Shielded Heart (The Infinite City, #2)

by Tiffany Roberts

“Do you recall our earlier discussion about telling little lies to help me feel better?” “I do. Especially the part where I implied it wouldn’t happen.”

“Come here,” Drakkal said, spreading his arms wide. “I’ll hug your pain and bitterness away.” “You are not my mother, azhera.” Drakkal’s mouth curled into a smirk. “Stop acting like a child and you won’t trigger my maternal instincts.”

“You will blossom soon enough, little flower,” he said softly, “and then you will realize your own beauty. I look forward to witnessing it.”

He wanted to take her in his arms, wanted to kiss her, wanted to caress her, wanted to pledge his eternal loyalty and devotion to her. Samantha was a priceless, one-of-a-kind treasure. And she was his. My mate.

Oh, my delicate flower…what am I going to do with you? What am I going to do to you?

Arcanthus sighed. “I already know what you’re going to say. I’m—” “I’m never going to sit in the car while you try to get a female to fuck you again,” Drakkal said. “And if you disrespect me in front of her one more time, I’m going to break off one of your arms and shove it up your ass to show you what it’s really like to be fucked.”

suppose they really want me dead,” Arcanthus said. Drakkal snorted. “Don’t they know there’s a waiting list?”

“What is your answer, my flower?” “What do you get if you win?” she whispered. “You.”

It would’ve been stupid to think a man could fix her, and that wasn’t what Arcanthus was doing; he was pushing her to fix herself. Through encouragement, praise, and compliments, he was helping Sam rebuild her self-esteem while earning her trust.

“Even when I was a slave, I never belonged so wholly to anyone as I do you.”