Page 11 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
“That’s whatyouwanted.” She wrapped the sheet tighter around her chest, moving to her feet. “That’s what you all—”
“Don’t mistake me for someone who is allowed to want.” I chuckled bitterly as I made my way to the door. “We’ll have the binding ceremony next week. I’ll handle the details unless you’d like some input.”
“In… Input…” She stuttered. “On the ceremony?”
I hesitated at the door, waiting for her to catch up. Surely Kieran had clued her in on the plan.
“I hope you understand what is expected of you. We’ll need to put on a good show and make sure all the clans are aware of the mark. Though I fail to see what this will do to help,” I mumbled the last bit, unsure of why I spoke it out loud.
She didn’t need to know the inner workings of my thoughts.
No one should be subject to that torture.
I straightened my shoulders, exuding the cool confidence necessary for these sorts of situations. “If you have any concerns or issues, state them now.”
Fire and anger shimmered in her eyes, but she gave a short shake of her head.
Good. We were on the same page then.
“Take however long you need to get cleaned up,” I said, closing the door gently behind me as my beast started to rage in my mind again.
You arrogant, selfish, damned fool.
5
Willow
Cold Showers
What just happened?
I sank back onto the bed, feeling my stomach tighten as the door closed, leaving me alone in Malachy’s room. Embarrassed tears gathered in my eyes.
I’d thought we’d had a connection. Felt it deep in my chest. The way he’d touched me. The raw expressions on his face. He’d been so easy to read until everything just closed off like a shade being drawn.
Angrily, I dried my eyes.
I was so fucking stupid for thinking this would be a fairy tale. I knew better than anyone that true love was a joke. Fated mates? Ha.
I held the black silk sheets against my chest as I stood up again, glaring at the closed door.So much for not slipping away after.Ember had gushed about the merits of dragon peen and the third ridge.
I guess I wouldn’t know about that.
My lower lip trembled, but I bit down on it.
I needed a shower—needed to scrub the scent of him off my skin. An empty ache was settling in my heart where it’d felt whole and filled with warmth moments prior.
I’d never felt so cheap and degraded. Not even with Sam. Sex wasn’t great with him. It definitely wasn’t anywhere near what I’d just experienced. But at least he had the decency to stick around for a few minutes after even when I could tell he didn’t want to be there.
I shook my head, trying to get rid of the thoughts before I spiraled down that path. Feeling sorry for myself wasn’t doing anyone any favors.
The adjacent bathroom was elegantly marbled. A walk-in shower built for a monster lined the back wall.Of course that pretentious jerk would need all this.
Jealousy wasn’t a good look.
And neither was the state I was in now.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the gold-rimmed mirror above the dual vanity. The tattooed rune on my neck sat straight above his mark. Emotion clogged my throat as I touched the twin puncture wounds. I must’ve imagined his tenderness. It wasn’t often my intuition was this wrong.
