Drake stared at the spot where Willa had stood, so stunned, for a second, he was frozen in place, hovering with his enemy in his clutches, but unable to move. His whole world shrunk down to the size of a pinprick as his brain finally caught up.

Willa had just leapt off the side of the mountain and was plunging to her death.

He let out a furious roar and tossed the wolf in his grasp onto the ground like a rag doll before flying to the edge of the cliff. He threw himself over, tucking his wings in tight in a free-fall, making himself as lean and as aerodynamic as possible.

He fought past the fear clutching at his gut as he tried to catch sight of her in the pitch-black night. She was tiny compared to him. Surely, his weight would be enough to allow him to catch up before—

He shoved the unthinkable to the side and tucked tighter, the icy night air battering his face. More than halfway down and no sign of her.

Just when he began to lose hope, he caught sight of movement fifty yards below him. The flail of useless arms that would no sooner keep her aloft than if she didn’t have them at all. Relief coursed through him and he checked his terror to focus on flight, stretching his body as he barreled toward her.

A few seconds later, he could make out her features. Eyes squeezed tight, mouth open in a silent scream of horror, cheeks pale as the moonlight.

He waited until he was almost on top of her before tipping back and reaching for her with his claws. Her eyes snapped open at that exact moment, and she held his gaze. Relief coursed through him, mingled with a pain so acute, it lanced him straight through the heart. In that instant, part of him almost wished he had it in him to let her go.

God, she was beautiful. And willful. And strong.

And a fucking liar.

And a betrayer.

He pushed aside the relief and the pain, focusing only on the hot, roiling pit of rage in his belly.

Not only had she tricked him. She convinced him to let his guard down and trust her. She had contacted this wolf to rescue her and had just risked her own life to save his.

Drake would bet every last bit of his fortune that the lucky bastard at the top of that mountain who had barely escaped with his head intact was none other than Greyson West, Willa’s former betrothed. And, despite the lies she’d spouted to the contrary, she was clearly in love with him.

He would do well to keep that in mind when he looked at her next. Not many fooled a dragon and lived to tell that tale. Tonight, earlier in their bed, Willa had done exactly that. She’d convinced him she cared. That, if he offered her freedom, she just might turn it down and want to stay with him of her own free will. She’d used his weakness for her against him.

And she would pay.

He might not be ruthless enough to kill her, but he was certainly ruthless enough to make her regret toying with him.

He tightened his grip around her and flapped his wings, catching a stiff wind that carried them upward. To his disappointment, he saw no evidence of the wolf as he scanned the rocky terrain below. No doubt that Willa’s would-be rescuer was long gone now. Her plan to save her true love had worked and, unless the man was an idiot, he would realize he was grossly outmatched and come back with reinforcements before he tried another rescue attempt.

Drake would be ready for him when he did.

He swooped low as the keep came into sight and glided into the wide, open door of the massive great room. Then, he set Willa unceremoniously onto the stone floor before shifting back to human form.

For a long moment he faced the ever-present hearth fire, loath to look at her. Knowing that, when he did, the pain would start all over again, a fresh and raw wound.

He strode to the basket of robes he kept in the corner and donned one before turning to face her. She had risen from the floor and was standing there in her torn and bloody robe, a match to his own.

The one she’d stolen from him to wear to her rendezvous with Greyson West.

A snarl rose up in his chest and he swallowed it back.

“Your leg?” he asked briskly.

“It-it’s fine,” she murmured, before pausing to gnaw on her trembling bottom lip.

“Good. I have no time to play nursemaid to a foolish girl.” He eyed her coldly, bile burning his throat. “Come between me and my enemy again, and it will go worse for you. And, make no mistake, little wolf. You try that other stunt again and the next time you’ll be nothing more than a splatter at the bottom of the mountain. I plucked you from the sky only so I could make you rue this day.”

Her already white cheeks went chalky.

“Drake, please listen to me. I didn’t know he was coming, and—”

He crossed his arms over his chest and wished, more than anything, that this hellish night would end. “How else would he have found you, Willa, if you didn’t tell him you were here? Do you take me for a fool?”

