Cassie opened her bedroom door and stopped at the sight of Trik, in all his Elven glory, lying on her bed. He was so graceful and masculine at the same time. His hands were tucked behind his head, his legs were crossed at the ankle and stretched out in front of him as he reclined on her pillows. His head turned and their eyes met. Her breath caught at the devotion she saw blazing from them; devotion that was aimed at her.

“Come here,” he told her as he sat up, his movements so fluid that it was mesmerizing to watch. And mesmerized, she was.

“Cassandra,” his firm voice shook her out of her stupor.

She walked towards him slowly, not out of fear but out of a strong need to just look at him, to not blink for fear that he wasn’t real and when she opened her eyes he’d be gone.

He sat on the edge of her bed and when she reached him she was once again struck by his confidence and passion. He reached up and his hand traced her neck until it was under her hair and holding her possessively. His other hand gripped her hip and pulled her closer. They were eye level with one another because he was seated and that meant their mouths were in perfect position for doing what Trik was pulling her in for. His lips connected with hers and she was lost. The world faded away. Syndra and her ominous words, Tamsin and his implori ng about the Forest Lords, the Dark Elf King and his evil plan, it was all gone in the wake of Trik’s incredible mouth. Cassie was no longer tentative in her kissing with Trik and so there was no hesitation when he encouraged her to open her mouth. Their tongues danced to an intimate rhythm and Cassie could feel it pulsing in her chest. And as before , she could feel deep inside, her soul reaching for his. Trik pulled her closer and she knew that he felt it too because the intensity wrenched up another notch. He groaned into her mouth and it brought a gasp from Cassie’s lungs. Her hands lifted of their own accord and she ran her fingers through his long, dark hair. Trik pulled back from her lips and began to kiss her jaw line, down to her ear, behind her ear and down her neck. Cassie’s head fell back and she heard Trik chuckle. She felt his tongue swirl against her skin and the desire that ran through her body was so intense it jerked her up.

Trik felt her body stiffen and let her take a step back from him.

They both stared at the other, their breathing fast and uneven. Trik’s eyes glowed and Cassie watched as his hands flexed open and closed as if he were fighting to keep from touching her. She knew the feeling. She wanted nothing more than to run back to his arms, but they had to stop. She refused to toss aside her morals because she couldn’t control herself, no matter how amazing Trik felt.

“Are you alright?” He asked her softly.

Cassie nodded. “What about you?”

Trik chuckled. “I’ll be okay, beautiful. You are a temptation like I have never known. Everything inside me screams, she’s yours, takeher, bring her into your world, bind her to you . It’s ingrained into my DNA, it’s written on my soul. You are a part of me and I long to be complete, I long to complete you. Physical intimacy is incredibly intense.”

“Ya think?” Cassie snorted.

“I will never try and push you Cassie. We will wait until we do your human ritual, and until we are bound before the King.”

Cassie’s brow furrowed. “Uh, what do you mean bound?”

“Please tell me you don’t have some kinky ritual where they tie us together naked under the moonlight.”

Trik laughed. “As intriguing as that sounds, no. That is not what being bound means. In order for the binding of our souls to be complete we must go before the King and he will perform the binding ceremony. It is something the Forest Lords implemented, a sacrifice of blood in order for our souls to join. Once we consummate our union it will be done. You will be bound to me for eternity and me to you.”

Cassie stared at Trik, unsure of how to respond.

“Cassie?” Trik leaned forward and tugged her by the hand. He pulled her down onto the bed to sit next him. “Talk to me , A'maelamin.”

“I’m not really sure what to say. That seems, so, permanent.”

“Is your marriage not permanent? Are you not bound to that man for life?”

Cassie snorted. “Hardly. Not very many people stay married for life. We aren’t bound soul to soul. It’s a choice.”

“You have a choice Cassie. I won’t force you to bind to me.”

Cassie looked up at him. “What happened to, I will never let you go, you are stuck with me blah, blah, blah?”

Trik grinned. “Oh you are stuck with me. Even if you don’t choose me, I’m not going anywhere. I will be your constant shadow.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “So my options are possessive dark elf mate, or freaky stalker dude?”

“That about sums it up,” Trik confirmed.

Cassie smacked his chest playfully.

Trik took her hand in his and pulled it to his lips. He kissed her palm and looked into her eyes.

“We need to talk,” he murmured against her skin, all playfulness gone.

Cassie nodded and let out a deep breath. “I know.”

She turned, pulling one leg up on the bed while the other dangled off the side so that she could look at him. “You said you wouldn’t keep secrets from me.”

Trik nodded his head once.

“What is your King planning, Trik?”

Trik let go of her hand and stood up. She watched his graceful movements as he paced her room. She waited patiently.

“The dark elves own more than half of the Casinos in your country, and many throughout the world.”