Read To Have & to Hold for Free Online Page A

for his response. The truth was the best course of action. “ Cate needed some time away to sort out her feelings. The past two year s have been especially hard on her. I ’ m giving her space. ”
    “ Noble of you, considering you caused this situation. ”
    Grayson studied his bare feet. “ I ’ ve bungled everything. Cate only did what she had to to survive. Please don ’ t blame her. ”
    “ Oh, I don ’ t. I lay the blame squarely on your shoulders. As someone with a dragon mage lineage, it was your responsibility to prepare your mate before you shared vows. You were negligent. You ’ ve dishonored your race. ”
    “ Und erstood. I regret my actions. I’ ll win her back. ”
    “ Have you learned to control the beast? ”
    “ Yes. ”
    David ’ s eyebrow winged into his hairline. “ We ’ ll see in a moment. First, I have a few questions for you. ”
    A test? The leader planned to test him? That ’ s okay, he was secure in his knowledge of his skill under pressure. Except where Cate was concerned. He never seemed to control the beast quite as well when dealing with her. He clamped down on that thought.
    “ I ’ ll answer what I can. ”
    “ You hurt your wife? ”
    “ Yes. In more ways than one. ”
    “ You didn ’ t seek counsel when the transition came upon you. Why? ”
    “ No. I thought I could handle it on my own. ”
    “ You, better than anyone I know , understand what can happen when a drag on mage goes rogue. You were ro g u e for almost a year before the situation was brought to our attention. By your wife, I might add. ”
    “ Cate ? ” A flush of heat crept up his neck. He ’ d been wrong-headed all along. God damned male pride. Thinking he could manage everything on his own and screwing it up royally in the process.
    “ Yes, she called me for help. I advised her to use her magic to trap you in an enchantment for a year to give you a chance to train the beast. It was either that , or the European Council would have assassinated you for going rogue. She saved your life, Grayson. She ’ s an amazing woman. I don ’ t think you know how lucky you are. ”
    “ I do. And I will ma ke it up to her . ”
    “ You ’ ll leave her alone for now. ”
    He heard the hard edge of threat in David ’ s voice. It lurked quiet, deadly. He squared his shoulders, preparing for a fight.
    “ Stand down. ”
    Grayson tried to relax at the command. It was impossible. He bristled and chaffed under the mant le. Alpha mages were the same, n o matter when they transitioned. They made great leaders, but didn ’ t take direction well. The best learned when to take direction from their superiors and when to ignore it. But this was Cate . His Cate . He could not leave her alone. He had to fix this situation. He breathed deep. The essence of his hoard swirled around him. Peace surrounded him. He ’ d take David ’ s suggestion. For now.
    “ What of this test? ” Grayson asked.
    “ In a moment. You have a bigger problem. Cate said you tried to kill her and yourself . Is that true? ”
    “ No. I ’ ve never intentionally hurt her. The harm that ’ s come to her resulted from my transition. From my inability to control the dragon. ”
    “ I ’ m not talking about the residual fallout from the dragon change. She believes you tried to kill her and then yourself while you were in human form, but t he whole scenario sounded wrong. You ’ ve never been suicidal. Cate woke, after being drugged, in the locked cabin of your yacht . When she escaped, she found the cruiser sabotaged and sinking and you with a gunshot wound t o the chest, gripping a Luger 9 mm P08 . ”
    Grayson slumped into an over-sized armchair, rubbing his forehead. “ I remember the day. I didn ’ t drug her. ”
    “ Tell me what happened. ”
    “ I broke out a bottle of 1985 Krug. God, it was a gift from Cate . Who ’ d have suspected a three-thousand-dollar bottle of vintage champagne? Not me. We both had a glass or two by the time