Bound by Water by Monica La Porta

Author:Monica La Porta [La Porta, Monica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-03-15T23:00:00+00:00

17

The more the evening progressed, the more Atreides feared that he needed to put the binding frenzy behind him as soon as possible. Or he would be grinding his teeth every time a man looked at Ariel. When he had decided against mating with a mortal, he had grossly misunderstood what kind of strength of will would be required of him. Even as a shifter, he was just a man made of flesh, and there was only so much he could endure before he snapped and did something he would regret later.

His father had tried to explain to young Atreides how mates were affected by a frenzy that would only abide when the two parts of the whole were united. At the time, Atreides had found the speech slightly farfetched, more a folktale than fact. Growing up, he had witnessed a few of his shifter friends going through a temporary madness when they found their mates. But he had discarded the notion that he would act like them. He was stronger than his friends, and through years of rigorous study, he had left behind the coarseness that seemed to be the common trait for shifters. Although Ariel would probably disagree on that, given that he had all but assaulted her the very first time they met. Would she ever believe that he was usually smoother than the Neanderthal that pawed at her every chance he got?

Even the slight hint of interest from another man would force Atreides to see him as a competitor for Ariel’s favor, and his shifter nature would drive him to eliminate the threat. Alexander’s flirty remark had almost had Atreides growling and ready to fight. And Atreides knew how much the Greek doted on his wife. What would happen with a stranger? Atreides didn’t even want to entertain the thought. He was a pacifist, for Neptune’s sake, not a caveman who would club the first man who so much as looked at his mate.

Still, his hand pressed against Ariel’s shirt, his fingers inching under the garment’s hem to remind her she was his, and the rest of the group that she was off-limits.

“The prince asked for a private meeting with you two,” Malina said, stopping at the ironwork gate that led into the prince’s apartments.

Ariel stiffened under his touch.

Malina smiled at her. “Don’t worry. Odescalchi knows your terms, and he has agreed to keep you out of the limelight, but he still would like to thank you personally.” She moved to the side of the gate.

“I’ll make sure that your name isn’t mentioned anywhere. We only need to let the Reds know that you have the money.” Atreides hated to have to tell her a half truth and was counting the minutes until he would be able to be completely honest with her.

Tonight, Atreides’ plan was to warn Tancredi that, even if just a mortal, Ariel was untouchable. The fact she would have the money to repay her father’s debt was secondary. The presence of the

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