“No.” She wet her lips nervously and took a step toward him. “That part was my fault. And I’m sorry. I admit, last week…the day we went to the diner, I contacted him, but—”

“So you did tell him you were here and to come save you, then.” It was a statement, not a question.

“No. I mean, sort of—” She broke off, looking so miserable, he almost felt a twinge of pity.

Almost.

“Either you told him where he could find you or you didn’t.”

“I did. I spoke to his mate and told her where I was. But I didn’t know he would come here. I didn’t want him to. I had already changed my mind.”

The lies were coming fast and furious now, and every one she spoke made him want to break something.

“If that’s true, then why didn’t you tell me that? Why didn’t you come to me and tell me that you had contacted him so I could at least prepare? What if he had come into my home and slit my fucking throat while I slept, Willa?”

She blanched and let out a low gasp. “He wouldn’t. He’s not like that. And you’re far stronger than he is. I backtracked, didn’t even give an address. I just thought that he would let it go, and I didn’t want you to be angry with me…” she trailed off lamely, pale cheeks burning hot pink as if she realized exactly how thin it sounded as she spoke, and was thinking better of it.

“Right. Or, this was another attempt at escape that failed. I’ve found that the simplest explanation is usually the right one. You got busted and now you’re trying to play on my sympathy.” He took a step toward her and shook his head slowly. “Well, save it. I have none left for you. Fool me once, shame on me. But I promise you now, never again. ”

She seemed to be about to speak again, but he cut her off, heartsick and knowing that, if he had to listen to one more lie from her pretty mouth, he was going to explode.

“The freedom you’ve enjoyed of late is at an end. Starting tonight, you’ll sleep in a separate room, chained at night, free to roam that space in daylight, but behind lock and key except when I’m at your side. If you try to escape again, your current situation will seem like child’s play. I do have a dungeon and I’m not afraid to use it.” Her face went slack with shock and she opened her mouth again, but he held up a hand. “Don’t speak. Nod if you understand.”

She nodded, her brown eyes filling with tears that he refused to let move him. He’d tried to be civilized. Had offered her the world. And she’d tossed it back in his face. Now it was time to remind her…remind all of these prideful wolf-shifters, that dragons didn’t have to ask permission, or forgiveness.

He’d fooled himself into thinking he needed a mate. A partner, when all he really needed was someone to fuck. Now it was time to rectify that.

He prowled over to where she stood and took her by the trembling arm, tugging her toward the staircase.

“You hate me, then,” she whispered, letting him lead her without a fight.

He choked back the self-loathing and let out a short laugh. “No. Hating you would take far more energy than you’re worth. I don’t care about you one way or another.”

She slowed to a stop and yanked her arm away. “Then why are you keeping me if you don’t care?”

He turned to face her, and steeled himself against the crocodile tears that streaked down her cheeks. “I’ve already told you, little wolf. Dragons keep what is ours. But that doesn’t mean we have to cherish it. Make no mistake, woman. You will share my home. You will slake my need. But you will never be my mate.”

She drew back as if he’d slapped her.

“God, you can be a bastard.”

He didn’t respond as he wheeled around to lead her up the rest of the stairs and down the long hallway to the nearest empty room.

“As you can see, you’ll be comfortable enough. I’ll deliver your food and drink several times a day as well, and you can come down for dinner, depending on your behavior. There’s a bathroom to the right. Go and clean up that cut unless it’s already healed, and I will be back shortly with your chains.”

She stepped into the room without prompting and sucked in a shaky breath as she faced him.

“I’ll do it, Drake.” She lifted her chin defiantly, her milk-chocolate eyes burning with intensity. “I’ll stay in this room like a hostage. But for your sake, I hope you realize how wrong you are before I start to hate you.”

Her words reverberated through him but before he could react, she stepped back and closed the door in his face with an ominous click.

He stared at the oak slab between them and barely resisted the urge to tear it off its hinges.

This was not how he expected this night to end. So much happiness…so much hope, destroyed. Because he’d been too quick to trust. Too blind to see.

He flexed his fists as he strode down the hallway and then took the stairs two at a time.

Greyson West had better hope he brought his A-team when he came back for Willa next time. Because somebody was going to pay for all this pain.

And they were going to pay in blood.