Darius's Pov

As I held the Patriarch by his collar he started laughing. It was a cold sound that made my skin crawl.

"What is so funny?" I demanded.

"You. Soraya. All of this. You still do not understand do you?"

"Understand what?"

"Why you feel so strongly about her. Why the mate bond is so powerful between you two."

"The mate bond is natural. It is from the moon goddess."

"Is it? Or is it exactly what I designed it to be?"

I felt cold. "What are you saying?"

"I am saying the mate bond between you and Soraya was manufactured. Created by me. It was never fate or...