~Alaya
I’m not sure how to feel about Sinful.
When I look at him, I feel a mixture of emotions, each one swirling around my mind that can’t come to a conclusion on what to feel. Warnings ring loudly in the back of my mind, as I remember everything Asher, Aspen and Fate had told me. Yet I don’t see it. I know that is part of his manipulation, but it is as if all my fear expels into the air, and I feel nothing but comfortable around him.
If anything, it’s Asher who is making me more nervous as he stares me down, waiting for me to react to Sinful. I’m meant to be scared.
So I flinch away from him, appearing visibly stressed by the sight of him. Any mortal would be with those lavender coloured eyes that are oddly expressive. He looks genuinely worried about me as I sit here, dress bunched around my legs in completely disarray.
“You don’t have to fear me, I won’t hurt you,” I assures me.
Glancing at Asher, he gives nothing away. He just stands beside Sinful, looking down at me as if he hasn’t met me until now. He’s almost too good at this…
“What’s your name?” Sinful asks, trying to prompt me to say something. At this point I’m too busy looking behind him. We are in a baronial room with a high ceiling and massive windows that really are quite useless. It’s not as if it’s ever day here. Instead, glittering lights take over that job, their beams covering the carpeted floor I kneel on in a variety of colours.
“Alaya,” I say carefully, staring at the hand he offers warily. The carpet is delicately soft under me which I’m not used to. I think I will stay down there, and not touch him.
When he sees my intent, he draws his hand away. “Beautiful name. Would you like to share you story?”
Asher gives me a subtle sharp nod when I look at him. It’s not just giving me permission, but it’s a stern reminder of the backstory we have been rehearsing. Before I say a word, I stand up, purposefully without Sinful’s help, my heels shaking slightly as I do so. Both males watch me silently, waiting for a word out of my mouth.
“I was brought to the immortal lands a year ago. I met someone here, that I thought loved me, yet he finds out I’m mortal and sends me off to fend for myself. I don’t know how I managed to get to your territory from Destiny’s but I did,” I say, the shakiness in my voice not apart of my acting at all.
Sinful looks sympathetic. That’s what I have noticed most about him. He lays his emotions out, clearly trying to draw me into trust him. Asher is the complete opposite, the only person in his mind being him.
“If you tell me his name, we can find him. For now, you can stay here, if you feel comfortable with that,” Sinful offers.
I try keep my face neutral, as I look Asher for help. I was never told a name to give to him if he was to ask. At least the rest of the plan has gone smoothly, as Sinful offers me a place to stay while everything is sorted out. Not that there is anything to actually sort out at the moment, but as long as I can distract Sinful while everyone else goes to work, then fine.
Asher cuts in, finally taking the heat off me. “His name is Marcus Edson. We will put all our efforts into finding him.”
Sinful seems to buy the fake name.
“Asher, would you please see to the maids about some clothes for Alaya while she stays?” Sinful asks, turning to Asher with silent demand. The Alpha doesn’t look to happy about being told what to do, but he nods silently, twisting on his heels to walk out the room. What I notice as he does so, is how there are no guards to be seen.
Sinful is powerful enough, it seems. While he watches Asher go, I take a proper moment to look at him. He’s deceptively handsome. It’s the kind of look that has you wondering if there is more behind those eyes, behind the soft smile. But he does look easy to trust. He has strong facial features with a straight cut jawline and rigid cheekbones.
A part of me wants to reach out to touch him, but now that Asher has left us alone together, I begin to worry. Sinful doesn’t have to fake around anyone.
“I apologise that I sent Asher to retrieve you. I’m sure you are familiar with his name, as you look like a Desire Pack member. Am I wrong?” he asks, clasping his hands to his front as he gives me his full attention.
He knows full well he isn’t wrong.
“I assume my Alpha has spent most of his time here, rather than looking after his own Pack. I never saw him before,” I say, making it seem as though I have no idea who Shanae is, and how she took over his Pack. If he finds that out, who knows what else he could weasel his way into.
