Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Perhaps you’ll now allow me a moment to speak with you?”
I have this childish urge to say no, and...
“No.”
Because ultimately, him being preter or whatever doesn’t change a thing.
“So please just go.”
I dodge around a decorative pillar, trying to lose him in the crowd, but he follows without rushing, those long legs eating up distance effortlessly. It’s like being stalked by a very patient, very elegant, very hot handsome heartless predator.
“It will only take a moment.”
“I’m not interested.”
“It’s really him, it’s really him! Hexius Mercier!”
A stampede erupts from nowhere, preter groupies going after him, armed with selfie sticks instead of pitchforks, and they all want to kill him...with love.
Everything after that happened too fast.
Even for the Leopard King.
He stiffens as if sensing danger, but by then it’s too late.
A horde of women divides us in a blink, and in the commotion, I’m pushed and shoved this way and that, all in a matter of seconds, until—bam!
My head slams straight into something concrete, pain explodes in my temples, and I think...I think the world is spinning a little too fast?
A part of me is just waiting for myself to fall and hit the ground, but strong arms catch me instead, and of course, of course, it has to be him.
Hexius.
Leopard King.
My own version of...That Day.
The words are still on my mind when I regain consciousness, and I’m hoping and praying, oh, please, please, please...
“I’m afraid I’m still here.”
My eyes fly wide open, and I barely register the fact that we’re in some kind of clinic. All I can think about is...no, no, no.
“C-Can you—”
Oh gosh, I can’t even make myself it.
I just know it’s going to be so, so bad if he can actually read my mind.
“It’s your face I’m able to read, not your thoughts.”
Oh, thank goodness for small miracles.
“But the mating bond might change that.”
Right, right.
His words just add to my relief. Nothing to worry then, since mates are just preter to preter.
“How are you feeling?”
“Woozy.”
“I apologize for that.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I failed to protect you today. It won’t happen again.”
My mouth opens and closes. Is this a preter thing, him feeling protective and responsible for a weak human like me? But if it is, then why...did he reject me like that six years ago? Or is it only someone’s physical well-being that matters to them?
“I can see the questions in your eyes, Samira. Ask anything of me, and I will tell you the truth.”
“And why should I believe that?”
“I can make a blood pact with you about this if you wish. It will kill me if I lie.”
Oh.
But then a pocket blade appears in his hand out of nowhere, and when I realize he’s about to slice his palm open—
“I believe you!”
“It’s alright, this will only—”
Oh, stars above, what can I say that will make this man stop—
“Why are you here?”
I nearly die when I realize the blade’s already made contact and a fresh drop of blood has now stained his skin.
“I have many other questions, too,” I add in a rush, “so can you just stop with the cutting of flesh?”
“Of course.”
I can’t help sighing in relief as the blade disappears like a sleight of hands, but I know it’s really his preter speed at work.
“And I already told you the reason earlier.”
My brows furrow. “You didn’t say—”
Wait.
Surely, it can’t be—
It seems I fit all of your requirements, Samira.
—that?
I look at him, feeling this time that he’s the one who’s grown a pair of horns even though yes, I do know that leopards don’t have horns.
“I don’t understand.”
He tilts his head slightly. “You’ll need to elaborate.”
How soon can we arrange our wedding?
My head actually starts hurting upon remembering this, and it hurts even more when more memories resurface, and I find myself reliving that day from six years ago.
“But you rejected me,” I hear myself say unsteadily.
“I did.”
Just like that. No emotion, no explanation, just calm acknowledgment.
“Then now you want to marry me?”
“I do.”
Seriously?
I look at him incredulously, and my head just keeps hurting with how he only raises a brow at my direction like I’m the one being unreasonable.
“That’s really all you have to say?”
“Then you’ll have to be more speci—”
Oh, this man is going to be the death of me, and he’s a near complete stranger at that!
“I want to know why you rejected me,” I choke out.
He’s quiet for a moment, those golden eyes studying me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
“The simple answer? Because That Day had not yet happened when we first met, and hiding the truth from my own wife was an unnecessary inconvenience I didn’t care to sign up for.”
Oh.
Okay.
That made sense.
Before That Day, humans in general knew nothing about preters, and preters (also in general) had preferred to keep it that way, too.
I totally get how complicated it would be for a preter to marry a human wife. That alone would’ve been enough explanation. He could’ve left it at that.