CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Zhuliya

Beside me, Ilian twitches like he’s being electrocuted, and I grow concerned as something akin to murderous rage siphons into me through our bond.

“Can you excuse us for a moment, please?”

I’m not sure if my request is polite enough for the god, or if one can even ask them such a thing, but I tug Ilian a short distance away.

“Are you alright?”

“Absolutely.”

“Ilian—I can feel you through our link.”

“And?”

“And I know something’s wrong…very wrong.”

“I don’t like the way Ulyen looks at you.”

At this, I roll my eyes. “He’s your god of sex, of course he’s going to be lewd and undress me with his gaze. Who cares? I’m not interested. Red eyes are not my thing.”

“They aren’t?”

“Nope, I prefer pink.”

Ilian grins down at me, tucking a strand behind my ear. “Sometimes, when you talk that, everything feels…”

He trails off, not finishing, but I know what he meant. It feels real, but we both know the bond is devious and will do anything to obscure the veracity of true emotions.

“Right, well, sorry about that. I’m not normally a violent person, but Ithaqua often fight for their mates. It’s another right of passage to prove ourselves worthy.”

“I promise you have nothing to prove to me. Remember, I already find you worthy?”

Ilian nods, and the rage he once felt is replaced with a nearly unbearable sadness because I can almost hear him thinking.

If I find him worthy, why can’t I stay his mate?

There’s no way to explain to Ilian that it’s me who’s broken, not him. My parents loved one another deeply, but that love was rife with so many hardships.

In truth, I’m not sure they got to really enjoy the fruits of their labor. Everything in their life seemed to constantly test their commitment to one another.

Being with Ilian will be the same way—hell, the Russian government doesn’t even allow human-monster relationships!

I can’t ask Ilian to uproot his life to move to America because it’s my home and where we can be together.

No, breaking the bond is the right thing to do. It doesn’t matter how perfectly we seem to fit together, I can’t be the reason Ilian throws away everything he has in Berdsk.

The Ithaqua takes my hand and leads me back to Ulyen. I ignore his stare and walk over to stand before him.

“I don’t have any scissors, so I’m unsure of how you want me to take your fur. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Ulyen glances at Ilian. “What a strange, kind mate you have. Dear human, I’m a god. You can’t hurt me with something as paltry as pulling out some of my fur. Didn’t your dear mate break his own horn off for you without even a wince?”

My stomach twists at the memory. “Please don’t remind me. Can I be honest? I…I don’t think I can rip your fur, sorry.”

The Ithaquan god sighs, as if genuinely put out that I won’t do such a ridiculous thing. “Very well.”

I shriek when he grabs a handful of the ink black pelt and yanks it free. He presents it to me like it’s the most valuable treasure in the world—and considering what Ilian and I need done, it might be.

“Th-thank you,” I croak, still unsettled.

“Sure thing.” Ulyen scratches between his horns, glancing between Ilian and me. “Did you two wanna have an orgy?”

Ilian snarls, the violent intent returning through our link, and I rush to decline. “No, no! We’re good, thanks.”

Ulyen shrugs. “Your loss. I’m just going to take this—”

He leans down to pick up the strap-on Ilian made from his horn. The dark-furred Ithaquan lifts it to his skull and sniffs before sighing.

“Mmm, I’m going to see if a Verdilak wants to watch me fuck myself with this. Good luck, you two.”

With this, Ulyen saunters off into the darkness, disappearing altogether. There’s a beat of silence between Ilian and me as I try to figure out what the heck just happened.

“That man needs serious help.”

Ilian snorts. “That’s an understatement.”

He appears a little frazzled, and I walk over to give my mate a hug. “You ok?”

“Not really. The mental images of Ulyen fucking his ass with my horn—that was in my ass and yours—might make me sick.”

“They’re definitely making me sick. I think I would rather get back on a boat than envision that.”

My Ithaqua chuckles. “Aisyth won’t come until the morning. Let’s get some rest while we can.”

Ilian beds down a bit away from where we summoned Ulyen. We don’t have anything to sleep on but the ground, but thanks to Aisyth, it’s not cold.

It even feels like there’s a bit of cushion, and I point this out to Ilian.

“At least one of the Ithaquan gods isn’t a disgusting tool.”

He snorts. “I told you, all gods are devious. Give it enough time. Aisyth will show her true colors. She’s just as twisted as Ulyen.”

“Do you think that’s why she sanctioned your imprint in my ink?”