316 I Have to Mark Draven Tonight

bMeredith/bb. /b

I didn’t wait for Dennis to finish that statement. The next second, I yanked my hand from Draven’s grip and interrupted in with a re

sharp enough to slice him in half.

“I dare you to finish that sentence. I promise you will walk around Duskmoor City with recognition marks on your face.”

Dennis immediately raised both hands in surrender, “Nope. I don’t want trouble with you.”

“Toote,” Draven said smoothly, his tone like steel wrapped in velvet. “You just got yourself in one.”

I blinked, turning to him. “What?”

Draven’s gaze stayed on mine, his lips curving faintly. “Would you like to watch a match tomorrow at noon? Dennis against three of my

best–trained warriors.”

My grin came so fast I couldn’t stop it. “Yes.”

Dennis groaned. “Oh,e on-”

But I was already imagining it, and the pondered alone made my mood soar.

A few minutester, we advanced out into the sun. Draven’s men were already waiting, lined neatly beside the three ck cars in convoy.

Draven led me to the first car we arrived in. He pulled open the front passenger door, holding it steady until I got in, and only when I was

settled did he close it gently.

Then through the windshield, I saw him turn to Dennis and Jeffery.

From where I sat, I could see all three of their faces clearly; their expressions were sharp and serious, like they had stepped straight from

Yaughter into war talk.

My curiosity tugged at me hard as I wondered what they were discussing and what had changed so quickly.

A minuteter, Draven strode around the hood and got in behind the wheel. Then he caught my searching look right away.

“I know you are curious,” he said, fastening his seatbelt. His tone was calm, steady. “Don’t worry. I will brief you soon–and start involving

you in the serious matters.”

I only managed a nod, but inside, something eased. For so long, I had watched him carry Wanda along in all the important political and

war private meetings while I was left on the sidelines.

Hearing this from him now made me feel like I mattered. Like I wasn’t just his wife in name, but his partner.

“iMake /ihim mark iyou /iitonight/i.” Valmora’s voice suddenly slipped into my mind, smooth but firm.

My heart lurched that same second. I didn’t see thising. “iTonight/i?” I asked, waiting for her confirmation.

“Yes,” Valmora pressed, giving me no time to hesitate.

11.10

316 I Have to Mark Draven Tonight

“We will fall into heat tonight, Meredith. A strong one. No matter how many rounds of sex you and Draven have, you won’t be satisfied until

the bond is sealed. What matters is the connection, the permanence of it. That’s what tonight is about.”

I swallowed hard, trying to calm the sudden rush in my veins. “But-

”

“No excuses,” Valmora interrupted me off, her tone sharper now. You felt it yourself itoday/i. That ire /iiof /iiannoyance /iwith Dennis, how ieasily /i

your emotions spiked? That was ithe /ibeginning. Don’t deny it.”

I sank back into my seat, fingers twisting in myp. She was right. I had snapped at Dennis, sharper than usual, and the burn inside me

hadn’t fully cooled since.

And because my mind has been elsewhere, I didn’t realize that my heat was fast approaching.

“Help me then,” I whispered to her in thought. “iPlease/i. I don’t iwant /ito iruin /iithis/i.”

Valmora was quiet for a moment. Then, her voice curled around me like smoothly and irresistibly.

“iTell /ime thisi, /iMeredith–ihow /iimuch /ido iyou /iitruly /iwant iDraven /ito ibe /iiyours/i? How ideep /iiis /iiyour /iithirst /ifor ithe /iipower /iithat /iies /iwith himi, /ifor the

strength to irise /iiabove /iiwhat /iithey /iihave /iialways /iicalled /iiyou/ii? /iiCursed/ii. /iiWeak/i. iNothing/i.”

Her words hit me straight in the chest. I pondered about Wanda–wicked, hateful Wanda. She had everything I didn’t: confidence, skill,

the admiration of people.

She had always been ahead of me, except for two things, heart and character. The ability to love without turning it into a weapon.

I wanted more, not just to match Wanda, but to surpass her. I wanted to be an asset to Draven, not dead weight he had to protect.

My chest ached with that desire, fierce and raw.

“iThat’s /iiit/i, “Valmora murmured softly, almost satisfied. “iNow /i

iyou /i

iunderstand/ii./ii” /i

I bit down on my lip. “Soi, /iiwhat /ido I do?”

But Valmora’s presence retreated like mist. “iI /iibelieve /iiyou /iican /iihandle /iithings /iifrom /iihere /iiby /iiyourself/ii./ii” /i

Her silence left me staring out the window at the blur of passing streets, heart racing, pulse unsteady.

“Are you okay?” Draven’s deep voice immediately interrupted through my silent thoughts.

I shed and turned my head to him. For a second, I thought of lying, and brushing it off with some careless excuse, but something in his

eyes told me not to.

So, I nodded lightly. “I’m fine. Just… thinking about something.”

His gaze flickered toward me briefly, sharp yet unreadable. “Care to share?”

A small smile tugged at my lips as I shook my head. “No.”

For a moment, I thought he might press me. But he only shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smile as his attention

returned to the road.

11:10

3161 Have to Mark Draven Tonight

Twenty minutester, the cars rolled to a stop in front of the estate.

And the little smile I had from enjoying my day out with Draven faltered the second I caught sight of Mabel and Gary at the entrancei. /i

They looked like they had just returned from their own little adventure, smug and well–fed.

Draven’s men were already unloading the shopping bags from the trunk, each one carrying more than I had even realized we had

bought.

As we stepped out of the car, Draven reached for my hand without hesitation, entwining his fingers with mine under the intense gaze I

felt on us.

I didn’t need to look twice to tell where it came from. Mabel’s eyes were fixed on the bags in the guards‘ hands, her expression shifting

between curiosity and envy. Typical of her.

My sister had always had an obsession with things–clothes, jewellery, anything that glittered. It almost made meugh. Almost. Instead,

I scoffed inwardly and held Draven’s hand tighter.

“Alpha Draven,” Mabel greeted first, her tone all politeness as she quickly masked her look. Gary echoed her a beatter.

Draven gave a slight nod, calm and unreadable as always, and kept walking. They stepped aside quickly, leaving the path clear for us.

The heavy doors swung open, and we stepped inside together, his men following closely behind with the bags.

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