Chapter 31
The sound of booted feet pounding down the hall drew Thea’s attention, and it was a mistake. As soon as she turned her head toward the door, Marko snatched her off the bed. She shrieked but clung to him as he crossed to the farthest corner of the room and squatted, keeping her cradled in his arms. He was being irrational, but Thea didn’t really know why.
“Easy,” Thea crooned, drawing his attention with a gentle hand on his cheek. Her brows were drawn in a look of deep concern. “It’s alright.”
His eyes locked on hers but quickly shifted to the door when Bronco entered.
“Pyper?” Thea asked tremulously. “What…what’s going on?”
“He’s been feral,” Pyper explained.
“I know,” Thea answered. “You said that, but I don’t know what that means. What is feral?”
“It’s like what happened to you with the drugs.”
Thea gasped, “Was he drugged?” She tore her eyes from Pyper’s and looked back him, her gaze sliding over his face as she studied him.
“No,” Pyper answered. “It’s called the affliction.”
Thea tensed, and her mouth fell open as her hand slowly dropped from his face. “Wh-what?”
“It’s the Skin Walker…”
Thea cut her off. “I…” she licked her lips. “I know what it is. It’s what happened to Eden and Monroe, right? It’s what happens to Walkers when they find their Angel. Right?”
Marko held her gaze and nodded silently.
“This can’t be,” Thea whispered, and her instant rebuff drew a deep growl from his chest.
“Look,” Pyper held up a hand. “He hasn’t eaten, hasn’t slept. He’s walking a very thin line right now, Thea. Maybe you shouldn’t…”
“Shouldn’t what?” she challenged. “Shouldn’t say that maybe you’re wrong?” She shoved at Marko’s chest, but he refused to release her. “When this happened to me it was just the result of drugs. Maybe his, I don’t know, chemistry or inner animals or whatever are just reacting to what we had to do.”
“No!” Marko snarled and tightened his hold on her as his eyes lightened like miniature snow globes that had been shaken violently.
Thea couldn’t hide the fear in her voice when she called out, “Pyper?”
“Calm down,” Pyper held her hands up. “Everyone calm down.” She pointed a finger at Marko. “Especially you! You calm the fuck down right now, Marko. You can’t change with her in your arms, you might hurt the baby.”
Instantly, Marko’s hold loosened and the rolling growl that had been coming from his chest ceased. In a voice polluted with his inner beasts, he snarled, “Leave, Bronco!”
The Sentry didn’t move though until Pyper turned and nodded at him. “Go. You being in here is just making shit worse.”
Bronco left, and Pyper looked at Marko. “I’m going to leave you two alone, and I highly suggest you fix this grand misunderstanding that’s been hanging between you two. You need to collar and fully claim her, and that can’t happen unless you’re honest with each other.” Her eyes slid to Thea. “Be honest with each other.” Pyper walked out, clicking the lock on the door from the inside before sealing them inside the room.
Alone, Thea turned to look at Marko. “Put me down.”
“Can’t,” was his only response.
“Damn it, Marko. You’re acting like a caveman! Put. Me. Down.”
He snarled and shook his head. “I can’t, Thea. I can’t have my hands off you right now. I can’t let you go. I can’t. I just…can’t.”
Sighing, she crossed her arms as some of her anger faded. “Is it because of what happened to you?”
“If you mean being captured and tortured by the Megalya, the answer is no. It has to do with being afflicted and not being able to make you mine.”
“You can’t be sure I’m yours.” She kicked her legs, wiggling from his hold until he released her. “Maybe you just feel that way. That’s how I felt when I was drugged. Maybe after time…”
“No. It won’t wear off. This isn’t drugs, honey. This is all me, all feral beast wanting to find, fuck, and claim what’s his.”
His words sent a punch of lust shooting to Thea’s womb, but she was too afraid of getting attached to him again. If whatever this was wore off, she wouldn’t be able to stand another rejection. “I don’t think this can work, Marko. I think we’re both just too broken for this to work,” she offered quietly. “Maybe…” she lifted sad eyes to his. “Maybe we should just be done with each other.”
“You’re not done with me,” he finally answered.
Unease knotted in her belly.
Letting sincerity show in his eyes, Marko declared, “You’ll never be done with me, honey. And, I’ll never be done with you. We belong together like the night and the moon, like the tide and the wave. You’ll never have one without the other, and even if you refuse me all the rest of my days, I’ll never stop chasing you.” He took a step toward her. “I’ll never stop wanting you.” Another step. “I’ll never stop dreaming of you and wishing you were in my arms. For all my days I’ll think of the softness of your hair and the way your skin smells pressed up against mine. I’ll never forget the music that is your voice or the beauty that is your heart.” He dipped his chin, his eyes going hard. “The way your body fits mine, the way your thighs cradle me as I’m buried to the hilt inside of your wet slit, that’ll be tattooed on my soul the way your name is tattooed on my tongue. You are my life, Thea, and I’ll never let you go. You’ll never be done with me because without you I am nothing. Without you, I am not whole. Without you, I cannot live, and so if you run know that I’ll be right behind you. Every step, every day, until the end of my days.” He closed the space between them until she had to tilt her head far back to look up at him. “But imagine if you didn’t run. Imagine if you gave me a chance. I know you think all men are the same.” He lifted a hand and captured her chin, lowering his head until his lips were inches from hers as their breath mingled. “Someone left you. Someone hurt you, and you thought I was the same. I’m not like other men. I am no fucking man! I am a beast. I am your beast. And this beast mates for life. I know you’ve been hurt, and yeah we’re both broken, but let’s be broken together. You can use my pieces to make yourself whole, and I’ll help you do it.”
“And what about you,” she asked.
“I’m gonna work so damn hard to get my head right. I’m gonna control my goddamn beasts because I’m done letting them control me. You deserve strength, and that’s what I’m going to give you.” He dipped his head. “I’m taking charge.” Leaning forward, he brushed his lips softly against hers and Thea’s eyes fluttered closed on a moan. He breathed against her lips, “Don’t make me chase you, Thea. I’d rather fuck you. I’d rather eat you.” He pulled back, “Let me love you. Let me keep you.”
Thea kept her eyes closed. She didn’t move and didn’t speak for long minutes when finally she whispered, “I ache for you. I ache for you all the time.”
“Then stop being so fucking afraid and take what’s yours. You don’t have to ache. I’m right here. Don’t ache, Thea.”
“I don’t want to.”
Without hesitation, Marko’s lips crashed onto hers. Their kiss was passionate and full of all the things they still hadn’t said. Hands ripped at clothes, and it reminded Thea of the first time they’d been together. It was so urgent, so paramount.