Her relief was so sudden, it felt as if a chair had been pulled out from under her. She sagged back in her seat and let out a stunned breath.
“Careful.” He leaned forward, collecting her hot tea and wisely set it on the table. He casually occupied the space beside her. “Does that please you?”
She knew he was powerful, but to see him use his authority so unceremoniously emphasized just how extensive his influence could be. He showed no worry of complications or obstacles, only absolute certainty that he would get exactly what he wanted.
“Yes, but Silus will object.”
“That’s irrelevant and nothing you need to worry about.”
She looked down and twisted the belt of her robe.
“He will never harm you again, Larissa. If you wish it, I’ll forbid him to speak to you.”
A humorless laugh filled her chest. “He’ll be outraged.”
“No doubt.” His hand closed over hers to still her fidgeting. “Tell me something. Why did you never assert yourself more around him?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You’re no weakling. I’ve been on the receiving end of your power enough to know that you can protect yourself. I’ve read the records of each member in The Order. I know which immortals possess notable disciplines and which do not. I can’t recall Silus having any special gifts. But you do.”
She frowned at him. “I have no power over Silus.”
“Of course, you do. I’m ten times your age and you crippled me the other day. Silus is a weakling.”
She shook her head. “My gifts have always been considered basic disciplines.” Compulsion, speed, agility, rapid healing. “What I did to you was a fluke. I think it came from you and I just… deflected it.”
He frowned, his dark eyes moving as if he were thinking through a complicated arithmetic formula. “Try to push into my mind now.”
“I can’t.”
“Try.”
She met his stare and pushed but found no opening in his mind. “It’s not possible.”
He tilted his head. “I’m going to push into your mind now, but I want you to keep me out.”
She adjusted herself in her seat and closed her eyes. At the first flicker of another presence in her mind, she threw up a wall.
The bishop hissed and her eyes opened. He rubbed his temple. “You’re strong, Larissa.”
“I don’t know how I’m doing that.”
“The harder I pushed, the harder you pushed back. No one in The Order can keep me out if I want into their minds.” He grinned. “But you can.” His smile quickly faded and he mumbled, “I don’t know if that’s actually a good thing.”
“That can’t be right. Even my little sister breaks into my thoughts at times.”
“Maybe you’re not as guarded around her.”
Worried that might upset him, she looked down at her lap and fidgeted with the long tie of her robe again. When he didn’t say anything for several minutes, she looked up and caught him watching her with a peculiar expression.
He cleared his throat and reached for his tea. “I need to know if you plan on fighting me about our situation.”
“Fighting you?”
“Yes. You’ve had time to think about the situation, and I want to know where we stand.”
It was all she could think about, but their circumstances seemed too surreal. “It’s a lot to process.”
“Are you accepting the calling?”
Was there another option? “What choice do I have?”
“There’s always a choice. But if things proceed accordingly, we can marry as soon as the bonding is complete.”
She drew back. “I…”
“We will have an eternity to grow better acquainted. It would be wise to bond as soon as possible, so the danger is behind us. We may not be able to hold off until the annulment is complete. Knowing Silus, he will try to protest the formalities.”
“But you’re so confident.”
“Your marriage to Silus is finished. His objections can only delay the inevitable. You belong to me, Larissa.”
His claim should have worried her, but it made her feel safe and cherished. But she did worry she was merely tying her life to another overbearing male. She stood and paced, putting some distance between them.
“Is it the thought of seeing Silus that has you upset? I will deal with him.”
“No. Well, yes, but I trust that you will protect me.” She worried her lip. “Everything’s just moving faster than I expected.” When she faced him, he was grinning. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You said you trust that I’ll protect you. This pleases me.”
Was it foolish of her to put trust in him so soon? It hadn’t been a conscious decision, just a natural one.
She sat back down on the sofa, keeping a few feet from him. “I’m nervous about the bonding.”
“Then you’ve accepted it?”
She wasn’t going to risk losing her mind like her uncle. “We must, otherwise we put the entire species at risk of exposure.”
His mouth formed a thin line. “You’re accepting your fate purely due to a sense of duty?”