Chapter 46

"All to get Fate to stop harnessing Sinful?" I question into the air, wishing I was up there on the Moon myself. "Why are you so obsessed with Sinful?"

Asher scoffs. "I wouldn't call it an obsession. Sinful isn't a good guy, of course, but I guess you could say that's what I like about him."

"Do you like the fact that he manipulated me into sleeping with him?"

A different kind of coldness settles over us. This is brittle and icy. I refuse to let my mind wander back to that night, where Sinful got into my head, and altered my thoughts beyond belief. As far as I'm aware, Asher didn't want it to happen, referring back to his expression when I first told him.

Yet somehow...Just thinking about it makes me feel ill.

He leans on his side to properly face me, his eyes blazing angrily. "I won't let that pass, ever. I've already spoken to him, but if you even say the word, I will take action."

"It's not as if I didn't want it," I sigh, my gaze fluttering away from his.

I'm not sure why I'm so calm right now as Asher reaches out, slightly grass stained fingers brushing against my cheek. I start slightly at that feeling. Even if I wanted to, there's no excusing the mate bond. Why did I have to be paired with one of the most problematic males in both the mortal and immortal lands.

"I'm sorry for being so cold to you this entire time," he breathes, while I shiver at his light touch he moves down my neck. "I wanted to protect you. I always wanted to protect you."

I swallow, seeing nothing but painful honesty in his eyes, as he struggles to explain himself to me. Without even thinking, I grab his hand, holding is gently against my face. There are so many words my mind presses me to speak, but I can't open my mouth.

Asher doesn't seem to mind. Instead, he rolls over, leaning over me. My breath hitches, as I stare up at my mate, his darkened hair tinted by the moonlight. He is breathtakingly beautiful, which doesn't help my situation. At the same time, I can't find any reason not to believe him after his explanation of everything.

"I'll never forgive myself for what I've put you through," Asher murmurs, leaning down close to my ear, stealing those golden eyes from my gaze. "I want to take you home."

At that moment, I nearly begged him to, however, he stole my words with a kiss.

I'll never not enjoy kissing him. His lips. His everything. I'm making that vow now, as I spin my fingers into his hair, feeling one of his hands press tightly against my side, while the other keeps him above me.

I ignore the hard ground underneath me, instead concentrating on how skilfully he moves his lips, drawing back slightly only to come right back, leaving me breathless and completely at his mercy.

As he pulls away, he doesn't stop, and I don't expect him to.

He lays between my slightly propped open legs, pinning me down by my hips, while his hands do work to slide under my shirt. His confidence is rubbing off on me, as my hands move down his back, admiring the feeling of every muscle, tense as he holds himself up.

"Asher," I whisper huskily, my breath struggling to come back. "Don't you think right here isn't a very good idea?"

With his lips against my neck, he only mumbles his disagreement. I dig the tips of my fingers into his back.

"What do you want?" He asks, glancing up at me for only a second before he moves back to my neck, drawing out as much pleasure as possible. "Right here? Right now?"

What do I want? I have no idea.

"Do you want me? As your mate?" He asks, the tips of his fingers drawing against my stomach, arching my back off the ground.

At that moment, I had no idea what he meant. All I knew is that I wanted him right here, right now. My mentality is completely shrouded by list, which is his doing.

So when I nod, I didn't expect it.

He kisses me once more on my neck, before I feel the burning pain of teeth in my neck.

He marked me.

Pain. And a whole lot of it too.

It's not the average kind of pain either. It sears right up my neck, like the lick of a flame, right to the base of my skull, heating everything up to the point I considered that my body might just explode.

I grip tightly onto Asher's hair, not sure how to react. He marked me. I'm his now, and he's mine. There is nothing to change this natural fact that has brought us together as mate. Even if it makes me feel angry, even if it has me completely stunned, this is now a fact. I could both kill Asher and make love to him at the same time.

When he finally pulls away, I use both my hands on his chest to push him back.

I need some space right now if I have a chance of comprehending what just happened. Thinking back to when I first met the gaze of this golden eyed man, I would have never guessed he was my mate. Sure, our fates were intertwined in the most unique way, however, mates? I hardly know anything about Asher.

I know he dragged me here and used me. He used me to 'help' Fate, and then what? Is he going to keep me in the immortal lands just because he now has marked me? If so, I'll never forgive him. I'll hate him forever, even if my emotions right now are all over the place.

"I can't believe you just did that," I gasp, my hand coming up to my neck. It bleeds only slightly, but it feels as though it's gushing open, running down my neck to my shoulder.

Asher wipes at his mouth, eyes feral. He's fighting off his primitive nature, I can tell. It has seeped into his veins, consuming him to the point where he has to clench his fists, his teeth, to stop himself from jumping at me. At this point, he just trying to stop himself from angering me further.

"Why?" I growl, wishing the stinging on my neck would cease. "Asher, why would you do something like this?"

"I had to," He breathed. "I had to show you what you mean to me. That I am angry about what Sinful did, and that from here on out, you come first in everything. Your wishes come before mine."

I shake my head at him. "You see, I don't believe you."

"Alaya, I had no other choice. I want to protect you. Now, with whatever you want to do next. Do you want me to take you home? I will, if that is what you please. But right now, I can't come with you. Not until everything has been dealt with here," Asher pleads, stepping forward only for me to match the step back.

"You know what I want? I want you to let Aspen go. Let him run away and live his life elsewhere. Pick someone else to murder in cold blood," I snap, still stepping back, trampling the emerald green grass behind me.

Asher looks regretful, as if my words are bringing him great pain. This is the problem. Still, even now, as Asher is my mate, and has marked me, I can't tell whether his intentions are truly good or bad. When I first thought I would meet my mate, I believed I would fall instantly in love. I even considered him to be a good man.

Even though the feeling is there with Asher, I'm left wondering what is going on in his head. Does he truly care for me? Or is his motive to turn around and change everything around in front of my face. I wouldn't be there first time...