I stared at all of them, instead of at the dangerous male standing before me. I ignored the way his wings cast large shadows over me.
A minute passed, then two, before I felt his fingers on my chin. I recoiled at the touch, but he dragged my face up to his.
“You want to die?” he asked slowly.
How was I supposed to answer this question? With the truth? That was likely to get me killed. Lie? A life attached to this male was likely to be a death sentence in and of itself. Marriage to him…
Every time I thought about it, golden eyes flashed in my vision. Xander’s words echoed in my ears.
I am yours, and you are mine.
No matter what I chose, I knew I would be the only one losing here.
Because neither answer would get me any closer to my mate. The ache in my chest would only grow. I didn’t know what happened to people who found their mates and then lost them but based on the physical pain in my chest, I was sure it wouldn’t be good. We hadn’t even solidified the bond, and I was already missing Xander with every part of my being.
How much worse could it get?
“Aileana,” Remington growled. By his tone, I was sure that wasn’t the first time he had said my name. I must have gotten lost in my thoughts. “Tell me.”
He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. His eyes flashed as his nostrils flared. His wings retreated into his back as red sparks of magic flew all around him. Even through the material of my gown, I could feel the ice that seemed to reside under Remington’s skin.
He wasnothinglike Xander. Nothing like my mate, who burned with the heat of a thousand suns.
“You know the answer,” I replied.
He slapped me. The sound of flesh against flesh echoed through the woods. I bit my tongue to keep from crying out as the coppery tang of blood filled my mouth. Remington snarled, “Do you want me to kill you?”
I swallowed. “I want you to let me go.”
“That is never going to happen!” he roared.
“Then if death or marriage are my only options, then I suppo—”
Just then, a large winged shadow blocked the sun.
I looked up, tilting my head as I stared at the bird-like form flying off in the distance. It was too far away to make it out clearly, but the creature must have been enormous. I had never seen anything like it—but that wasn’t especially unusual.
What was unusual was the tremor of fear that went through my horrid fiancé as he gripped my shoulders.
“Oh my gods.” He inhaled sharply, following my gaze and staring at the sky where the shadow had been.
“What was that?” I asked.
Remington paled—impressive for a Death Elf—and stepped back from me. The moment he released his grip on my shoulders, I began to inch backward. It was exceedingly difficult, considering the bindings wrapped around my entire body, but I managed to shuffle along inch by inch.
I wanted to put as much room between myself and this dangerous male.
He didn’t seem to notice me as he stared at the sky, shaking his head back and forth. He muttered to himself as he paced like a caged animal, running his hand through his hair. “No. That isn’t… How…”
The Red Shadow’s voice trailed off as his face hardened. He turned to me, his eyes steely. “Doyouhave something to do with this?”
I wrinkled my brows. “No. I don’t even know what thatis.”
Just as quickly as it had appeared, the fear on Remington’s face disappeared. He prowled closer to me, tilting his head as though he were a hunter watching its prey.
“Aileana,” he snarled. “Do. You. Have. Anything. To. Do. With. That?”
“No!” I said again. Then, because my heart was pounding in my chest and my lungs were having trouble drawing in air, I repeated. “I don’t know what that is. Please, I didn’t do this.”