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remain Human. I must return home. You must forget I exist, Aria, or my king will send
someone to execute you. Deny all you know about shape-shifters and the Fae . . . save
your life."
He watched Aria's fingers bunch up in the crumpled sheets, her beautiful eyes
flooding with tears. Her skin had turned stark white and her bottom lip protruded like
a scolded infant. He wanted to scoop her into his arms and comfort her, to be with her
forever.
"W-who do you l-love, Rio; I've the r-right to know." Her delicate body
shuddered with sobs; tears ran unrestrained down her pale cheeks.
Rio rubbed both hands over his face. How could this be happening? He loved her,
there was no doubt. He wanted to be with her. How could he survive without her,
without Tanz? Arious, I beg you, speak to your mate. Tell her I love them both and will have no
other.
He waited for an answer to this plea to his god. He looked at Aria but she
remained as Human as before.
"I've love in my heart for Tanz, a Fae male, and I believed we were all to be
together."
"I w-would be glad of half of your l-love, Rio. I b-beg you to reconsider l-leaving.
P-perhaps if you b-bite me again?"
Rio shook his head and reached for his clothes. He dressed quickly, trying to
block out Aria's heart rendering sobs. He must leave now, before his will crumpled and
he went to her. He pulled the bundle of money from his pocket and placed it on the
nightstand. He lifted the Lady's book with reverence and pushed it into his pocket.
"Y-you're paying me off like a . . . c-cheap s-slut? Oh . . . how c-could you d-do
this to me . . . l-love you . . . you . . . f-fool."
"I do love you. I bit you because I've never loved any other female, Aria, and I
want to be with you . . . but it's not going to happen. I'm forbidden to take a Human
through the Gate. If I arrived with you like this, the guard would slaughter you. I won't
let that happen, Aria."
"S-stay, p-please, it w-will be o-okay," she sobbed, wiping the tears from her
cheeks with the edge of the sheet.
"I don't belong in this world. Even if I could take you to Dryad, it wouldn't be
fair when I find my true mate I'd leave you . . . and you don't deserve that. The Lady
has deemed we're not suited so I must continue my search. It's my duty as a Knight
Watch prince to seek my true mate and I've no control over the Lady's decision. I ask
your forgiveness, Aria . . . please . . . it was never my intention to hurt you. I can't live
with your hatred."
"I c-could never h-hate you. This is a t-terrible mistake. I k-know I'm yours, Rio,
and I w-will never forget you. If you must leave t-take my love with you and k-know I'll
wait f-forever," she replied, wiping the back of her hand over her red-rimmed eyes.
Rio took a deep breath and turned to look at her for the last time. Regret stabbed
through him. He burned her image into his memory and drank in her intoxicating
scent. He would remember her pain every day of his miserable life. He must do his
duty and take the book back to Blaise. Then, he would push her into a special place in
his mind together with his memory of Tanz. He would take this punishment with his
head held high and behave like a Knight Watch prince. He cast the spell to open the
Circle of Light and stepped through without looking back.
Chapter Eleven
Aria sobbed and stared at the empty place where Rio last stood. Hunger rolled in
her belly but she remained in the bed, hoping he would return to her. Hours had gone
by and the weak winter sun had already slipped from view, turning the empty room to
shadowy twilight. She moaned, a part of her dying with every second without him.
How could this be happening? This pain could not possibly be from a one-night stand.
She needed him and the scent of him on the sheets was driving her crazy. Lust
thrummed through her entire body; her heart hurt as if a thousand arrows had
embedded in her brain. Her soaking pussy throbbed with need.
"You're wrong, Rio," she screamed into the stillness."I can hear the cat in my
head . . . I've heard its voice before. I didn't tell you because I thought I was going mad .
. . I need you, ple-a-se come back . . . ple-a-ese." She rolled into a ball as pain and lust
racked her body.
"Dear God help me."
* * * * *
Rio ignored the friendly greetings from the servants and took the steps two at a
time to the king's solar, the euphoria he usually enjoyed returning to Feltich Castle
subdued with the grief of leaving Aria. Gods, Aria, how deeply had he cut her? How he
wished he could go back and to hell with the Knight Watch, the Lady and the Fae.
He paused at the heavy mahogany door to Blaise's solar and nodded to the
guard. Knocking twice, he turned the heavy copper doorknob and entered. Laughter
met his ears and the sound of a child's giggle. He stopped, heart aching, and watched
Blaise tickle his son. Now that Aria was lost to him, he realized he would never enjoy [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]