~Alaya
I press the sheets against my chest, mortified.
“Have you ever heard of the term knocking? Or as an Alpha, is that not in your personal rule book?” I growl, narrowing my eyes on him. He dressed the same as he was when I last saw him, which must mean that not much time passed.
“I had servants coming in and out of here for the past hour. This should be the least of your worries,” he says coolly, nodding toward the dresser at the side of the room. When I glance at it, is see the top draw is open. He got me clothes, like Sinful told me he would.
It doesn’t make me feel any less violated.
“I would much rather sleep right now then walk around with you,” I mutter, not moving an inch from the bed. Asher sighs deeply, pulling his sleeve back to glance at his watch.
“We don’t have much time,” he says irritably. “Unless of course, you would like to get lost around here and give Sinful another advantage over you.”
After suggesting he wait outside, which he obliged to, I got up to look through the clothes that has been selected for me. All of them are neat and proper, and at least comfortable as well. Without Asher in the room, I feel comfortable enough to strip down and change into pants and a shirt. It’s a balmy temperature throughout this entire place, so I’m not worried about taking an extra layer with me.
When I walk into the corridor, Asher is staring at the wall, waiting impatiently for me with his finger tapping against his arm. He mutters, “finally.”
We wander down the hallway, back from where Sinful had taken me. Asher is silent, not pointing anything out until we were back in the main foyer, which he decided to name as if I had no idea. I’m not fully interested in as much as I should be looking around. Even as Asher leads me to a door I never noticed, opening it to reveal another corridor, my mind is on him.
“I’m still a little confused on some things,” I say softly, as he closes the door behind me.
He sighs. “Here we go.”
The hallway is… different. The right is a solid wall lined with a few oak doors. On the other side, is a massive slab of glass, that displays behind it, a crystal blue pool that spans the entire length of the corridor. It’s empty, indoor, and deliciously inviting. I learnt to swim as a child, so this looks like something I could enjoy.
Slightly distracted, I murmur, “you’re a confusing man, what can I say?”
“You can use the pool whenever you please; I doubt Sinful will mind very much. I can find you some swimwear, I’m sure of it. There is an entrance on both sides…”
I shake my head in wonder. When we drove up the driveway, I never thought I would see a pool in the middle of his home. I want to ask whether or to Sinful swims, but it comes out as an odd question in my mind. And anyways, Asher is trying to avery the conversation away from him, when I had agreed to this tour to ask him some questions.
“I can’t say that I’m all that fond of you keeping so many secrets from me-”
“Listen, Alaya,” he says, pausing his step. I joined him, turning around with my hands on my hips expectantly, glaring up into those smouldering golden eyes. “You emote brilliantly. You have this thing where certain words trigger very honest emotions in you, which gives me the chance to read you, and understand what you are feeling at all times.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that.
“I’m not like that. I’m not like you. I don’t like sharing things about me, so if the questions could stop about that, it would be much appreciated,” Asher tells me sternly, before he straightens, and begins his walk further down the hallway.
“You can at least understand that being kept in the dark is not at all enjoyable,” I growl under my breath, following after him.
He points to each door in turn while I stay safely behind him. He names them, each holding various things behind them that I might considering exploring at some time. In reality, my eyes are glued to the pool as we walk past it, my fingers trailing across the glass longingly. Each ripple across the surface of the water is alluring.
“It’s heated, by the way,” Asher says, slowly until we were walking beside each other again.
“Explain a normal day for you here, at his place,” I suggest, veering the conversation away from its original place by the pool. I’m not only curious, but I probably should figure how I’m going to adapt to life, while I’m here.
Asher seems to think for a moment. “That depends. I work a lot with various people you will never meet. Sinful may give me specific orders that I complete if I feel like it. Being on his good side has many advantages, which is what I suggest you stay on, if you want to have a chance at surviving.”
We enter out of the hallway, and up a set of stairs.
“What do you think of Sinful so far?” Asher asks. Wow, he’s starting a conversation for once, this is a surprise.
