I had my doubts that was the truth, but neither of us called him out on it. He waved before strolling away. “See you two tonight at dinner. If either one of you can walk, that is.”

Then he laughed, the sound only fading away when he exited through the portal, leaving us alone in the lair.

“Inky, guard the door,” Shadow said softly, and the mist wrapped around us a few times before it drifted off, disappearing from sight as well.

Then it was me and Shadow.

Anticipation sent bubbles through my veins, making me feel lightheaded. I had a brief moment where I wondered if I needed to check into Sex Addicts Anonymous, but considering Torin had left me as dry as the desert, I knew it wasn’t sex I was addicted to.

It was sex with Shadow.

The Shadow Beast, demon of the darkness, and plunderer of my vagina.

Okay, that sounded wrong, but sometimes wrong was the exact kind of right I needed.

Which also made no sense, but who expected sense when one was about to be fucked by their mate? Their love? The plunderer of their vagina?

Because we were going with that.

37

Shadow’s flames appeared first, and as much as I wanted to turn and see the fire in his eyes, his hold kept me immobile. Not just his hold, but also his power.

“You never fight me here,” he rumbled, and dammit, why was his voice sexy enough to curl toes? “You have power beyond almost any other, and yet, you’ve never tried to fight my hold on you when I touch you like this.”

He was talking and walking, and I was burning alive in the most delicious way. “Why would I fight?” I croaked, trying to remember what words even were. “You give my body so much pleasure that at times—and this is no lie—I feel like I might die from it. I gave up control to you that day in the Shadow Realm, and despite thinking that would be a onetime thing, I find that… I don’t mind it so much now. I get to be strong in every other avenue of my life except—”

“Except with me.” He interrupted, needing to take control of my words as well. “This is why we’re true mates; beyond anything you could have had with Torin. We build each other up, making each other stronger by embracing who we are. Torin wanted you for your beauty, strength, and brains, but only in a way that enhanced his. You were his trophy mate, his prize. A male of strength will get on his knees for his woman and know that it doesn’t lessen him in any way. Torin was too weak and stupid to see that, and he never could have honored you as you deserved.”