezing my hand. “Yes, I’ve kept my promise. I’ve done none of that.”

“But you’ve done so many other things that are illegal. You kill, smuggle drugs, and weapons. I don’t want to be a part of any of it!” I screamed.

With a slight tilt of his head, he looked down on me condescendingly. “But I need to give you all the pretty things. There are still crooked cops and politicians. There are no good people left in the world. It’s all about staying on top. With me, you are safe, Delilah. I will keep you safe, pampered, free. You will never have to worry.”

My wolf stepped forward from the darkness. Pushing forward.

“But it’s you I need to be rescued from,” I whispered.

Shane’s eyes narrowed.

“I have a mate.” I said louder. “I have a fated mate. The goddess paired me with Hawke.”

Shane frowned. “No, Delilah. You are human. Humans are not paired with supernaturals. He is lying to you. He is a rogue. He was rejected because he is a criminal, too.”

“No, he isn’t,” I yelled, pulling away from the chair, ripping my hand away from his. “He is my mate! He is my soulmate. I will not go home with you.”

“You will!” Shane grabbed my wrist, standing, his chair landing on the floor with a bang.

Shane took my wrist, bending it until the pain became too much to bear. My knees hit the floor, tears pricking my eyes. “You will come home, meet Duke Idris, and be blessed with the transfusion to rid you of thisdog’s—venom,” he spat. “Then I will bond us together!”

The tears that welled into my eyes disappeared. The pain in my wrist no longer ached, but amusement filled me.

A snort of amusement filled the air, followed by loud, hysterical laughter. Outside, wails and screams of pain filtered into the open windows and quickly died.

Hawke was coming. Just a little longer.

“What’s so funny?” Shane asked with no amusement.

The laughter died in my throat as I locked eyes with his cold, lifeless gaze. “Duke Idris is dead. How is your little plan going to work now?”

Shane leaned in, his cold vampire breath on my face.

“You think you have it figured out, don’t you, my little wife?”

I wiped away the last few tears that clung to my lashes.

“You think he’s dead, don’t you? From that little fire a few weeks ago?”

My excitement faded, my heart sinking.What?

“Oh, little dove, how weak you look when your wings are clipped.” He traced his finger over my cheek. “Duke Idris is a dark fae that practices necromancy. Don’t you think he would have created a fail-safe if his life was in danger?”

I took a sharp breath, feeling the chill of the air on my skin.

Shane’s cheek brushed mine, lips trailing to my ear. “Duke Idris is very much alive.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Hawke

Thesharppainwefelt at our temple through the bond was enough to cause Tyr to viciously tear the skin from our body. In turn, the fur replicated, claws and fangs lengthened. We secured our paws into the earth and unleashed a thunderous roar that caused the branches of the nearby trees to tremble.

There was no longer an element of surprise. Our position was given away and maybe it was better this way. It could give us a hint of a challenge.

Men rushed from the front, guns in hand, magazines on their belts clinking together as they rounded the cabin. Having never seen our capabilities, these men did not know what to expect.

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