Chapter 121: My bite could kill you

Later that same night, Dorian returned to the bedroom. He had slipped away briefly after Anthony mind-linked him to report that he and Pandora had returned from their trip to the Academy.

Having ironed out the necessary details with Anthony in his study, Dorian quietly opened the bedroom door and stepped back into the dim warmth of the room.

Alyssa was lying on her side in the center of the bed, the silk covers drawn up around her waist. She was wide awake, her blue eyes staring unblinkingly into the shadows. Tucked neatly behind her back was the plush teddy bear Dorian had bought her during her stay at the hospital.

Dorian paused beside the bed, narrowing his eyes at the stuffed toy as if it were a rival vying for his wife’s affection. Stripping off his robe, he climbed onto the bed and snatched the bear away.

He contemplated flinging it across the room, but on second thought, he set it carefully at the farthest corner of the bed before turning his full attention back to Alyssa.

He slid beneath the covers, one arm reaching across her waist to lock around her midsection. He pulled her against his broad chest until her back was pressed firmly against him, every curve of her body molded seamlessly against his own. She felt so warm, soft, and fragile in his grip.

"Are you asleep, my love?" he whispered against the shell of her ear.

Alyssa let out a quiet breath, shaking her head against the pillow. She wasn’t asleep; in fact, she didn’t feel the slightest pull of drowsiness. Her mind was restless.

"What’s bothering you?" Dorian prodded softly. "You’ve been awfully quiet."

"I’m okay," she murmured softly.

"Look at me, Alyssa," he commanded gently.

She turned, adjusting her body until she was completely cradled in his embrace. Her breasts pressed against his broad, warm chest, her small hands tucked securely between them.

Dorian’s hand began a slow descent down her skin, tracing the curve of her waist to the soft flare of her hip, down to the supple flesh of her thigh. He stroked back upward, his fingers caressing the curve of her bum with intense familiarity.

"Do you need anything?" he murmured.

She shook her head. "No. What did Anthony say?"

"The entrance examinations at the Lycan Academy will be conducted in a few weeks," Dorian explained, his voice low and soothing. "They will test you across various disciplines, and then you may freely select whichever field catches your interest."

Her eyes brightened. "That sounds wonderful. I have always been fascinated by Art and design. I would love to pursue an Art degree, if that is alright with you."

"Of course it’s alright," Dorian murmured instantly, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple. "You always have my unwavering support. You know that, little lamb."

She nodded slowly, reaching up with one hand to trace his sharp jawline. The fine, neatly trimmed stubble tickled her palm as her thumb brushed over his skin.

Dorian studied her face for a long beat. Her head lay cradled in the bend of his arm while his fingers idly played with the soft silk of her dark curls. His other hand continued its lazy slow circles over her hip and bum, squeezing lightly at intervals.

"Talk to me, my love," he insisted finally, his golden eyes searching hers. "I know something is bothering you. You’ve been withdrawn ever since we came upstairs. Did I say or do something to upset you?"

She shook her head without hesitation. "No. No, Dorian, you didn’t."

"Then tell me what you are thinking about," he begged. "Please. It kills me to see you troubled like this."

The truth was, Alyssa’s mind was utterly consumed by the haunting story he had shared earlier regarding Elvira. She couldn’t stop replaying his words on a loop, how the death of his former mate had shattered his soul and broken his mind.

A burning question continued to claw at her heart. Sage and Morgana had vividly detailed how Elvira met her end, claiming that Dorian had lost his sanity to his beast and pushed Elvira over a jagged cliff to her death.

While Dorian had opened up about his grief, he hadn’t explained what actually happened that dreadful day. Alyssa was dying to know what had truly transpired. She needed to know if he had really thrown his mate and newborn over a cliff in a fit of feral madness, or if there was a hidden truth to it.

The question hovered at the tip of her tongue. But looking into his worried eyes in the quiet intimacy of their bed, her courage faltered. This moment was far too precious, far too tender to shatter. She refused to let a dead woman stand between them tonight.

