Neil Dalton's hand lingers on Kenna's as the scroll passes between them at the fortress gate. The crescent mark on her throat catches the torchlight, reminding him of the bloodline he must claim before his rival takes everything.
His need to knot and breed her burns hotter than duty. He wants to own her completely, to bind her to him in ways that leave no room for escape, even as the fear of losing her claws at his control.
She feels the weight of his dominance and her own dread of being discarded once an heir is secured. As the night deepens around the mountain stronghold, the line between strategy and obsession blurs, leaving them both on the edge of a claim that could destroy them.
