Page 2 of Ransomed to the World
He gave her a confused look. “Trolls don’t get sick.”
It was her turn to frown, but she kept silent about her concern, promising she’d keep a closer eye on him. Maybe it was just the stress of returning home. She had to admit, it bothered her as well. “I’m not looking forward to being in troll territory.”
Especially since the trolls had always treated Mason as a second-class citizen for being born half troll.
Now they were demanding his presence.
It was fucking suspicious timing, and she couldn’t get over the feeling that the trolls were setting them up.
Mason tipped her face up, his pink hair swaying toward her, and he stole a light caress along her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “It’s the safest place for you until we’ve had time to complete your training. Not to mention you must lay claim to me in front of my tribe for the mating ritual to be complete.” He winced, dropping his gaze and fussing with tying her bag to his pack, looking nervous and uncertain. Even his hair wilted, subdued. “It’s a silly custom, but they won’t recognize the claim until you do.”
Most people found Mason’s size and slightly exaggerated facial features intimidating. Hell, she actually saw him crush a car with his bare hands, but he’d only ever been gentle with her.
She trusted him with her life.
He would never hurt her, and it pained her that he didn’t believe he could be himself around her.
Annora stepped into his personal space, placed her hand on his chest. He froze at her touch, then he slowly lifted his eyes to hers, the vulnerability in them slaying her. “I have no problem laying claim to you in front of your entire family—or the world for that matter. I’m honored to have you. I just don’t trust them not to try and keep us apart.”
His face softened at her vow, and he flashed her a crooked smile, but it didn’t banish the despair lurking in his lavender eyes. “You’re right not to trust them. Though my standing in the tribe is less than a slave, they’ll find any way to make you pay for claiming me. Don’t let them fool you. Don’t allow them to demand more than I’m worth.”
He was fucking serious.
Annora could only gape at him, rage burning in her gut that they dared to treat him as something less than worthless.
Darkness from the afterworld seeped out of her skin. The grass withered, turning brown and brittle under her feet, the very air murky. She took a deep breath to calm herself, the dark particles floated back to earth like ash, and the sun peeked through the trees once more.
She reached up, slid her fingers into his hair, and brushed them along the crown of horns that rimmed his head, then yanked him down toward her. “Say that again, and I’m going to have to kick your ass. And don’t think I won’t find a way to do it, either. You are worth more than all the rest of your clan put together. If they think they’re going to keep you from me, I’ll bring the mountain down on top of them, so it’ll take years for them to dig themselves out. You’re mine. They gave up any right to you long ago.”
She smashed her lips to his, then nearly squeaked when their heavy bags plunked down next to her with a thump. Mason plucked her up off the ground and wrapped her in his arms. He devoured her with a kiss, like he couldn’t get enough, and she tightened her arms around him, wrapping her legs around his waist.
It was only when the rough bark of the tree pressed against her back did she lift her head, breaking the kiss. His lavender eyes were dark with lust, his chest heaving, but it was the complete devotion on his face that caused her insides to twist.
“Don’t let them take you away from me. Don’t give up on us. If they want a fight, I’ll bring it to them. I’m not letting you go. Ever.” She caressed his cheek, pressing her forehead against his, determined to make him believe it. “Understand?”
A growl vibrated in his chest, his fangs more prominent as they peeked out between his lips, pure possessiveness etched on his face as he studied her. “Yes.”
At his husky rumble, her thighs tightened around him, lust nearly pulling her back under. His smile turned cocky, more predatory, when he inhaled deeply, and she hid her heated face against his shoulder.
No doubt if he could smell her arousal, so could the others.
But she refused to feel too embarrassed.
Two weeks had passed, and none of the guys had touched her romantically.
Not even once.
Damn it to hell, they barely came within a foot of her, let alone gave her anything more than a paltry peck on the cheek.
They were fucking driving her batty with denied lust.
Not that she had much time to do anything after the rigorous training schedule the guys created. It was a struggle to even stay awake and watch their nightly movie with Logan without conking out after ten minutes. Nonstop combat, phantom, and magical training left her nothing more than a wrung out rag by the end of the day.
But she was getting better.
Every day, she was learning, getting faster, getting stronger.
She hoped getting them away from the school would help them see her as their mate again instead of a student to run into the ground.
