Page 62 of Ravenous

After regaining his senses, he’d growled low. No wonder the demon courier had looked dazed. He’d scented her release too!

Thane had readied a piece of parchment and responded to her in kind—his culmination for hers—with a thicker envelope and no words. The volume spoke volumes.

Despite the envelope, Jastorgh had known what he was about to deliver. Before the demon had disappeared, he’d winked. “This is truly a golden age of correspondence!”

Now, as the sun slipped toward the sea, Thane paced again, awaiting a reply—and moonrise. Tonight would be grueling.

The more he learned about his mate, the more he desired a future with her. Yet it was forever out of reach. Even if he could somehow win her, this realm would never allow their union.

Not that Ditch wanted to be with him. She played with him only to gain the upper hand for her coven.

If fate meant to punish him, she’d chosen well—temptation married to torment. He cast his mind back, searching for some punishable sin. He’d done nothing to warrant having an enemy mate.

When Jastorgh returned at last, the demon’s grin was too wide. “The most fun I’ve had in ages. I feel like I’ve bedded both of you.”

“Begone.” Thane opened her seal.

Wolf,

Your offering was acceptable. More is required. Unless you’d like me to consume your semen-stained paper, we should meet tonight.

D

Offering. Required.

Those words hit like fists. His mate demanded worship, and gods help him, he wanted to give it. In turn, he wanted her to tame him for a spell—right before he unleashed himself and his beast to master her as well.

To fuck and claim. To bite and mark.

Did she already suspect she was his fated female? Had her letters been devised to test him?Establish the wolf’s sexual interest, then extend an invitation for more on the one telling night of the calendar.

Cagey witch. His refusal to meet tonight would be a glaring red flag.

As ever, he was to be denied what he desired and left hungry. He clenched his jaw and scrawled a final reply.

Kingdom business. Another time.

Thane

Jastorgh had just vanished with the letter when banging sounded on Thane’s chamber door.

Lowell barged in, keys jangling like broken chains. “No more putting me off, damn it!”

Thane tensed. “Why the hells do you have keys to my private quarters?”

“I’m the steward,” Lowell said, unapologetic as ever. “I’ve got keys to everywhere. If you doona like it, fire me.”

Thane ground his teeth.The kingdom wouldn’t last a day if I did.He’d been blessed with brilliant seneschals all his life—until he’d literally lost his last one, the best of them all.

Ailsa.

He’d brought Lowell on not for administrative skill but because the teenage tracker had been legendary for his nose, for the way he could find anything or anyone, even through storms and illusions. Thane had prayed he could find Ailsa. But it was as if she’d been erased from the Skein.

Still, the lad had worked himself into indispensability, quietly taking over every task Thane least enjoyed. Which only made him more irritating now.

Lowell wrinkled his nose, waving his hand as if warding off a stench. “Gods, it reeks in here! Crack a bloody window if you’re going to spill seed like a callow lad who’s just discovered what his cock can do.”

“You’re trying my patience.”