Chapter 11 — Lilith POV
"Hunter?" I asked, feigning ignorance. I wondered where Scarlett had disappeared to. Had she gone hunting, or gone straight to Morgan to report what she saw?
Wherever she went, she was a free woman — but I was caged in this house, trying to complete a task. At first, the task had seemed easy, but with Maverick resisting the bond, it was impossibly hard.
When was he going to give in? When would I have the opportunity to kill him and return to Blackheart?
"You know exactly what I mean." He scanned the room, nostrils flaring. "I smell magic in the air. What happened while I was away?"
"Sylvia, the maid you assigned to me, forced me to wash dishes even though that was her work. I slept, woke up, bathed, she left, and you found me eating," I explained.
That Sylvia bitch. There wasn't a moment I didn't think about killing her. It must feel good for her to have control over the most powerful hunter, but it made me feel pathetic. Even with my magic returned, I still couldn't use it. I wanted to kill the Lycan King right now.
"That's not what I mean," he said. "Did you invite a hunter in?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." I took a sip of apple juice.
He moved fast, charging toward me. But before he reached me, I threw the bread knife at him. He swiftly caught it.
"That's my response to your question." I grinned.
A shadow fell across his face as he pinned me against the wall, his hand around my neck.
I smirked. "What would Davina think if she found us like this?"
He frowned.
"Wouldn't make a good impression, would it? Considering you already lied to her that you kept me locked in the hunters' prison, when in reality, you brought me here and have been secretly seeing me for the past few days," I murmured.
"Don't." His jaw clenched.
"Don't what?"
He swiftly released my neck, stepping back. Running his fingers through his hair, he muttered, "How long will I continue to endure this?"
Before I could answer, his phone buzzed. He looked down, typed something, then lifted his head.
"Prepare," he said. "We found a priestess who can help break the bond."
"We?"
"Cain has been searching for any moon priestess with experience to break a mate bond, and fortunately for us, we found one."
My eyes widened. If the priestess broke the bond between us, I would be doomed. I wouldn't be able to seduce Maverick, and the throne would pass to Scarlett.
Scarlett, Queen of Blackheart. Scarlett, whom everyone would respect, fear and bow to. Whereas me, the failure to her clan. Everyone would view me weak.
No. I angrily pushed the image from my head.
Raising my eyes to Maverick, I slowly tugged the bond between us. I allowed myself to feel the current surging through my veins. I could sense his heartbeat quickening, his body heating up with desire.
"What have you done to me?" he whispered, feet dragging him closer. He was so close I could feel his warm breath on my face.
His hand trailed across my cheek, caressing my skin, moving into my hair as he breathed in my scent. Then, almost as if my charm had faded, he pushed himself backward.
"You should… prepare," he said.
But I stepped closer, letting his hand slide down my waist without breaking eye contact. He held my waist like he wanted nothing more than to rip the clothes from my body.
Even though I felt repulsed by the touch of a Lycan, I indulged in the desire of the mating bond, and it drew me closer to him.
It was strange how the bond worked. Two people could hate each other to the point of wanting the other dead, but when the bond was involved, they felt nothing but desire. The purity of it could wash away any hatred.
I dared to hold his gaze. His eyes darkened at my intention.
Desire glimmered in his body as I pulled the bond tight. His grip on my waist hardened.
When his fingers rubbed against my skin, the bond caused butterflies to dance in my stomach.
"I shouldn't be doing this," he said, trying to resist the pull.
"The moon goddess blessed us with this bond. Why then do you try to resist her blessing?"
I thought of the men I'd kissed — how easily they wanted me when I used seduction. But this male… this Lycan male… even with the bond, he resisted me.
I made a bold move, tugging at his suit while staring at his lips. He stared back with pure hunger.
"Go on," I whispered. "I know you want to try."
"I can't."
How was he able to resist this hard, even when I was using both magic and the bond?
Pouring my magic through the connection, my hold on the Lycan King tightened. Without warning, he pushed me against the wall and claimed my lips.
I moaned in relief as he gave in to desire. The kiss wasn't like any other. He sucked on my lips, claiming me in ways I couldn't imagine. My hands roamed his chest as he deepened the kiss.
I shoved aside the thought that he was my enemy, that I despised him, that he'd killed thousands of my people. That everything about this bond was wrong. Yet, I would do anything to claim the Blackheart throne.
I hung my hands on his shoulders, forcing myself to indulge in the desire the bond gave me. He kissed me with passion, with ravenous hunger, until it was hard to breathe — until he claimed every ounce of air from my lungs, until I wanted nothing more than to lose myself in his arms.
And suddenly, just as I had projected the vision in his head, it slipped away as he tightened his grip around my neck.
I smiled. "Did you enjoy it?"