Page 109 of Thirst
But give her up?
No fucking way.
30
Nyx
Cain’s energy battered at the barrier I’d thrown up between us. Edgy, controlled and a little dark, like the man himself. It sang to me like a siren, a whirlpool of instinct and temptation dragging at my chest.
I tensed, fingernails biting into the couch’s cotton back, resisting with everything I had.
And then, just like that, the edgy, magnetic pressure cut off.
Cain scraped a hand through his hair, leaving it sticking up like a baby chick’s, the vulnerability in his face squeezing my heart. “I should go.”
“Yes,” I whispered, unable to say anything else without breaking, giving in.
And I couldn’t—for his sake.
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Right, well...”
Neither of us moved. We just stood there staring at each other, like the gods had pressed pause on the world.
The ironic thing was, I trusted him now, believed this thing was real for both of us. That brief connection had shown me how much I meant to him. I knew him now in a way I hadn’t before. His hungers, his truths, even the lies he carried like scars.
And Sweet Luna, the bond had been beautiful, a shimmer of color and need stretching between us.
Every part of me ached to accept him as my mate, to be claimed, and claim him in turn. It felt like I’d stomped on not just his heart, but my own.
But he couldn’t know that. Not until Perla was safe.
Because if our plan to rescue her failed, I had a backup. I’d lie—tell Nazaire I’d already mated with Cain—and then offer myself in trade for Perla. He’d jump at it because if he had Cain’s mate, he had Cain, too. The lie would buy the Maritime vampires time to get her out.
So no—I couldn’t accept Cain’s mate bond tonight. If something went wrong and I ended in my final grave, I’d take him down with me.
If he hadn’t shut down so fast, he might’ve figured out what I planned. But he’d curled into himself like a wounded animal.
Because of me.
I licked my lips.
I’d hurt Cain. My lethal, iron-willed vampire—he had a heart, and it could be wounded.
But I’d known that, hadn’t I? I wouldn’t have fallen for him otherwise. I’d seen how he was with his friends, how he’d do anything for them and their mates.
The heaviness of what I’d done—with what I might have to do—pressed against my chest, my throat. I could hardly breathe.
But I couldn’t live with myself if I stood by and let Nazaire torture Perla.
Cain moved first. “Tomorrow night, then,” he said and headed for the door.
My fingers unclenched from the soft cotton. “Stay,” I said hoarsely.
He turned back. “What?”
I cleared my throat, knowing I should let him leave. But I couldn’t, not like this. “Stay. Please.”
His brow furrowed. “What about needing time?”