“Ah yes. Asher and I are good friends. As you can see, he is a rather distant man, however, with a little persuasion, he can be attentive and passionate about what he is interested in. Perhaps he will warm to you with time,” Sinful tells me. I start at that.
I don’t Asher has any interest in ever getting used to me.
“I want to thank you, by the way,” I say softly, trying to make myself seems as vulnerable as possibly. “You don’t have to keep me here, but you’re kind enough to do so.”
Sinful’s lips twitch up slightly, as he nods. “You’re a mortal. You’re vulnerable here. I’m sure later we can return you to your family once we find this finance of yours, Marcus.”
At his words, my fingers play with the golden ring around my ring fingers.
“I’m sure we can find you a room in this place. Would you like me to walk you to one, then later, I can show you around, or perhaps, Ash would be up for it,” Sinful says, that brilliant smile gracing his features as he says that.
Ash. It’s so strange hearing a pet name like that coming out of someone like Sinful’s mouth, who is supposed to the most feared man in this living time. He doesn’t look like it though. I’m sure that is part his plan of manipulation. I just have to make sure it doesn’t get to my head.
Sinful holds his arm out, and I don’t allow myself to hesitate when I link my arm around him. That spicy scent is so unique as it wraps itself around me.
A single question dwells in my mind as he walk toward the exit of the room with hasty steps. How close are Sinful and Asher, really?
“You have such a beautiful home,” I comment, and I mean that.
The door opens to a wide corridor, with tall windows that give a delightful view outside to the gardens and formal lawn on either side. Lights decorate the outside, showing off the flowers you would never see back in the mortal lands. There are roses with petals of brilliant cerulean to turquoise blue, right to inky blank flowers. It’s a strange sight I wish to explore, but I refuse to allow myself to look too interested.
As far as Sinful is aware, I have been in the immortal lands for over a year, so things like this, including the view from the mountain, the dark sky glittering with stars and even the soft carpet under my bare feet. I’m not sure when or where I lost my heels.
“We have guest quarters you can have all to yourself, Alaya,” Sinful says lightly, glancing down at me. “No one else should be staying here in the meantime.”
I don’t say anything but a simple thank you. I’m curious as to why he is being so welcoming. With my arm linked in his, I don’t feel afraid.
We climb up winding steps to the second level, that Sinful informed me I would have all to myself. It’s a relief when I make it to the room I am supposed to stay in. It’s magnificent, as Sinful opens the door widely, revealing a room that I would never be able to afford back at home.
It’s dressed up in a sultry red colour, from the carpet, to the duvet, to the feature wall at the end of the room. It looks like it has been reserved for a couple on valentine’s day. Not for me. Especially since I apparently came from a wedding that went wrong.
“This is amazing,” I whisper, stepping into the room. “This room is gorgeous, thank you.”
Sinful doesn’t step past the threshold as I wander around. Instead, he leans against the archway, watching me carefully. I wish I wasn’t wearing this dress so I could fall back onto the bed and truly enjoy it. At this point, it must be night time, as my eyes are lagging, and the pillow looks awfully inviting.
“I’m sorry about what happened to you,” Sinful says, as I sit on the edge of the bed. “That man is foolish for leaving you like that.”
“What will happen when you find him?” I ask softly.
Sinful looks thoughtful for a moment. “Whatever you want to.”
I didn’t say anything else. Hopefully he believes that I’m worried about my future. I am, but not in that regard. Instead I’m worried that i may never see my sister again, or if I will successfully distract him.
He say goodnight, promising Asher would be back with clothing for me later. I didn’t really care much about that. The moment the door closed, I stripped off the dress, and crawled under the covers in just my underclothes. All I want right now is sleep, so Asher is just going to have to wait until morning.
I’m not sure how long I managed to sleep for, but when I woke to a constant knock on the door.
When I open my eyes, glancing up over the top of the covers, it’s Asher, leaning against the doorway, just as Sinful had.
“Up,” he says promptly. “I’m going to show you around.”