“I …” Her lower lip trembled. “Reed,” she whispered.
“Good girl.” He lowered his mouth, pressing it against hers in an urgent kiss. Instead of responding, she squirmed in his arms, a move that infuriated him. “You’re mine,” he growled, unable to control his own words. His wolf urged him to prove it to her, to the world that she and the pup she carried belonged to him. “Say my name again.”
“I … Reed!”
He pressed his lower body to her so she could feel the evidence of his desire. “That’s right. My name is Reed. And I’m your True Mate.”
Her entire body went stiff. “You can’t … but you didn’t … you didn’t recognize me!”
So, she knew about that? Damn it all to hell. Someone—Eleanor or Bridget—must have told her. He wished they didn’t because how was he supposed to explain it to her? That he didn’t want her at first, but now he did? “You’re my True Mate. I know it. And now”—he slid his hand down to her belly—“you’re already with child. Our pup and my heir. We shall be married in a week—”
“No!” She wrenched herself away from him. “Reed … no …” She shook her head. “It can’t be …”
“Of course it is. Is that why you were avoiding me? Because you thought we weren’t mates?” He reached out to her. “I’m sorry, love. It’s hard to explain.”
“I … Reed, we can’t!” Her voice was shaking, and so were her hands.
“Then why did you come to me last night? Why did you give yourself to me? Don’t you feel anything for me?”
“It’s not … I can’t explain it.”
“Then try!” What was wrong with her? He was giving her the world—a coronet, his wealth and protection, the lofty station of being his duchess and Lupa. What more could she want? “Is there someone else?” He’d always suspected there was something strange about her relationship with her “cousin.” Or maybe it was Simon Richardson.
“No,” she denied. “I just … Reed …” She hesitated. “Reed, I’ve been lying to you. We’ve all been lying to you.”
Her words stunned him. “You’re not from America?”
“No. I mean, yes, we’re from America. But not from now.”
“Elise, love, you’re not making any sense.” He wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “Please, explain it to me.”
“Reed … Julianna, Cross, and I, we’re not from this time. Not 1820. We’re from the future. Over two hundred years into the future. My father is the Alpha of San Francisco and I was attending Lucas Anderson’s—that’s the Alpha of New York’s ascension—when I was kidnapped by the mage. Somehow, the dagger they were using for his ceremony turned out to be this magical artifact and … I can’t explain how but we were transported here. We weren’t supposed to show ourselves to you but then William was almost run over and …”
“Elise, this is madness.” What was she saying? “You’re not making any sense.”
“Please, believe me. Reed, that mage that attacked us, he’s the same one who kidnapped me. We unknowingly transported him back here, and now he wants the dagger. Your dagger. So he can go back home. And he’s going to—” She covered her mouth with her hands.
“He’s going to what?”
“Reed … I’m sorry.” She pushed at him. “I can’t … we can’t be together. It’s not meant to be. I d-d-don’t care for you at all.”
Her words sliced through him like a dull knife. She was making up this insane story all because she didn’t want to be with him. Once again, he had fallen in love with a woman who didn’t want him.
Things were different now, though. He was much older and wiser. Ice filled his veins, as numbness began to come over him. He dropped his hands to his sides. “If you didn’t care for me at all, then all you had to do was say it. There’s no need to concoct a silly story.”
“Reed, I’m not—”
“We shall talk about this later,” he said. “Don’t even think of running away from me now. Because if you are carrying my heir, then I will take that child, one way or another. But,” his voice turned edgy, “once I do, you shall be banished from my territory.”
She went white as a sheet but said nothing. He turned on his heel letting the numbness take over as he went back into the ballroom.
Chapter Sixteen
Elise couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t say a word, she couldn’t even think clearly. Not when her heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces.
Yes, she did everything she could to avoid him today, even delaying at Madame Marie’s. What could she do? Going to him last night was a mistake. But she just wanted one sweet memory of him to last her for the rest of her life before she went back to her own time where she belonged. She thought that maybe, since he was such a rake, that he would be glad she wasn’t demanding him to marry her after last night.
But Reed seemed to think otherwise. And True Mates? Was he crazy? If that were true, why didn’t he recognize her when they first met the way Bridget said he was supposed to?
No, they couldn’t be together. She just couldn’t hold on to that piece of hope, not when he was going to die tonight.
The terrace doors flew open, and for a second, fear gripped her as she thought it was Reed coming back.
“Where the hell have you been?” Julianna exclaimed as she burst out into the terrace. “We’re supposed to stick together inside where Cross can see us at all times.” That was part of their plan so they were ready when the mage attacked. “What the hell—Elise, are you okay?”
“I—” She couldn’t find the strength anymore to hold back, and she burst into tears. “Julianna,” she cried.
“Oh my—Elise!” Her arms wrapped around her. “What’s the matter? Tell me.”
She took a deep breath and told her friend about what happened
