Enthralled (The Spider's Mate, #2)

by Tiffany Roberts

“He will not have you,” Ketahn said. “She will not have me.” Ivy swallowed hard and lifted a hand to touch Ketahn’s arm. “Ketahn?” He stiffened for an instant; that stillness offered no warning of what came next. She was only vaguely aware of the sound of Ketahn’s spear falling as he spun around, swept Ivy into his arms, and pulled her against him in a crushing embrace. Ivy wound her arms and legs around him as though it was the most natural thing in the world, as if she’d done so a million times over a thousand lifetimes.

Catching a fistful of her hair, he tugged back on it, angling her chin up as he strengthened his embrace. “And she will never have you,” he rasped against her throat. “No one is taking me away.” Ivy closed her eyes. “I’m yours, Ketahn. No one has me but you.”

“You are safe. I cannot say more.”

“But she will never know of you. She must never know. I will keep you safe, my heartsthread, from the queen and everything else.”

Ivy won out. He’d known it even before he’d thought about any of it, had known she would always be his first choice. He cared immensely for his sister and friends, but Ivy—sweet, fragile, compassionate Ivy—was his mate. She was his everything. She came before all else.

Since he’d claimed her, she’d taken to sleeping without clothing, bundling up upon him beneath a large blanket to share warmth during the colder nights. Without that, without her, something would always feel absent. Some piece of him would forever be missing.

“I’m your mate,”

“Take comfort in me, Ketahn. Use me. Let me be what you need.”

Her words, spoken so gently, smashed down the final barriers of his resistance, and his desire burst free like the torrential rain of a sudden storm.

letting her—devour his senses utterly as he drifted on the current of euphoria.

“Could you leave your people behind if you knew they’d die?”

upon his chest over his hearts. “Then please, Ketahn, just give them a chance.”

A kiss. A sweet human kiss. He relished it for its simplicity, its intimacy, for the passion it sparked, and found himself wishing he had lips so he could return his mate’s kisses properly. He satisfied himself by wrapping his arms around her and drawing her close.

“We are not alone, my nyleea.”

“No, Ketahn. I do not wish to hear your excuses or apologies. What good are they?”

“What happens to you affects those who care about you,”

“You must make this right, Ketahn.”

“There is still a chance to appease her. She sees you as hers already, and she will forgive you should you atone.”

“This will not be my end, Ahnset,”

“Zurvashi will not be my end.”

“You cannot hide from this, broodbrother. Not for long.”

You cannot hide from this. We are all that remains…

“They are all gone,” he rasped, only then realizing that he’d never mourned the family and friends he’d lost to Zurvashi’s ambitions—he’d allowed himself only to hunger for justice. For vengeance.

“You’re not alone,” Ivy ...

“You’re never alone,...

You cannot hide from this. You’r...

Takarahl had been his home before this den, and…and there would be another after this. A place with Ivy.

He could not hide, but he was not alone.

“You are safe, my heartsthread,”

“Do not be sorry. I understand.”

“Do you trust me, my heartsthread?”

“With my life, Ketahn.”

“Nothing will keep me from returning to you, my heartsthread.”

“I will never let that happen,”

“I am yours alone, my Ivy. No other may claim me.”

And he’d be back with his reason, his Ivy, soon.

“Believe it or not, I’ve been happy here. My life on Earth was pretty shitty, but despite everything that’s happened, I’m genuinely happy.”

Am I truly in love with Ketahn?

What else could it be? There was a sexy man of her own species standing in front of her and she felt nothing. Nothing.

Guess I prefer my males with multiple sets of...

“Will, grab that fucking flare gun!” “Don’t you dare!” Ivy snapped. Placing both palms on Cole’s chest, she pushed with all her might. It was enough to thrust herself out of his grip, but not without producing a sharp tear as his finger caught on her dress.

“I protect you. Not him.”

“I do not want to scare,” he said with gentleness in his deep voice, “only to protect. Ivy is my mate. You are her kind. So you are my kind, too.”

And she refused to acknowledge the most dreadful possibility of all—that she’d lose Ketahn before all this was done.

He purred gently and dropped a hand to cover hers. “That does not trouble me, my nyleea. I have you, and you will always be enough.” You will always be enough.

Then it dawned on her. “You’re jealous,” Ivy said. “I do not know that word.” “You do not like other males touching me, or even the thought of it.” “Why would I like that?” he growled. “You are mine, Ivy. For him to touch you that way…it makes me feel as I never have. It wakes something inside me, like a beast in my hearts. I would have killed him if not for you.”

“I’ve felt that way with you. Every time you’ve spoken of the queen touching you.”

“I do not want her. I have never wanted her.” “And I don’t want Cole.”

“He is human,” Ketahn said in an uncharacteristically small, tight voice. “He has hair like yours, eyes like yours. Two arms and two legs.” “Looks do not always matter, Ketahn.”

“I belong to you. Not Him.”