Page 29 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

“You could let him stay.”

“The humans don’t consider us people. He will hurt you.”

“Not all humans are the same.”

Ash rolls his eyes. “No, it’s only the ones around us who want to hurt us, or you wouldn’t be here trying to save my life.”

“I’m not saving you, egomaniac,” I say. “I don’t want anyone to jeopardize the treaty.”

“I’m committed to peace. Which is why Sven is coming with me.”

“Please, Ash.”

He closes his eyes, then opens them. Flames have replaced his pupils. “Don’t say my name while you plead for another man’s life.” His fingernails elongate into claws. His jaw hardens, expanding so his wolf’s teeth can fit. Ash is losing it right in front of my eyes. But I can’t back off. I must use this opportunity to negotiate for Sven staying here, because this is the only chance I’ll have to make my case.

“Sven is not a very good alchemist. He might poison you. Accidentally or on purpose. Why take him with you when you know I want him to stay? There’s no reason you have to take him. Besides, if you keep Sven here for me, I’ll be in your debt.”

“It sounds to me like I’ll have to kill him.”

“What? No!” I jump off the bed and march to his chair. “You can’t do that. That would mean two Regulators would have died in our territory since your arrival. You said the first one died by your hand, so the humans will assume that Sven died the same way. That could escalate, and the humans could punish us all.”

“They’ll just send another Regulator.”

Maren will be devastated.

But wait, she’ll get over it. Ash killing Sven is actually a great idea, but if I say that, Ash will suspect foul play, so I have to pretend it’s the worst idea in the world. “That’s the worst idea ever. You’ll just reinforce the theory that they already have about werewolves. We’re monsters.”

Ash stands and moves the chair aside. Now there’s nothing between us as he towers over me, his gaze on my lips.

I want to reach up and run my fingers over his unshaven jaw, feel the roughness of his stubble.

I stick my hands into my pockets instead.

“If you want him to live,” Ash says, “you will break up with him and tell him to be ready to leave before the storm hits.”

“Before?”

Ash winces from my screech. “I don’t want to get stuck here in the snowstorm.”

“You don’t want to get stuck on the road during the storm either. The Stormcrest castle can withstand a blizzard.”

Ash bends toward me and inhales. There’s a rumble in his chest that I identify as a purr. “Get out of my bedroom before I make you nest in that corner over there.”

I gasp. “That is…” I step back. “You crossed the line.”

Ash walks to the door and opens it.

I sprint out of the bedroom, but linger in the hallway. “You need a Regulator. Just not Sven.”

“Unfortunately, Sven is my man. Either break up with him now, or he’s dead.” Ash slams the door in my face.

I knock.

Ash opens it and thrusts the empty laundry basket at me. And slams the door again.

I knock. (Again.)

When he opens it, his eyes are like twin flames. “What?”