So, she pivoted to the second burning question on her mind.

"Why haven’t you marked me?"

Dorian drew back slightly, shock flickering across his features. He had always known a day would arrive when she would confront him about it, but he hadn’t anticipated the question surfacing tonight.

"I’m just wondering," Alyssa continued softly. "The day Jake discovered Henna was his mate, you said something that stuck with me. You said Lycans never hesitate when they find their true mates, and that Jake would mark her that very night."

She paused, looking up into his eyes to gauge his reaction. He didn’t look angry or defensive; he just looked patient, waiting for her to speak her mind.

"Go on," he urged gently.

Taking a deep breath, Alyssa let the rest of her bottled up insecurity spill out in one breathless rush. "Are you hesitating to mark me because I am not your true mate? Or do you simply not find me attractive enough? Or is it because of Elvira? I would completely understand if you are holding back out of respect for her memory. I just need to know why."

Dorian waited until every last word left her lips. The moment she fell silent, he leaned in and captured her mouth in a deep, tender kiss. His hand slid up her spine, his fingers threading into her hair to hold her steady as he devoured her lips.

His fingers gently massaged her scalp as he deepened the kiss, his teeth lightly nipping at her bottom lip before pulling it into his mouth. He sucked softly on the tender flesh before releasing it with a quiet pop.

Alyssa opened her eyes slowly, her breath hitching, her lips tingling and her body trembling with sudden, electric desire. He had never kissed her like that.

"First of all, never, ever, entertain the thought that you are not beautiful," he said. "Never assume for one second that I do not find you attractive. You drive me insane, Alyssa. You are the most breathtaking woman my eyes have ever beheld, and you have no idea how hard I try not to take you every single time I am beside you."

His husky declaration sent a wild, fluttering fire sweeping straight to the pit of her stomach.

"As for why I have not marked you," he continued, his gaze locking onto hers. "It has nothing to do with the mate bond, and certainly nothing to do with Elvira. The day I fell in love with you was the day I made peace with her death."

Alyssa swallowed hard, her throat dry as she licked her lips. "Then why haven’t you made any attempt to mark me?"

"Because my bite could kill you."

Her eyes widened. Of all the answers she had mentally prepared for, that was the last thing she expected to hear.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said," Dorian answered. "Being a Lycan with ancient demon blood comes with certain restrictions. My bite is venomous, and it is deadly enough to drop even the strongest Lycan. I can’t risk hurting you just because I am tempted to place my mark on you."

"Oh," she whispered, the breath leaving her lungs. "I never even considered that."

"I intended to explain it to you, but so much has been happening," he murmured softly. "I never marked Elvira either, for the same reason. Nina tried to find a protective remedy, but she was never able to create one."

He gently cradled her face, his thumb brushing over her cheekbone. "That is the only reason I have refrained from marking you, my love. There is no other secret. Nothing else."

His explanation instantly lifted the weight that had been crushing her chest. A smile broke across her face, her blue eyes shimmering in the dim lamplight.

"I feel so much better now that I know," she admitted softly.

Dorian let out a low chuckle, leaning down to kiss her again, letting his lips linger warmly against hers before drawing back.

"If you ever have doubts or require answers to anything, never hesitate to ask me. I am your husband. You have every right to question me."

Her smile widened as she nodded against his palm. "Alright."

At the back of her mind, the mystery surrounding Elvira’s death surfaced once more, but she deliberately pushed it aside. She would ask him for answers after the Moon Ceremony.

Within minutes, the exhaustion of the day caught up with her, and her eyelids grew heavy. She snuggled deep into his arms, letting out a soft, contented yawn against his chest.

"Goodnight, Dorian," she whispered sleepily. "I love you."

"I love you, my sweet lamb," he whispered back, tightening his arms around her.

He watched her drift off into sleep. But as her breathing evened out, something caught his attention.

For a split second, that same crimson glow he saw in her eyes earlier, flashed across her eyes a second time.