Page 25 of Shadow Weaver
Eight
Igot as far as the courtyard when Hyde intercepted me. He grabbed my elbow and drew me up against the side of the second-year tower.
“Listen to me,” he said.
My anger was a bubbling, seething thing. “No. I have nothing to say to you. Get your hands off me.”
He released me immediately and took a step back, palms up. “I did you a favor.”
A favor? “I could have fed off someone else.”
“Who? Brady?”
“Yes, Brady. Why not Brady?”
He frowned. “Do you know what he is?”
“What he is? Don’t you mean who he is? He’s a feyblood. A scary one.”
“He’s ogre-tainted. Rare, dangerous, and fucking nuts when it comes to their mated females.”
“And what the hell has that got to do with me?”
He ran a hand over his face. “Did your parents not teach you anything?”
I gave him a flat look, and he had the grace to wince. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. But I’m concerned. I think Brady may be vetting you as a potential mate.”
He was insane. “You’re crazy. But if this makes you feel better about groping up on me, then fine. Whatever.” I made to turn away.
“Ogres never share their food,” he said. “They don’t share their personal space, and they don’t prepare food or drink for another female. Not unless they consider her mate material.”
I froze. The cocoa, the bunk, the stew … Shit. I turned back to face Hyde. “He wants to mate with me?”
“Ogres mate for life, Justice.” He looked pained. “Brady’s a good guy and you two … You two work well together. If that’s what you want, then move forward.”
“Move forward.”
“Consummate.” Hyde cleared his throat. “Consummation seals the deal. After that, he’s yours. Forever.”
He’s mine? “What about my being his?”
“The mating bond is rarely two-way. Not unless you can find a female ogre-tainted. They’re super rare.”
Oh, God, that had to suck for Brady. He could find his mate, have sex with her, and seal the deal, but she could decide she didn’t want him in a year or so. It was unfair and painful.
And he wanted to give himself to me? The thought was warming, comforting, but frightening too.
I cared about him. He was my safe zone, my happy place, but that was all … right?
Hyde was studying me with a guarded expression. “I want you to be happy, Justice. And that won’t be with me.”
He meant it. He believed it. “Why? I don’t understand?”
He tucked in his chin. “I can’t give you what you want, and you can’t give me what I need.”
“But Deana can?” There was bitterness in my tone.
He locked gazes with me. “Yes.” He took a deep breath and backed away from me. “Get some rest. There’s a long week ahead.”
