Free The Circle by Stella Berkley Page B

sure.
    “What’s so amusing?” Devin shot me a glance, his eyes sparkling with it.
    I shrugged, my face growing hotter by the second, and I found something interesting on the cement walkway to look at.
    He leaned closer as he tugged me toward the front doors. “Not all addictions are bad.”
    “Dammit!” My hand slapped over my mouth. He’d been listening to my thoughts.
    He whipped me around in front of him and gripped my chin with his fingers. Although the set of his mouth held a warning, his eyes shone with lingering humor. “This is your one warning. Don’t make me flog you before the Circle.” His lips played along my cheek up to my ear until I shivered and squirmed. “But perhaps you might enjoy that.”
    Judging by the endorphins flooding me, I thought I just might.
    Without meeting my wide eyes, he took us the rest of the way to the building and pulled open the glass door. Devin ushered me in first and followed after. Giant glass chandeliers dangling from the ornate ceiling shone a dim amber hue into the cavernous three-story lobby. Circular staircases ascended on both sides, leading to balconies that extended the length of the white room on the second and third floors.
    When I tore my gaze away from the spectacle before me, it dawned on me that we were alone. I glanced at Devin. By the twitching of his jaw, I thought maybe it surprised him, too.
    A set of double doors swung open on the far side of the room. A black cloaked figure emerged and glided toward us, his robe billowing out behind.
    I squeezed Devin’s hand, and he tugged me close to his body, wrapping a protective arm around my shoulders. His bicep flexed and hardened to stone where it pressed against my back. My breath quickened as the immortal drew closer.
    “Sovereign.” Devin offered a subtle nod of his head before focusing on me. “Offer him your wrist, Katharine.”
    Shit. I hesitated a moment before turning my left wrist up to Malachi and clenching my teeth. I told myself to think of drowning kittens and wrinkled old men. I chanted the mantra several times, but my anticipation of getting caught up in an orgasmic dance grew anyway.
    Malachi moved to stand in front of me. His flaming gaze locked onto mine. At my squirming, Malachi chuckled and brushed his fingers over my mark.
    I whimpered and shifted when his mouth replaced his hand, kissing and licking along the black imprint of my bond with Devin. Sparkling fire traveled deep into my body. Pressure grew between my thighs, one I wanted and didn’t at the same time—not from him.
    As a cry launched from my throat, Devin yanked me backwards and away from Malachi’s touch.
    “You didn’t tell me the marks ran so deep, Brother.” A primal hunger shadowed Malachi’s stare as he took me in from top to bottom.
    Devin shot words from his mouth like bullets. “Where are our brethren?”
    Pale hands emerged from the sleeves of Malachi’s cloak and pushed the hood from his head. Shining black hair slid forward on his face, along with the jewel-laden braids. “They have prepared the chamber and await you and your mate, of course.”
    Devin’s arm clamped tighter around me, and a growl rumbled past his lips. “But we agreed I would have Katharine al—”
    “Would you truly deny your people an ascent such as this? Do not keep us waiting.” Malachi’s lip turned up in a snarl, emphasizing his descended fangs. He pointed to a door on my right. “Prepare yourselves for your final bonding.” He turned and strode back the way he came.

 
     

     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    Strangled for air, I turned to Devin. “What just happened?”
    “Silence!” He grabbed my wrist and led me to the door so fast I had to jog to keep up. My heels clicked like gunshots off the tile, echoing back from the high ceiling.
    Once inside the room, Devin slammed the door shut behind us and flicked on a light. The large white space held a bed with a red silk duvet. On top, lay one shiny black robe and one