Page 82 of The Devil's Dilemma

“I couldn’t. I have an irresistible urge to be near you.”

Did I feel the same way?

“Go back into the bedroom and wait for me. I want to test a theory.”

“Really? The last time you tested a theory…”

“I know what happened last time. You ended up dead, but I no longer think you have anything to fear from me. If I’m right, the bonding removed my urge to murder you while you sleep.”

“Well, that’s good news at least.” He walked out of the bathroom, only to return seconds later.

If he felt anything like I did, he was in pain, and the pinched look on his face suggested he was.

“It hurts, right?”

He nodded. “Fucking right here.” He pounded his chest, and I knew exactly what he meant. Was this a permanent thing, or would it fade with time?

Only one way to find out.

With barely an inch separating us, we cleaned up and returned to the bedroom like a pair of conjoined twins.

How the fuck were we supposed to work with this?

I found my phone and dialled Mal’s number, mildly irritated by Austin’s proximity, but that probably was a symptom of the bonding.

“Dante.”

“What the fuck does the bonding entail?”

His loud laugh almost shattered my eardrums. At least someone found it funny.

“It’s different for everyone. Jason and I had time to get used to being fated mates before we cemented our joining. I’m guessing that’s not what’s happened to you.”

“No, it fucking hasn’t.” I kept my annoyance in check, for my sake and Austin’s. None of this was his fault.

I took his hand in mine and kissed his knuckles. The dull pain in my chest slowly eased.

“Tell me what happened.”

“What? All of it?”

“No, just the pertinent parts.”

Okay, so not the sex, then. Still, I had to give him more information than Austin or I wanted to tell him.

“So we fucked, we both had an orgasm, Austin placed our hands on his angel mark, and the room lit up like the fucking 4th of July, and now, we can’t move a millimetre away from each other without either of us being in pain.”

Mal sucked in a breath. “Wow, that’s some strong bond you have there. You shouldn’t be surprised, though. It was written. Calista said—”

“We know what she said. The prince of darkness, the boy with the light in his heart.”

Suddenly, the glowing skin made sense. It was his heart glowing, creating the effervescent light shining from him.

As much as I hadn’t wanted to believe the prediction, it was becoming patently obvious it was true.

“So what’s your problem?” He shuffled some papers. Was he still at work? I looked at my watch.

It was barely seven in the evening.