He bared his teeth at her. "Just because it's never been done before? Tonight, I'll do whatever it takes."
"You gamble with her life."
"First of all, it's our lives. If she dies, I'll follow her. Second of all, you've never seen a Lykae with more cause to be gentle with his mate." As he tenderly collected her in his arms, he appeared haunted with regret.
What had happened when she'd been out?
"Mother, you're not considering this?" Nieve's hand landed on . . . a sword hilt? "Your brothers will be furious." She moved to block the door.
"I believe your people owe me this," MacRieve said. "I'm taking my mate home. Now, get out of the bluidy way."
Undaunted, Nieve said, "Chloe needs to decide." In a flash of movement, she unsheathed her sword, pointing it at him. "This is her life, her decision."
"Aye. It is." He drew Chloe close to his warm, bare chest, pressing her against his heart. When he gazed down at her, it sped up. His eyes were gold and filled with an emotion she'd never seen in him. "It's no' my responsibility to feed you-it's my goddamned privilege. Let me do this."
"But my venom. You'll have to take it this time."
"Listen to me, mo chridhe. I crave any bond with you, will scour this earth for more. I want my body bound to yours, my soul chained to yours. Any tie I can find, I'll bind us even tighter. We'll have marriage, bairns, a new line between us!" In a hoarse voice, he said, "I can do this. For us, I can. I'm pleading with you, lass. Believe in me . . . ?"
Chapter Forty-Eight
Will charged past the incubi guards with his barely conscious mate secure in his arms. He leapt through the portal to hit the ground running in the Woods.
Chloe had trusted him, putting her life in his hands. If he weren't besieged by panic, he would howl to the world about such a female.
-SAVE HER!- Hundreds of years ago, his Instinct had commanded him thus. But he hadn't been able to save his mother. He gazed down at Chloe's limp body. "Just hold on, love!"
As he ran for Conall, the moon broke through the dispersing clouds, and its light began filtering through the treetops. If he was going to be the first Lykae to deny his beast on the night of a full moon, he needed to avoid its seductive light. He dodged beams if he could, each one like a sizzling ray of sensation.
Just get to the keep. Gisela had given him a potion for Chloe that would alleviate the worst of her pain, but only for a brief window. Get her to the keep, use the potion.
Then make love to her. Gently. Though he never had before.
When she moaned with pain, he doubted himself, his decision. I've done wrong. He'd known he was somehow to blame for this. His Instinct certainly had known. It had been guiding him to destroy Ruelle's memory, before Will destroyed his mate with his own poison.
Even now, he scented the lingering smoke from the cottage. The next rain would wash that stench away.
Right before he shot from the Woods, he thought he smelled another scent-the faintest hint of . . . the Old Ones, far in the distance. Not died out? They would hold no menace for Will or his mate-if she was claimed and marked with Will's bite.
Soon . . .
The keep was in sight. He'd have to cross the fields under the light. Could he prevent himself from turning and taking her in the grass?
Some benevolent fate smiled down on him, cloaking the moon with drifting clouds. "We're almost there, Chloe."
He bolted through the doorway, up the stairs with one great leap. In their room, he laid her on the bed, then dashed to the windows. Those bays were positioned to catch the moon's rise and set.
As he stretched out his arms to clasp the drapes, the moon emerged from the clouds; light blasted him like a spotlight.
He shuddered, his beast stirring. Will snatched the curtains closed, shaking his head hard. No, no' tonight! Stay in your goddamned cage!
Back to his mate. As gently as he could, he removed her clothes, slashing off his own, then grabbed the potion bottle.
Her shakes were growing worse, her teeth beginning to chatter. "MacRieve, it hurts so bad."
"I know, baby, I know exactly. Here." He opened the bottle. "You need tae get this down." He cupped the back of her head, raising her to drink. Some spilled down her lips. His chest twisted as he tenderly brushed the liquid away.
Now, waiting.
"What happened while I was out?" she asked in a hushed voice. "You're so . . . different."
He brushed her hair from her forehead. "I'll explain it all tomorrow. For now, just know that I meant what I said-I want everything from you."
Her eyes grew a touch brighter. "But how can you forget what I am? Once I feel better, surely I'll strew-"
He cut her off with a quick kiss. "You doona have that ability. A wee cambion like you has no control over me. You never did."
"What?"
"Imagine my shock, after I blamed everything on your strew. Ah, lass, I've so much tae make up for. Starting tonight." Just let me be her mate.
"Can you truly keep the beast caged?"
"I've avoided the moon as much as possible. I can do this for you, Chloe. For us."
"The pain's lessening. I feel a little stronger." The first move she made was to stroke his cheek. Heaven.
He'd fallen head over heels; he began to hope he could claim her heart as well.
If he could save her. Reminded of the clock, he began kissing her neck, trailing to her breasts. "This first time must be quick, before the potion wears off." All he had to do was be quick, yet gentle, and keep his beast at bay.
What could possibly go wrong?
As he took a nipple between his lips and started to suck, he dipped his hand between her thighs to sink a finger inside her. Gods, her silken sheath was so hot as it clenched his finger. Even in his panic, his cock went rock-hard for that tightness, moisture welling atop the crown.
By the time he'd moved to her other breast and wedged a second finger inside, she was rocking her hips, riding his fingers. Responding so perfectly.
"Is this better, lass?"
She nodded. "I'm ready. I think."
He would've liked to prepare her more, to take her to the very edge. They had no time. He moved between her legs, fisting his cock, aiming it against her opening. With a shallow roll of his hips, he began inching his length inside her. "Am I hurting you?"
Her eyes widened. "No, but something's different. . . ." She bit her bottom lip. "I, uh, just got a hint of what's to come, so to speak."
His precum. "I imagine those hints are no' in short supply. Even now, you've got me crazed for you."
She moaned, wriggling on his rod to get him deeper. "It's pure energy-like adrenaline. Stronger than I've ever known."
Because it's no longer tainted. Pressing wet kisses to her swollen breasts, he rocked between her taut thighs. When Chloe gripped his shoulders and met him, the beast gloried in her wellness and wanted its turn inside her. This was the first full moon with their mate; the night was the beast's by right.
And the beast wanted its due.
Will refused it. He skimmed his fingers down Chloe's side, then reached between them to stroke her clitoris. He groaned to find that little bud so firm and sensitive.