“Tell me you didn’t feel it. And be warned, Rigan, I will know your lie.” Ualan’s hand became bold on the front of her gown, rubbing at her in indecent strokes. “Tell me you weren’t begging my name with your lips.”
“I was drug—”
“Tell me you don’t want me inside of you even now. I can feel your heat burning into my hand even through your clothing.” To prove his point, he stroked her between the legs and she shivered. “Tell me you don’t want me to take you right here, to end the torment I put into you last night. I saw your passion, Rigan. I saw how you liked to watch. How you longed for me to take you the same way. I smelled you as you nearly came by my whip.”
“This is not happening,” Morrigan said in exasperation. Trying to sound reasonable in an unreasonable situation, she laid a shaking hand on his arm and pushed. Breaking up had never been so hard. Ualan let her go. Through gulping breaths, she managed, “I don’t want to fight with you about this. You will find someone, Ualan. Someone perfect who can stay here with you and bear your children, and cook and clean, and do everything your little barbaric heart desires. Someone who will know how to be a wife to you. I am not that girl.”
“You chose me. The gods chose you for me.”
“No, you came to me,” she said with logic. How could she fight cultural superstition? It was so frustratingly unreasonable. “All the rest is superstition.”
“It was willed by the gods. The crystal found you for me. You belong here. I will hear no more of this. Come, we go home.”
“Ualan, don’t. I will not be forced.”
“When you took off my mask and allowed me to speak freely, you chose,” he said. “You chose to be my wife and you chose to come to my tent. You were not forced to be with me. Insult my honor again, and I will not be lenient with you, wife.”
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King of Prey (King of Prey) by Mandy M. Roth
Book One
In a place where realms combine and portals open passages to the unknown, a prophecy speaks of fertility being restored to King Kabril’s people through the taking of his mate.
The prophecy neglects to mention she lacks something vital to his kind--wings. Kabril, king of the Buteos Regalis, has no interest in taking a human mate. His kind believe humans are dirty, vile creatures who rely on machines to lift them into the air. The last place he wants to go in search of his mate is the realm of Earth, but he's left no choice.
Never did he expect to find love on a planet with one moon, people who lack wings and a stubborn vixen who makes his heart soar. When he does, he fears the truth about who and what he truly is will steal it away. Little does he know his enemies fully intend on doing the taking.
King of Prey Excerpt
Kabril sorely missed the days of roaming about freely, shifting shapes and soaring anywhere his heart desired. He preferred the Tocallie Mountains in the Northern Region of Accipitridae because of their isolation and beauty. Waterfalls cut through the large, foliage-covered terrain creating a serene and secluded paradise. He’d often heard Earth possessed such places of beauty and wonder but had never seen them with his own eyes, so he was skeptical.
The Tocallie Mountains were favored by him for another reason—it was one of the largest portals to and from Earth. A place where, over the years, many of the humans’ flying machines entered from a spot on Earth they called the Bermuda Triangle. Though rumor had it that other spots fed into the Tocallie portal too. Additional portals throughout his kingdom served as gateways from other regions of Earth but none were as active as Tocallie.
As much as he disliked the humans and their flying machines, he did like to learn. Physics and medicine were two of his favorite areas of study—neither of which a king had any use for. Still, that didn’t stop Kabril from seeking out new sources for learning. He had even gone so far as to hire tutors to instruct him on the ways of medicine and treating animals. While he could always resort to his magiks, it seemed more of a challenge to do it the way humans did. More rewarding as well.
Sachin cleared his throat, drawing Kabril from his thoughts. “My lord.”
“What did I miss this time?” Kabril asked, already annoyed with the man.
A chortle broke free from Sachin. “Did the ‘my lord’ give it away?”
“Yes.” Kabril cast a speculative glance at his long-time friend. “You would rather eat flankscud pie than my lord me. You show me no respect. You should fear me. Most do.”
Sachin shrugged. “They are fools, for I know you.”
Kabril cast a sideways glance at his lifelong friend. He should have selected anyone other than Sachin as a head advisor. Sachin was too headstrong.
Had you, you’d never trust them the same.
Sachin beamed. “You would not make it a day without me. Stop dreaming it so.” He was right. Never one to refrain from disagreeing with Kabril, Sachin was a breath of fresh air in a sea of followers. “I was saying you should visit your soon-to-be bride and win her trust.”
“Win her trust?” he echoed, afraid his hearing had gone awry. Surely this was a conversation just to get a rise out of Kabril. Sachin could not be serious. Why would it matter to Kabril if his bride-to-be trusted him? He had no plans to keep her. She was human after all.
Sachin’s lips trembled. It was easy to see his personal guard and trusted friend found great amusement at Kabril’s response. Sachin ran his hand over his black goatee and shook his head. “King Kabril, you must get to know the human, make her love you.”
Shocked, Kabril jolted, almost falling off his throne. “Surely, you jest. Get to know it? Make it love me?”
“Perhaps we should begin with you not referring to your future wife as ‘it’.” Sachin turned his head and Kabril knew it was to hide his smile. The moment his friend was composed, Sachin touched the dagger on his side. It was a nervous habit of Sachin’s. The man took great solace in the knowledge his weapons were close. His silver gaze landed on Kabril. “Tell me you were not planning on abducting your future wife.”
“I was actually planning on sending you to fetch her. I’ve no desire to visit Earth.” The very idea made his stomach turn. Sachin couldn’t really expect him to travel to a realm full of heathens. No king would. At best he would linger near the Tocallie portal while he sent one of his other guards through with orders to procure books and other learning tools.
“I am sorry, but I will not go unless you accompany me, my lord.”
“Do you dare to defy me?”
Sachin leaned down and grinned. “Kabril, do not make me knock your pampered arse from that chair. You can and will go with me to find your bride. You can and will get to know her. Befriend her even. You can and will get her to love you. If I can still tolerate you after all of these centuries, I am sure she will at least be somewhat fond of you.”
“Sachin?” he asked, his mouth agape. “Cease your blathering.”
“Do not Sachin me, my lord. And I will not cease my anything. I have known you all of my three hundred and ninety-five cycles. I am permitted to uncover your veiled eyes when called for.” He assumed a posture of superiority and shook slightly. It took Kabril a moment to realize Sachin was laughing.
Unable to stop himself, Kabril joined him, laughing from the gut. It felt good to release some of the tension he had locked away. In truth, Sachin knew him well. He knew that being direct worked to a certain degree. He also had a knack for taking an opposing view on a matter only to get Kabril to argue the point, all the while agreeing with Kabril. “Very well. It may be best for me to learn a few Earth customs.”
“Actually,” Sachin said, “I have something better in mind. May I suggest you alert the advisors you will be on Earth for many moons? Perhaps Rossi should be contacted to sit in while you are gone?”
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Shifter Fated Mates: Boxed Set Page 84