Wilder's Mate Read Online Free PDF

pipes had been worked into the design of the room itself, framing wide, beautiful mirrors where they ran along the wall before curving down to feed three spacious tubs.
    Plants grew from copper planters in the corners of the room, with wild, exotic blossoms that reflected and multiplied in more silvered mirrors. It looked like a little slice of paradise in the midst of a hard, barren land, and her fascination lasted all of two seconds before her mind began to unravel the puzzles. Whoever had designed the room had been brilliant , and they’d turned that sharp intellect toward making a beautiful, comfortable place for women who needed a bit of peace in their arduous lives.
    All she’d ever built with her knowledge was weapons. “This is… It’s beautiful.”
    “Juliet’s son designed it.” Polly opened a cabinet and pulled out a white cotton robe. “He’s back east now, studying under some inventor in New York.”
    As well he should be. The tiniest tug of envy stirred, but repressing it had become habit. The best apprenticeship a girl could hope for was the sort she had—informal and indulgent. “Juliet must be proud.
    He must be very successful.”
    “She’ll talk your ear off if you ask about him.” Polly gestured to one of the bathtubs. “Do you need help with the spigots? Some of the girls have never seen hot and cold taps before, but I’m guessing you won’t be one of them.”
    Satira had almost forgotten about the promise of a bath. “No, no I can manage.” She accepted the robe and moved to a smooth wooden bench, settling herself gingerly as her abused muscles protested. “I hope.”
    “Looks like Wilder’s been riding you too hard.”
    If only she’d been a little more innocent, the words wouldn’t have brought fire to her cheeks. If only there was some way to convince herself that she didn’t want to ride Wilder until her knees gave out, until he took over and used all that preternatural strength and wild animal instinct to fuck her past the edge of reason.
    She muttered an unconvincing denial and turned her attention to her boots, too embarrassed to meet Polly’s eyes. There had to be something aberrant about a girl who liked beasts more than decent men, but at least it offered a comforting reassurance that Wilder wasn’t anything special—even if his ego might not agree.
    Polly hesitated beside the bench. “I’m sorry, do you want me to step out or stay and talk? I confess, I’m not quite sure which a woman from relatively polite society might prefer.” It was the first time in her life anyone had mistaken her as anything of the sort, and a startled laugh bubbled up. “I couldn’t say which they’d prefer either. I don’t mind talking at all, but I don’t know Wilder 22
    www.samhainpublishing.com

    Wilder’s Mate
    nearly so well as you. I only met him yesterday. I’m a bit…” She trailed off helplessly, unwilling to say the one word that seemed to fit. Witless.
    Polly smiled. “Flabbergasted?”
    “Yes.” Satira dropped her boot and curled her toes with a sigh. “I need a disguise that will make it easier for us to mingle with the vampires and their representatives without seeming suspicious.”
    “Of course you do. You’re going to the Deadlands.”
    “You have an idea?”
    “Yes, I did say that.” A hint of a smile played at her lips. “There are only a few options. The best, I believe, is for you to dress and act as though you’ve hired Wilder to escort you out to the border in search of a vampire patron.”
    It was impossible to keep her horror from her face. “People do that?”
    “Oh, yes. More than you might expect, really.”
    Perhaps Levi’s influence had instilled her with prejudices she would never overcome, because the thought made her queasy. It had been difficult enough to think that she might have to offer her neck to save Nathaniel, impossible to imagine doing so willingly. Regularly. “I think I’m more naive than I imagined.” Polly