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leaned forward to nibble on the sizzling skin she’d dreamed about. The reality tasted even better. Smooth, salty man tantalized her when she nipped at his collarbone. Then bit.
    He growled low, hands going to her waist to tug her to the ground. She opened her senses to him. His heartbeat echoed throughout her own head, and then ... he stilled.
    His head lifted and he scented the air. Slamming his metallic eyes shut, he swore. He grabbed her shirt and yanked it up her arms, holding tight to the front.
    â€œWhat is it?” Her stomach dropped in fear. “Did the Kurjans find us?”
    â€œWorse.” Dage shifted her to the side and stood, lending a hand to help her up.
    Two men crowded the entrance to the cave—the men from her dreams. “Your brothers?”
    â€œYes.”
    Her mind spun. A hollowness echoed throughout her body that might never be filled. “How is that worse?” She took his hand, holding her shirt together with trembling fingers.
    â€œBecause I can’t kill them,” Dage said grimly, pulling her forward. He nodded at the green-eyed brother in the lead. “It’s nice to know you followed orders and went to secure the facilities as needed.” He shifted his focus to the copper-eyed brother. “One word Jase, and I’ll rip out your jugular.”
    Jase wisely kept silent, though the twinkle in those eyes laughed hard enough to make sound.
    The first man threw caution to the wind. “Hi Emma. I’m Conn.” He clapped Dage on the back. “We couldn’t let the king miss the ball, now could we?”
    Ball? What ball?

Chapter 3
    D age tugged on his onyx cuff links as he dressed in the family quarters, fury sliding under his skin. To be so close as to actually taste her ...
    â€œConn and Jase have made themselves scarce somewhere in this damn hotel,” his brother Talen noted, yanking on a black bow tie.
    Dage couldn’t help but smile. Forcing Talen into a tuxedo was like making a leopard wear a tutu. His brother was made for flak jackets and combat boots. “You look pretty in a tux, brother. Your mate will sigh with joy.”
    The good natured punch from Talen would’ve killed a human. “Shut up. By the way, that’s a lovely marking on your palm.”
    The marking ached like a raw tooth and had since appearing the previous night. It needed to find a home on Emma’s flesh. Now. “She doesn’t want to be marked.” The words hurt to say. He hadn’t seen her since handing her off to Cara for much needed rest because he’d been swamped with Realm business all day.
    Talen grinned. “Can’t blame her. Branding is archaic, neanderthalic, and absurd.”
    â€œNeanderthalic? Cara makes up her own words, I see.” Damn but Dage adored his sister-in-law. He clasped his long dark hair at his nape, then straightened his black jacket, his gaze sweeping the plush executive suite with its thick carpet and rounded beige chairs. The hotel smell of lemon cleanser began to irritate him.
    â€œYeah, I know.” Talen snorted in amusement. “But the marking is necessary for their protection—to give them our defenses as well as immortality. There’s no other way—and there’s no other choice.”
    Dage chuckled. “Life is so black and white for you, isn’t it? You plan, fight, conquer, and go home.” His brother was perfect for his position as head of security for the entire Realm.
    â€œYes.” Talen double-checked the weapon stored at the small of his back. “You’re a fine king and well suited for the crown.” Golden eyes flared. “But in this instance, at this time, diplomacy be damned. Find your woman and mark her as your own.”
    While his brother was as subtle as a ten point earthquake, Dage hoped to entice his mate rather than conquer. As a first resort anyway. But whatever the means, the end result would be the same. He’d