Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(58)

"I'll be fine," she insisted.

"I've marked you, Kai." Jake's lips brushed over her shoulder.

"What did you say?" No, he didn't just say what I thought he said. Kai's heart raced.

"I've marked you. I don't know how … "

"That's impossible," she insisted. Kai thought to shove up from the bed but his strong arm cinched around her waist before she ever tensed a muscle. No, no, no. Stop.

"I won't stop. This is happening." Jake threw his thigh over her legs, encasing her in his warmth.

"It's impossible. Pixiu do not mate. You just got a bit rough. I'm fine."

"I'm not saying I understand any of this. But I'm telling you, it's happened." He gave a small laugh. "Wolves. We don't mate outside our breed. I mean occasionally we can mate with a hybrid. But I've seen your beast and she ain't no hybrid. Oh no. I can honestly say I've never seen anyone like you, babe."

"Please, Jake … don't," Kai whispered. She blinked her eyes open, tears flowing onto her cheeks. It was as if he'd taken a saber to her buried dreams, slicing her open to bleed out. Long ago she'd accepted her fate as a lone creature. Without purpose, she'd remain hidden until the Goddess took her home. She couldn't allow the hope to seed. No, stop talking, stop talking.

"I didn't know. I'm sorry, Kai. If I'd known I was going to mark you tonight … well, I'd … I don't know," he said, gazing at the beautiful amber lines emerging on her skin. "Maybe I would've told you. We could've talked about things before it all went down."

"I can't let myself feel. I will always be alone. What's going on with us is just chemistry. Nothing more."

"Don't say that. You can feel it. I know you felt me. You heard me, didn't you?"

"Of course I heard you."

"You heard me speak to you. Not out loud. In your mind. It wasn't the first time either. I just heard you a minute ago and you weren't talking. And do you know why that is?"

"Don't say it, Jake. You're wrong."

"This mark." Jake traced the pad of his fingers along the curves of the design. "This is yours. I gave it to you. It was an accident but it's done. You know what this means."

"No … " Kai's heart raced.

"Yes."

"No … don't … don't say it." It isn't possible. I'll always be alone. 

"It is possible. You're my mate."

Kai gave a small sob. Her heart crushed, a pinprick of hope stabbing through it.

"It's going to be all right. I promise this will be okay." Jake pressed his lips to her ear.

"Please don't hurt me this way."

"I'd never hurt you. If you don't believe anything else, you need to hear me on that. This is real. My mark. I did this. And you, my sweet pixiu. You're mine."

"My Alpha," Kai whispered, her eyes fluttering shut.

"Shh. Get some rest. We'll talk in the morning."

Dreams of a life with Jake flashed in her mind and a sleepy smile formed under her tears. She didn't entirely believe him but the fantasy lingered as she surrendered to slumber.





Kai craned her neck, checking out the unique design that had bloomed where he'd bitten her. Her creamy virgin skin now bore her Alpha's mark. The burgeoning connection was undeniable. Her beast had submitted and it was true, she'd heard his voice inside her head.

As she traced the fine line, astonishment coiled in her chest; she was still unable to fully accept the Alpha was her mate. Magick was a tricky thing. Perhaps she'd absorbed more of his energy than she'd thought. Her knowledge of her beast had been limited to the whispers of Elders and her mother's lost notebook. Despite her skepticism, Kai's lips curled in a hopeful smile.

She glanced to the mirror, noting the gold flecks in her eyes. Something was changing inside her; a restless hum danced over her skin. Last night, she'd almost killed a vampire. While Jonathon may have deserved her wrath, she'd been out of control. Only the Alpha had been able to dominate her beast. While she'd always known her ability to absorb energy, draining a creature to the point of exhaustion, never in her life had she been without discipline.

My master. The term had both angered and terrified her when she'd first heard Quintus say it. But after last night, an odd sense of security had blanketed her. For the first time in her life, she wasn't alone. The Alpha never hesitated, saving her from herself. Soon, she'd morph like a caterpillar. Far from a harmless but gorgeous winged butterfly, her beast would demand blood. Whatever dangerous creature lurked inside, she took solace in knowing Jake could command it.

A noisy clatter filtered up through the floor, and her stomach growled. Kai snatched a fluffy robe off of a hook on the bathroom door, donned it and set off to find her Alpha.