Two humans, one betrayer. Rage welled up, and for a moment red flames glowed in the depths of his black eyes.
Shea’s heart nearly stopped, and she jerked backward to put distance between them. He moved faster, his arm a blur. His fingers circled her wrist, preventing escape. His grip was unbreakable—she felt his raw strength—yet he was not hurting her at all.
With an effort he pushed down the demons, angry with himself for alarming her. His thumb feathered lightly over the inside of her wrist, making him all too aware of her pulse racing frantically. Very, very gently he tugged until she was forced to his side. I know little of my past, but almost from the beginning of my imprisonment I have known of you. I waited. I called you to my side. 1 hated you for allowing my suffering to continue.
She caught his face in her hands, suddenly anxious that he believe her. “I didn’t know. I swear to you, I didn’t know. I never would have left you there.” Grief clogged her throat that she had not somehow ended his suffering sooner. What was it about him that drew her like a magnet, that captivated her and made her want to ease his pain? The urge was so strong in her, so intense, she could hardly bear to see him lying so vulnerable and shattered.
I know you speak the truth; you cannot lie to me. It was a courageous thing you did, rescuing me. But as your lifemate I can do no other than forbid you to ever take such a risk again. He sounded totally complacent, as if she would do as he said simply because he wished it. Every moment he was awake he became more tyrannical, more possessive. She glared at him, her green eyes smoldering dangerously. “You can quit with the orders, Mr. Jacques whoever-you-are. No one tells me what to do.”
His black gaze slid over her calmly. So she had not been part of his life before. The information amazed him. How had she found the courage to save him the way she had? How had she returned to him after he had nearly ripped her throat out? His fingers tightened around her wrist, tugged until she relaxed against him.
You, are my lifemate. The words came from somewhere deep inside his heart. He had no idea why he needed to say them, he knew only that it was imperative that he do so; it seemed his entire being forced the words out of his soul. I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care.
Shea heard the words echoing in her mind, felt a rush of heat, of blood. Fear welled up, stark terror. “What have you done?” She whispered it, her eyes enormous. “What have you done to us?”
You know the answer.
She shook her head adamantly. “I don’t. I don’t know. But I’m different, I can feel it. Those words did something to us.” She could feel it; she couldn’t describe it. She felt tiny threads, a million strong binding his soul to hers, weaving their hearts together, their minds. She no longer felt like a single entity but one complete being with him. There had always been a raw emptiness inside her; now it was gone.
He released her wrist reluctantly, traced his fingertips along her high cheekbone. His mind touched hers, found genuine fear and confusion. I am as much in the dark as you are. I know only that you ended my suffering, that you came to my call, that I recognize my other half. You are the light to my darkness.
Shea edged away from him, making certain to get beyond his reach. “I’m your doctor, Jacques, nothing more. I heal people.” She said it more for herself than for him. Shea had no idea what he was talking about. She worried that his mind was playing tricks on him, weaving fantasies for him. Intellectually, Shea knew no one could tie another to himself with words, yet she felt threads binding them together. There were too many things she didn’t understand. Jacques was half mad, his mind shattered, his memories coming to him in tiny pieces, yet maybe he was more stable than she was. It was a scary thought.