Inhaling deeply, he fought against his limbs, forcing them to stop just shy of touching her. As much as he craved and needed her skin against his, he didn’t trust himself to touch her. Didn’t trust the thin layer of control that was barely holding back his violence and anger.

He wasn’t afraid of maliciously hurting her—he could never do that—but his visceral need for her, for the reminder that she was here regardless of what his fathers did, was almost beyond his control. Their bond lashed and pulled at him, hardening his dick and demanding he claim her with more than just his teeth.

And he could. After weeks of waiting, they were finally in a palace, and he’d made her a promise. There was nothing stopping him from taking her and completing their bond. It screamed and begged for it.

But he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, he wouldn’t be capable of gentle. Not today, nor any time soon. He’d take her hard and fast, pouring everything he felt into her with each thrust, needing to make her scream, to drown out the old screams that still tainted his memories.

He wanted to imprint himself on her body and prove to his mess of a mind she was here, and she was his.

“Jaren? Did you hear me?”

He blinked, snapping out of his internal spiral to focus on her concerned, silver eyes. “I was giving you the chance to realize on your own how fucking stupid your question was,” he said, tilting his head to the side. “Because I know you didn’t just tell me to stay in another room, little star.”

Her worry disintegrated as molten fire took its place, and his chest rumbled, imagining that fierce gaze on him while he sank inside her. When would she learn that her anger only enticed him further?

“I didn’t tell you to stay there, you sensitive ass. I just meant, there’s an entire other bathing room down the hall.” He didn’t bother responding, and she rolled her eyes, gesturing to his body.

“I was trying to be nice, although now I’m not sure why. I just thought maybe you’d appreciate a silent bath. You certainly need it. Only one of us bathed in Ocridal, and it wasn’t you,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

His dick twitched at the thought of her bathing, and he fisted his hands, digging crescent moons into his palms to prevent himself from wrapping one around her throat and stealing her mouth. Her neck always arched so fucking pretty for him.

Gods damnit. He closed his eyes, expanding his lungs to calm himself only to unintentionally pull in even more of her scent. He snarled, launching himself backward and running for the door, ignoring her shocked expression as he almost ripped the door off its hinges.

He wasn’t a fucking animal. He repeated it over and over as he barreled down the hall and into the other room, slamming the door behind him.