1 - Adam

I couldn’t believe it. The Daniels’ secret daughter was my mate. I knew the second I saw her, but it was obvious she didn’t understand what had happened. She was gorgeous, and the way she looked in that dress set my blood pumping.

The animal in me wanted to take her and claim her as mine, but she was human. I doubted she would take kindly to that. Everything in me screamed “mine.” It took all my self-control not to drag her away from this party. But at least we were going somewhere we could be alone.

I wanted to know her. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her. As she led me up the stairs I’d just watched her descend, I couldn’t help but think about the mate bond.

All fae had a mate out there somewhere, but few of them actually found theirs. There were billions of people in the world, and the odds of finding one’s mate were slim to none. But I’d found her in the most unlikely of places: the home of my enemies.

Years of feuding and fighting had left both of our families tense about the treaty, but it needed to work. We needed peace. We couldn’t afford to lose any more lives. My clan was dwindling as it was, without all the pointless killings.

I’d killed before, but I only did it when necessary, and this no longer felt necessary. To think, if I’d only agreed to the peace treaty sooner, I might have been that much closer to Claire.

Claire. My mate. I would never get over that.

We finally reached her room, and I was surprised at how colorful it was. One wall was a mural of a coastal city, the sun setting over the water like flame. On the other walls were dozens of paintings of stunning landscapes and exotic places.

“You did all this?” I asked.

She looked almost embarrassed. “I did.”

“They’re amazing!”

Her expression turned skeptical. “It’s not nice to lie.”

I gaped at her. How did she not see how talented she was? “That’s why I don’t,” I replied.

She pondered my words for a moment before saying, “My parents allow me to paint these landscapes, but one day, I’ll visit them. Pictures on the Internet can’t do the real thing justice. One day, I’ll paint from my own view instead of painting from reference.”

“I believe you will,” I said honestly, “and it will be amazing.”

She smiled then, and though it wasn’t a genuine smile, it lit up her entire face. I could only imagine what a genuine smile would do, and I was determined to find out.

“There’s something about you,” she said. “I almost feel like I know you, but we’ve only just met.”

“I can explain that,” I said, jumping at the opening.

“Oh?” She arched a brow. “Do tell.”

“You know that connection you feel? It feels like it’s at a soul-deep level, doesn’t it?”

She nodded.

“That’s because it is,” I said. “You and I are tied together. We’re fated mates.”

“You know, that statement is just so ridiculous that it has to be true. Me—a human—mated to the leader of the Juarez fae?” She laughed. Then she sobered. “But I feel drawn to you, and I know enough about the fae to understand that this is the most likely answer.”

I moved closer to her, crossing the distance between us. “I’ve waited a long time for you, not knowing if I would ever find you, and now that I have you, I will never let you go.” We were so close now, our bodies almost touching and our breath mingling.

“Is that a promise … or a threat?” she breathed.

“Maybe a little of both,” I said, reaching out to brush the back of my hand over the hair on her cheek.

She didn’t pull away. I could smell it on her: desire. She wanted me just as much as I wanted her.

“Okay,” she said.

“Okay?” I was surprised she’d agreed so quickly. I’d expected more opposition, considering she was human.

“My parents are fated mates, too, you know,” she started. “I’ve seen them together, and I know what this could be. Fate doesn’t send you someone that isn’t a fit for you, so okay. I’m willing to try this.”

“I will make you love me,” I said, then I cursed. “That came out wrong. What I mean to say is … I will show you all the reasons why you will love me.”

She gazed deeply into my eyes, as if she was searching for something. Then she nodded. “Yes.”

“Great. And the first thing I’m going to do as your mate is break you out of here. It’s one thing to stay somewhere because you want to be there; it’s quite another to remain somewhere because you’re trapped. I will show you what it means to be free.”

Grabbing her hand, I pulled her out of the bedroom and down the hall. “What are you saying?” she asked as she followed me.

“I’m taking you home with me.”

She seemed conflicted at my words, although I couldn’t understand why. She was practically a prisoner here, and I was offering her freedom. I thought she’d be happy. Her silence concerned me, but at least she hadn’t said no. Yet.

We reentered the party, which was in full swing without her. Amazing that even her own birthday party had become a political event rather than something to celebrate Claire. I didn’t doubt her parents loved her, but they had kept her so sheltered that she couldn’t enjoy her own birthday.

There they were. Pablo and Sylvia Daniels, the leaders of the Daniels clan and my future in-laws. I already hated them for not allowing Claire out of the house, but I pasted on a polite smile as we approached.

“Claire, what’s going on?” Pablo asked, glancing from me to her to our intertwined fingers.

“Daddy, Adam and I … we—” Claire started.

“Pablo, your daughter and I are mated, and I’ll be taking her with me,” I interjected because it was obvious Claire couldn’t get the words out.

Pablo quickly turned from confused and concerned to resigned. If he and Sylvia were mates, then he knew how strong the pull was. He knew it was futile keeping me away from her.

Sylvia went from confused to elated. “This is wonderful!” she said, clapping her hands. “A union such as this will secure the peace between our families.”

I couldn’t deny that. Now that I’d found my mate, there was no way I’d do anything to jeopardize her happiness or safety, and I was pretty sure that killing her family would jeopardize one or both of those.

Speaking of her happiness, I was going to show her the world beyond the four walls of her room. Though she was still strangely silent, I knew that, in time, she would accept this—accept us—fully. One way or another, that woman was mine.