Page 33 of Bikar

Her voice trails off, and she tilts her head, peering down at me steadily. Threading the fingers of her hands through my beard, she frames my face, forcing me to maintain eye contact as she lands a tender verbal blow.

“Bikar, who takes care of you? Your brothers all treat you like a pest, someone not to be taken seriously, and you play into that persona. While simultaneously keeping all of them, their mates, me, Heather, and the rest of the Ruks comfortable. You keep everyone at a bit of a distance. Why do you do that to yourself?”

Yes, she sees far more than expected.

Closing my eyes, I let the weight of my head fall into her hands, leaning my forehead against her and pointing my hornsaway. “I am a freak amongst freaks. Have you not wondered why the mating sickness is not a problem for me?”

Waiting a tic, I let that question linger in the air.

“It is because I am made of so much tech that the mating sickness has not and will not develop. So, now you know you’re under no obligation to mate with me, as the lack of bond will not end my life. I apologize for not telling you this information earlier in our courting, but I was being selfish and wished to spend as much time with you as possible before you rejected me.”

Bambi’s eyes widen, her mouth drops open, and the scent of surprise fills the space between our bodies.

CHAPTER 30

BAMBI

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I’m not sure I’m even breathing right now.

Should I be angry about this?

Feathering my thumbs across Bikar’s cheeks, I feel a slight tug against my skin and realize he has scales sweeping across his face, too.

“Let me get this straight.”

Bikar flinches at my sharp tone, so I jostle his face a little. “None of that, I’m not going to maim you… again. Well, not intentionally, anyway.” His low chuckle relaxes his shoulders, and they drop from around his ears, his body no longer braced for impact. “Okay, so. I’m going to ask you some questions, and you’re going to answer with either a yes or no. Got it?”

Hesitantly, he nods. “Yes, little doe.”

“Endearments aren’t going to help you right now, buddy.”

Fixing my eyes on his, I maintain a firm tone. “Your body is not going to try to kill you if we don’t seal our mating bond?”

“No.”

“You wanted to go on dates with me, and try towoome even though you’re under the impression that I won’t ever agree to be your mate?”

“Yes.”

“This is something you’ve known for a while and chose to keep to yourself, knowing that the truth might piss me off enough that I’d want nothing to do with you going forward. Especially since we had a chat about you keeping things from me.”

Swallowing audibly, he forces his answer out through stiff lips. “Yes.”

“Have you omitted or failed to tell me anything else?”

A weighted pause. “Yes.”

Curling my fingers into his beard, I firmly grab hold and give a little shake. Leaning down until our faces are inches apart, I maintain eye contact. “What. The. Fuck. Else. Have. You. Left. Out.”

Gold eyes bore into me and a hint of mischief flares. “Only that my hearts hold love for you within them.”

My lips part, and my eyebrows hit my hairline.

He… loves me?

Before I can say anything in return, he mutters. “Fuck it.”