Page 17 of Devil May Hunt
“Excuse you?” Gunho growled.
“Am I wrong?” She winked at Brennon. “All done. Is there anything else? Do you need to be checked, Prince?”
“No. You confirmed my rut was over this morning. Leave.”
“Of course.” She packed her things and then gave a deep bow. “It was nice meeting you, Royal Brennon Cree.”
“Wish I could say the same, but thanks.” Brennon waited until she’d walked out of the living area and then slumped back on the couch, an unsettled gaze landing back on Gunho. “Are you going to drive me back to the Academy, or do I have to call a cab?”
“Stay,” he urged.
“No way in hell. While I appreciate the medical aid, I was serious about not wanting to have anything else to do with you. I’m not sure why you’re clinging either. I’m guessing you’ll be returning to your galaxy soon?”
“I’ve extended my stay. I’ll have to return eventually for something, but it won’t be right away.” Gunho knew he should be upfront. If he’d planned on finding his mate beforehand, this wouldn’t be an issue, but as it were, he was expected back on planet for his cousins’ birthday. The twins wouldn’t be pleased if he ditched them. That only gave them a couple of months to adjust.
“More of a reason not to start something with me.” Brennon rose to his feet. “I’ll apologize for walking in on you the other night and take responsibility for my part in what took place, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go.”
“I’m afraid that’s not good enough for me.”
He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m not going to let you go, Brennon.”
“That’s crazy. You don’t even know me.”
“Alphas choose their mates for all sorts of reasons.” Gunho shrugged. “We base most of that decision on instinct. My instincts have been telling me you’re mine since you came for the third time, while seated on my cock. You whimpered and even leaned forward, as though offering me your neck.”
“I wasn’t,” Brennon snapped. “You read into something that wasn’t there and made a mistake. This,” he pointed to thebite, “doesn’t even count as a mating mark. I’m not one of you. You can’t claim me.”
“Many other species use a bite to mark their intended,” Gunho argued. “That’s not exclusive to my kind.”
“Yeah, well, they don’t do that here on Vitality.”
“It’s already been done.” He sighed. “Do you like the house at least?”
“What?” Brennon glanced around at the vaulted ceiling and the large living space. “I mean, I guess? It’s nice. Is it the doctor’s?”
“It’s mine,” he corrected. “I purchased it while you were resting last night.”
The cadet blinked at him. “You bought a house? Here? Last night? Why?”
“We’ll need a place to live. I assumed you wouldn’t be willing to live on Glyph all year round. Unless you would?”
“No,” he said, hands tightening into fists at his sides. He was cute when he was angry, his cheeks flushed and his eyes turning intense. “I’m not leaving the planet, and I’m not living with you. Anywhere.”
“Mates can’t live apart.”
“I’m not your fucking mate!” Brennon took a step forward, but the coffee table between them prevented him from throwing a punch, like it was obvious he wanted to do. “We slept together, that’s all. It didn’t mean anything.”
“It might not have at first,” he said. “But it does now.”
“It doesn’t. I’m telling you it doesn’t. I’m saying I’m not interested in you, what part of that aren’t you getting?”
“The part where you wrongly believe it makes a difference.” Gunho smirked a bit cruelly when Brennon gasped and finally seemed to catch on. “I’ve claimed you. You’re mine. Whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t understand. You could take anyone. Why bother with me?”
“Because I can smell your pheromones, even if you aren’t one of my kind. I can scent you, and we’re a match. Finding you also helped me realize there was an obvious solution to my problem. I’d run all the way to this planet to hide from my grandfather’s schemes, but all I really had to do to stop him was take a mate. He can’t force a bond on me now. I’ve already filed the paperwork and declared you.”
