Chapter Thirty Five


    "Does whatever you have to tell me endanger you?"


    I thought about it. "Not really, why?"


    "Then I can promise you, Thane wouldn''t know.


    "Beatrix suspects something."


    "Well, she''s a fool; nothing to bother about," Axel said. He didn''t seem to like her very much, and that brought a smile to my lips.


    "This is something to bother about. She had seen me when we both visited the training grounds. And she had pointed out the fact that I had no visible marks due to the..." I trailed off, but Axel understood where I was heading. "She has these theories; she thinks this might be a mistake, and I hadn''t actually been mated to Thane, or there is some kind of agreement, she also suspects that I ckmailed him into this."


    "ckmail?" Axel scoffed. "You don''t have to worry. I bet she is hoping this is an agreement too."


    There was a knock on the door.


    "I''m not expecting anyone," I said to Axel.


    "That must be the maid. It''s lunch time.


    Thane should be back by now, and I was getting worried. Axelte.


    gone too, as it was already


    I spotted the book Barbara''s Fantasies on the table where I had kept itst. I couldn''t help the rush of embarrassment that filled me as I recalled Thane reading a very disturbing passage of the book to me. I had regretted ever bringing it here; of course he would find out; there was no hiding anything from Thane. I picked up the book and headed to the waste bin. I discarded it.


    I stared at the bookying there in the bin; it seemed to be calling to me.


    I had taken it from the library; the least I could do was return it back there, right? I picked up the book from the trash, hiding it beneath our bed. I would return it on my next visit to the library.


    The door was suddenly pulled open.


    I couldn''t help the anticipation I felt, knowing Thane had returned, but then..., there was silence.


    "Thane?" I called out, but there was no response "Thane!" I called out louder, feeling a little


    Chapter Thirty Five


    bit of panic rising. But there was no response. I didn''t go all the way to the door; if Thane hadn''t been the one, then whoever walked in would be there waiting. Instead, I ran, heading to the bathroom, and when I was in, I locked the door.


    I ced my hands over my mouth in an attempt to stay silent; my breath seemed toe out louder than normal, and if that didn''t give me out, my pounding heart would have done just


    that.


    I heard the footsteps. It hadn''t been one person. I could tell from the footsteps.


    There was a loud kick on the door, and the lock gave out. I hadn''t been afraid of anything that could be stopped by a simple lock.


    Iunched at the first person I could see, pushing my way to get to the door, and escaped them, but I felt a strong grip on my hair, holding me back. I punched out at the person, not caring where my hitsnded; I had to do something. The desperation fuelled me, but then I noticed the others.


    They were about ten present-more than I had anticipated-and they were all in ck. It had been an attack, and every part of me knew that Thane had no part in this, but the only person I could think of who could be responsible was the person I had just met a while ago; The same person who must definitely hated me but had tried covering it up. Beatrix. 1