Page 99 of Twilight of Embers
“It’s not your fault.”
He whirled, stalking toward me. “You don’t understand. You didn’t grow up in this world. It’s bred into us, a biological need to protect our partner. I failed. Just like I failed again yesterday. You should run, Mo Ghràidh. Because I’ll ruin you in every way possible.”
Maddox stopped a mere inch from me. My ragged breaths made my breasts press against his torso, but I didn’t move. “I’m not afraid.”
“Now who’s lying?” he challenged.
Heat swept through my skin, a mixture of anger and embarrassment. I moved without thinking, closing the distance and taking his mouth.
The moment his taste exploded on my tongue, I moaned.
The sound broke something in Maddox. He growled into my mouth, hauling me against him. His hardening dick pressed against my belly, only stoking the flames between us. He took and took, his hands digging into my ass as he pressed me harder against himself.
One hand grabbed my sweatshirt and tee, hauling them over my head. And then his mouth was back on mine. Maddox trailed kisses and nips down my throat.
I was so lost in the sensation that I didn’t hear the door.
“Mad—oh, shit,” Knox mumbled.
Maddox dropped me like I was a branding iron. I stumbled backward, almost falling on my ass.
His eyes were wild, jumping between me and Knox before finally settling on me. “This will never happen again. Stay the hell away from me.”
And then he was gone, leaving me in nothing but my bra and sweats, staring after him.
49
HAYDEN
I was quiet on the ride to campus. I sat in the back seat of Easton’s G-Wagon, staring out the window. I could feel Knox’s periodic glances from the front seat and Cáel’s worry from beside me. But I ignored them both. For once, I was grateful for Easton’s cool indifference.
Maddox had made sure he got the distance he wanted. I hadn’t seen him again. Knox had apologized over and over again, but it wasn’t his fault. He’d gently helped me back into my sweatshirt and kissed me so tenderly, I’d almost started crying.
Even now, the pressure behind my eyes was brutal. But I wouldn’t give in. I worried if I let myself break now, I’d never stop crying. There was too much swirling in my head. Dragons. An entire supernatural world. My parents. My mates.
My stomach twisted on that last thought. Two mates who wanted nothing to do with me. But fate, or whatever ruled the supernatural world, had chained them to me.
Guilt swirled. They shouldn’t be forced into this.
Easton pulled into a parking spot in back of the science building, two blacked-out SUVs taking the spots on either side of us. Cillian had insisted on eight guards accompanying us to campus, and Maddox had secured us all special passes to park in the faculty lot. No one thought the Corbetts would make a move right away, but they weren’t taking any chances.
I grabbed my backpack and opened my door. Four enforcers waited. They were dressed casually, but they stuck out like a sore thumb. How they thought they were going to get away with following me everywhere, I had no idea.
Knox pulled me into a hug. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
But that wasn’t a promise he could make. So, I didn’t respond.
Easton cleared his throat. “We’re going to be late to psych.”
Knox reluctantly released me but not before brushing his lips across mine. “Text me if you need me.” He glanced behind me at his brother. “Stick close. Cáel and I will meet you after class, and the enforcers will be patrolling the building.”
“I know,” Easton grumbled.
Cáel moved in, kissing me deeply. “Be safe, Little One.”
What I wanted was to ask Cáel and Knox to hide me away somewhere I could forget all about the events of the past few days. But I wasn’t about to let my scholarship go down the drain. “I will,” I promised.
Cáel released me, and as I started toward the building, Easton fell into step next to me. He held the door open, and I stepped inside. Students milled around, finding their way to various classes.
