It was more than just the instinct to claim and protect. Her gentle spirit, the way she’d obviously ached for his loss when he told her about his mother… Something in those chocolate brown eyes spoke to him more than he would ever willingly admit. Even the way she’d back-talked him like no one else ever dared had increased his fondness for the girl.

Just the thought of having her by his side loosened the tight coil in his chest that’d been there as far back as he could remember.

But she didn’t want to be mated to a demon. She was desperate to be free, exactly like his mother had been, and he would rather die than go through a loss like that again.

He couldn’t claim her, even if he got the fuck over himself and the issues that’d kept him far from the one auction of a Pure Breeder his race had held since he’d matured.

A soft knock on the door pulled his thoughts back to the present.

“What?” he snarled at the wood bearing his claw marks. Not one of his underlings had dared to disturb him since he returned, his dark mood hanging over his entire territory like a black cloud.

“Let me in, Kain.”

Thomren. No one else would dare to address him so informally, let alone make demands of him.

“No locks are stopping you from entering,” he growled, the challenge dripping off every word.

Thomren heaved a sigh, but instead of responding, he pushed the door handle down and slowly peeked in at the destruction in Kain’s office. “Oh, my.”

Kain glared at him. “What do you want?”

His second nodded at the crumpled letter on the floor. “To talk to you about that. I know the auction invitations went out.”

“Out of respect for the pregnant Breeder you have at home, I will say this once: Get. Out.” Kain flexed his hands, tempering the dark surge of anger simmering to be let out.

Thomren sighed again, his lips flattening to a thin line. “If you must take your anger out on me—if that’s what it’ll take to hear me—then so be it. I serve you, but you are also my friend. You need to go to this auction.”

“You know I can’t,” he growled. “You of all people know.”

Thomren nodded. “I know why you swore you wouldn’t claim a Breeder, but this girl… Kain, you haven’t been right since you came home without her. Everyone can see it, and we need you here. The females are on the warpath and your head isn’t in the game. Without you, the northern border is vulnerable.”

Kain snarled, slamming his palm against the doorframe right by Thomren’s head. The rush of rage at a challenge to his leadership was a soothing balm that momentarily distracted him from his misery.