Masked Fate (Fated Love #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Pandora

“You didn’t even have the contraceptive conversation?” Astrid asks with a smirk, and she watches me down the herbal tea.

I shake my head. “No, and I haven’t been on anything. I assume he is, though, because he hasn’t knocked up any of his pets.”

Astrid arches her brow at that.

My words sound bitter even to my ears.

Soren and I made a quick zip back to my kingdom, and everything was as I left it. If Ebony has any other friends or supporters who would be angry over her death, none have made any moves. I don’t know if they will. It wasn’t like she was the kind of person who instilled any loyalty.

“What about with August?”

“He pulled out,” I admit, wincing. It’s not the best form of birth control. Imagine if he got me pregnant?

Soren would have loved that.

Speaking of the devil, of course, Soren chooses that moment to step into the kitchen, looking for me.

“Who pulled out?” he asks, his gray eyes darkening like a threatening storm.

Astrid and I go dead silent, and even in this tense moment, I can’t help but notice how his muscles are straining against his black tunic.

“Pandora,” he barks, and my eyes lift from his biceps.

“Nothing, just girl talk,” I reply, rolling my eyes.

He’s trying to reign in his temper and failing, his gray eyes flickering with a promise of death. I shouldn’t find his jealousy so sexy, but after all the women I had to see him with, I can’t help but get a small sense of satisfaction from this.

Call me petty, but it’s only fair that he feels what I had to.

His hand reaches out to grip the back of my neck, a possessive move that has me biting my lip.

“Fuck, I’ve created a monster,” he murmurs, kissing just underneath my ear. “Now, tell me what you were talking about.”

Astrid glances between us, clears her throat, and then makes for a hasty exit.

“We never spoke about birth control,” I say, tucking my hair back behind my ear. “So I just had some tea.”

“And August just pulled out and hoped for the best?” he hisses, fingers tightening on my nape. “I should have killed that bastard.”

“I mean, he might have been on the herbs, I don’t know. But I wasn’t, and when he pulled out, I assumed he wasn’t either,” I explain, licking my suddenly dry lips. “But now that we’re sleeping with each other regularly, I thought I’d take some in case you haven’t.”

“I’ve always been careful,” he promises, softly kissing my lips. “I’ve never wanted to have any children with anyone other than my mate.”

“So there are no little Sorens out there?” I ask, the thought making me feel slightly ill.

He laughs. “No, definitely not.” His hands move to touch my stomach. “Only you will be the mother of my children, little witch. And if I get you pregnant, I’d be the happiest male alive.”

“What, even if I get pregnant right now?” I ask, my eyes widening.

He kisses my forehead, and I can feel his grin against my skin. “Yes, even right fucking now. Stop taking the tea. You don’t need it.”

Because he takes it or because he wants to knock me up?

“You’re getting ahead of yourself. We haven’t even bonded,” I remind him.

“I’m ready when you are.”

“Soren—”

“I know what I want. I’m ready. I’m just waiting for you to catch up,” he murmurs, lifting me to sit on the wooden countertop and standing between my legs.

“If we bond, I might get your tracker magic, and then I’ll know exactly where you are at all times. We can chase each other around all eight kingdoms,” I tease.

If he gets my dark magic, it might be more of a curse than anything else.

Soren’s eyes light up in amusement. “And what happens when I catch you, sweetheart?” He brings his full lips to my ear. “I’m a tracker. I like the chase… never forget that. That shit is foreplay for me.”

“What isn’t foreplay for you?” I smirk, sighing when he starts to kiss down the side of my neck. “No wonder you needed so many women to satisfy you.”

It’s been another concern for me.

Soren is used to variety and plenty of it.

Will I be enough for him? I understand it’s new and fun for him now, but what happens after a few years? Is he going to miss playing with his little pets?

He bites down gently on my skin, admonishing me. “That’s not something you ever have to worry about. This right here is all I’ve ever wanted. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. And I’ll even be fucking happier when we complete the bond, and you are mine forever.”

He makes it sound so easy.

Like he didn’t once tell me, I wasn’t up to his standard of females.

Like he couldn’t once stand to even look at me.

“Look at me,” he commands, and my eyes go right to his. “Get out of your head, little witch. There’s no one else I will ever want.”

“We’ll see,” I murmur, leaning forward to kiss him. No more thinking—I only want to feel. Soren takes over the kiss, his lips demanding. My fingers reach out to stroke his cock under his battle leathers, and he moans against my mouth.

“It’s going to be awkward going to Chaos to kill August with a fucking hard-on,” he grumbles, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Leave him alone. Imagine if I killed all the women you’ve been with? Rave’s kingdom will lose half its population.”

“I’m going to spank your ass for that one,” he grumbles, his eyes darkening.

The thought makes me squeeze my thighs around his hips, and he doesn’t miss the movement.

Soren doesn’t miss anything.

His grin is knowing.

“Like that idea, do you, little witch? Fuck, you were made for me,” he says with a possessive reverence, resting his forehead against mine. “I can take anything you throw at me, sweetheart… as long as you’re here with me.”

He makes it hard to protect my heart.

Rave appears in front of us, lurking in his smoke form. “You ready?”

Soren nods, standing to his full height.

His sometimes chill personality does nothing to hide the restrained violence in his muscular build.

Fuck, he’s perfect.

And for now?

He’s all mine.