War of Hearts(86)

Thea had never felt more cherished.

“Conall,” she whispered, wondering if he could hear how much she loved him in that one word.

Because the truth was she did love him.

Thea realized that the moment she thought she’d lost him forever.

“One day, very soon,” Conall said, his voice gruff with a strange mix of tenderness and rage, “I will help you eviscerate the bastard.”

Knowing he meant Ashforth, Thea turned to face Conall. He immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his body. His equally naked body.

“You undressed me.”

“You fell asleep, and you felt warm.” He frowned, gently picking up her hand to press a kiss to her bandaged wrist. It still throbbed. “Too warm.”

“I’m okay,” she reassured him. “It just takes a little longer to heal. It should be good in a day or two.” Tracing her fingers along his stubbled cheeks, Thea drew in a deep breath as she prepared herself to make her proposal. Even though she knew Conall seemed perfectly content with the idea they were mates, that they were permanent, she still feared he’d reject her idea. It would mean a different kind of permanency between them. “I’ve been thinking.”

He reached for her fingertips and pressed a playful kiss to them. “About?”

“About bringing so much trouble to the pack.” She ignored his frown and forged ahead. “The Canids will be pissed about the broken betrothal and let’s not forget that I’m a constant source of danger for your people.”

Conall pushed up, bracing his elbow against the pillow so he could rest his head in his palm. Thea tried not to get distracted at the way his biceps flexed. It reminded her of his muscles flexing during sex, and now was not the time.

“Thea, the Canids will understand. After all it’s better I found you now than after a marriage arrangement with Sienna.”

The mere thought of Conall marrying another woman made her stomach lurch unpleasantly. The possessive anger that heated her blood never failed to surprise her. She hadn’t thought herself capable of territorialism. It was animalistic and primal and a little embarrassing.

She knew she’d failed to hide what she was feeling by the smug quirk to Conall’s mouth. “Are you sure you’re not part wolf?” He bent his head to nuzzle her face, his stubble scratching pleasantly against her cheek. “You’re possessive enough.”

What a helpful segue. “Speaking of …” Thea pulled back to look into his eyes. She wondered if he could hear her heart pounding. “Vik told us that story about the fae woman whose mate turned her into a wolf …”

He looked confused by the mention of the story and then understanding quickly dawned. Conall jerked away from her, his features taut with tension. “Aye, he also said another fae died from the werewolf’s bite.”

Thea could already feel her heart faltering with his coming rejection. Still, she persevered. “Shouldn’t we consider it? If I’m not fae, if I become a werewolf instead, then I’ll no longer be a target—and the pack, you, won’t be in danger.” Forcing herself not to run from his horrible silence, Thea instead snuggled into him, pressing her forehead to his throat. “I don’t want to live forever.” Not without you.

His hands tightened on her biceps.

Then he pushed her away.

Thea watched, angry and dejected, as Conall rolled across the bed and got out. His movements were jerky, agitated as he hauled up his underwear and jeans. “We dinnae even know if you are fae.”

She swallowed past the lump of hurt in her throat and sat up. “But we know there are people out there who believe I am and that’s what matters. If I was like you, we wouldn’t have to worry. And I wouldn’t have to watch you grow old and die while I stayed stuck like this for eternity.”

If he heard the bitterness or heartbreak in her voice, he didn’t show it.

“But if you don’t want me to be one of your pack, I get it.”

Conall had been mid-stride across the room, seemingly in pursuit of his T-shirt, when he halted and turned to look at her with such incredulous anger, she flinched. “You’re my mate,” he bit out. “You’re already a member of my fucking pack. It isnae about that. It’s about the fifty-fifty chance that my bite could kill you. So the answer is no.”

Outrage swamped Thea at his high-handed dominance. She threw back the covers. “It’s not up to you.” She crossed the room, avoiding him as she reached for her own clothes. Pulling on her underwear, she couldn’t even look at him. “It’s my goddamn body, Conall. My life. My decision.”

“You’re my mate.” The words sounded torn from him, drawing Thea’s regard. His expression was haggard. “Life-altering decisions are made together.” He moved to her, his eyes dragging down her half-naked body and back up again. “Your life is now my life. Your body is now my body.”

Thea inwardly shuddered against the magnetic pull of their bond. She wanted to launch herself into his arms so they could take out their frustration on each other but … she’d made her own decisions for years. No one, not even Conall, would take that independence away from her.

She turned away, pulling her shirt over her head. As she shrugged it down, her voice was ice. “Caveman bullshit.” She glared at him over her shoulder. “Ashforth took away my choices for six years. I’ve been fighting for the right to own myself for another six. Whatever this is between us, I don’t belong to you. I belong to myself.”