Page 67 of Ransomed to the World
She was the only thing that mattered to him now.
The silence between them grated on his nerves. He had to know what she was thinking.
Only her opinion mattered to him.
He turned, startled to find her right behind him.
Then she pulled back her arm and punched him in the gut so hard he grunted, the air leaving his lungs in a rush.
“Shit.” Annora danced around, shaking out her hand. “You asshole! You had no right to make that decision on your own and sneak off to meet with your mother. You—”
“You’re my mate!” Xander roared and clenched his fists to keep himself from picking her up and shaking her silly. “Like fuck was I just going to let you walk into danger. It was my decision to make.”
Instead of backing down, she marched right up to him and poked him in the chest, punctuating each word with another poke. “You. Had. No. Right.”
He caught her wrists and jerked her close, growling when she squirmed against him. He bit back a groan when he hardened at her nearness, and he struggled to keep his lust in check.
She pressed her forehead against his chest, a whisper floating up to him. “I could’ve lost you.”
“Never.” He tucked her close, dipping his head to nuzzle her neck. “I would never leave you.”
She pulled away, glaring up at him, and he pressed his lips together to stifle his grin. She’d rage at him all over again if she figured out that he found her anger sexy as fuck. She turned to face the others, purposely standing in front of him again, as if to protect him, and he couldn’t hold back a grin at her fiercely protective side.
“Youwillleave him alone.” It wasn’t a question.
“Monarch—”
“I am no ruler.” Xander recoiled and shook his head. He couldn’t imagine a life without Annora. She was more important to him than any crown. “I abdicate my throne.”
“Xander…your people need you,” his cousin protested. “They need—”
“My line has done enough damage.” Xander waved off his friend’s protest. “It’s time for someone else to stand up and do what’s best for the pride—and that would be Isla. She technically killed the last of the line, so she has won the right to rule.”
Isla jerked in surprise, then stood up straighter. She glanced at Annora cautiously, calculation in her eyes, and he barely resisted the urge to shove Annora behind him.
“You rescind your claim on the crown?” The question wasn’t directed at him.
Annora stepped back, bumping into him, and replied with a firm shake of her head. “But I’m not… You were first… Ah, all yours?”
Isla relaxed slightly, then glanced at them both. “You and your mate are welcome back to the pride at any time. If you ever need anything, call on us. We’ll fight with you.”
Shock went through him, and he dropped down to one knee and bowed his head. The other three guys followed his lead. Annora lingered at his side, so he grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
A minute later, the four gryphons shifted, galloped toward the cliff, and leapt off with a victory cry. Xander rose to his feet and watched them leave. He grabbed Annora close, kissing the top of her head, wondering how he got so fucking lucky to have found her.
He considered giving up the crown a good trade if it meant he got to keep her in his life.
“Come.” He reluctantly pulled away from Annora, collected her dropped blade, and returned it to her with a bow, his chest swelling with pride that he’d managed to find such a fierce mate. “The guys will have noticed your absence by now. If I don’t get you back soon, they’re going to tan both our hides.”
Chapter Eighteen
Annora followed Xander as they dodged the troops patrolling outside the city grounds. There were twice as many guards as there were when they first escaped an hour ago, and she wondered if using her powers so close to the wall had somehow triggered an alarm.
“Xander…” She was at a loss about how to apologize for what happened. She tried to kill his mother. She would’ve killed her if Isla hadn’t taken her head first. “I—”
“Stop.” He grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her close. “If I’d had the chance to kill your uncle, I wouldn’t have hesitated. My mother was no different.”
Her mind stalled at the comparison, and she shifted to what really bothered her. “Why would you allow her to take your wings?”