“So far, he seems generous, hospitable and… normal,” I tell him honestly. There has been no real tip off that Sinful is as bad as everyone likes to say he is. Until he does something suspicious that I can catch onto, then I don’t know how to think about him. Everyone’s threats at the moment as hollow.
There’s an irritated noise that comes from Asher’s threat when we make it to the top of the staircase. “I see it’s working on you already.”
My jaw clenches, but I don’t react, instead focusing on looking at the current floor we are. It’s bland and the same as the guest area, except it’s not red, but a mixture of greys and blacks everywhere, from the carpet to the walls. I look toward the Alpha for an explanation.
“These are my quarters. I’m showing you the beginning of it, as I don’t want you coming any further,” he tells me, and I sigh loudly.
“I wouldn’t, whether you invited me to or not,” I say adamantly. He raises an eyebrow at me, but he doesn’t say anything.
We keep walking down a different hallway. When we walk by the foot of another staircase, and begin to climb, I know we are heading into someone else’s area. When he make it to the top, it’s the same colour palette as Asher’s quarters, however, there are a few pairings of various styles slung up around the entrance.
Asher puts his hand out to stop me going any further.
“Sinful gave me permission to take you here to look around. It shows me he is interested in you already, since this is where he personally resides,” Asher tells me, before he warns, “I will also say that the moment we step past the threshold, he will be able to hear every word we say, so no mention of any plan, or any hint that we know each other.”
I swallow, but nod despite my wariness. He can hear us? What if I say too much and ruin everything for everyone? If I do, then I’ll surely never see my sister ever again.
We step past the thresholds and immediately Asher’s demeanour changes. His shoulders loosen and his voice warms up as he says, “so tell me about Marcus.”
I almost completely freeze at the question. It take takes a moment for me to realise that Marcus is the immortal husband that I made up.
“He was kind. I don’t think he had anyway of telling I was mortal until I was on the altar, and I do feel bad about that. But I thought he loved me… through everything. Then he tells me to get away from him and to never come back to Destiny’s territory ever again,” I explain, trying to seem affected by my own words.
I’m proud of my backstory, if I’m honest. Even Ashe floors surprised.
“What was he really like?” Asher questions curiously. When I glance at him, he has a playful gleam in his eyes. He’s testing to see how far I can push this lie, in preparation for being face to face with Sinful.
I wonder where he is right now.
We enter into a large round room that has various corridors coming out of it. In the middle is a chaise lounge and short table. Everything in here is so clean, as if it’s not been used in awhile. Nothing else here is very significant, aside from the artwork. Perhaps Sinful will explain it to me someday.
“He was stubborn, and sometimes very closed off,” I say accusingly, narrowing my eyes on Asher, “He doesn’t seem to understand that being honest with people can make them really happy, but once he did open up…”
I break off, not really sure where I was planning to take that. I’m captured by the look in Asher’s eye that speaks volumes.
“You loved him,” Asher breathes, “you really did.
The way he said it made me feel as if he was accusing me of being in love with someone real. Marcus isn’t real, as far as I’m aware, which means this is made up in both our minds. If Sinful is listening, I’m sure he would be completely believing.
“Did he take your virginity?” Asher suddenly asks, making me freeze. Is he seriously asking that question? How do I even react?
“We were waiting for marriage,” I say warily.
Asher looks thoughtful, that playful look still dancing in his eyes. Why is he teasing me like this? It isn’t the Alpha I know from before. This one is playing more to Sinful, while at the same time, is pushing me to expand my backstory.
“Interesting. So you were never with any other males?” He continues to question.
A little anger flares.
“Have you?”
Asher smirks. “No, I haven’t been with any males.”
He knew exactly what I meant, he’s just being a prick about it. Typical. He thinks he can ask me questions like that with Sinful listening, but I can’t share the courtesy. I could slap him.
“Shall we head back to your room, you must be tired,” he says finally soothing my anger with the promise of sleep.
He doesn’t say anything else until I’m back at my room. He waits outside, not stepping it. “I can’t warn you about what tomorrow will bring, as I’m not sure. Just be careful, okay?”
I nod.
“Sleep well, Alaya.”
“Good night, Asher.”