Marabella
With Kyan now gone, I just stand and stare around at the destruction of what is left after that horrifying encounter.
Inside, I feel just like this room. Like the havoc, left after an unstoppable hurricane. That’s exactly the effect Kyan has on me. Each time he is around, we crash against each other, the storms we both try to hide break free, and we leave nothing but destruction behind.
My heart is still beating furiously,
At this point, I don’t know what to think. I’m not sure if I could figure out where to start if I had to sit down and come up with any way to better the situation.
I am completely numb. Numb to whatever emotions might rush through me, and numb to everything my own mate just did to me. What he tried to do.
Or perhaps, over the years I have lived with him, openly hating me, despising my very existence, I might have grown used to his cruel ways. Maybe I have grown accustomed to it.
I hope not, but the moment Jonah walks into the apartment, I become more lost.
The problem is that I don’t know how to explain what just happened here. I have no idea how to come up with an excuse good enough to make him believe the hole in the wall isn’t the aftermath of a fight. Besides, Kyan mentioned Jonah was on his way because he felt the pain…
Honestly, now that I see the look on Jonah’s face, I am too scared to mention what Kyan did. I know Kyan only did this to make me stop wanting him, yet I don’t think that would ever be possible. While he proves to be fully capable of resisting the bond, I can’t.
I need it more than the next breath I could take. I need him. I need the weird beast that resides within him. This is my chance at happiness. And after so many years of suffering, I am too afraid to let go too soon. What if any chance at happiness fades as soon as Kyan leaves?
I know Jonah would do anything in his power to make me happy. I know he loves me, and I have feelings for him too… But would it ever be as explosive, as intense, and high as it might be with a mate?
Jonah walks through the door. I jump and return to reality as glass crunches under his boots as he looks down at the ground and examines the doorway, his expression horrified. I’m sure he can see how much my claw marks along the frame stand out.
But honestly, I didn’t even notice them until Jonah runs his fingers over them. Then, his eyes snap to me, and he finally, freaking unfortunately, notices me in my state of undress. His entire body trembles, and at first, I think he is angry at me for what happened, but then, his fist suddenly shoots out and goes through the wall next to the entryway.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” Jonah roars at the top of his lungs, making me jump. Jonah moves toward me and grips my arms to pull me closer. Then, he grips my face. I can see understanding in his face, reflected back at me. “Are you hurt? I can smell his blood, but…” he lifts my arms and opens my torn top, searching for injuries.
“I am fine; it’s his. He healed me,” I explain, but he growls at the red lingering marks lining my chest and waist, touching them gently with his fingertips. When his eyes take in my blood-stained legs, the sound that leaves him makes me step back from him as fur grows along his arm and his body trembles.
“Did he?” Jonah looks away from me, and his jaw clenches.
“He didn’t,” I tell Jonah, but his head whips back to look at me as if he doesn’t believe me. “I promise I’m fine,” I tell him right when he opens his mouth to speak.
“Nothing about this fine. What did he do? I tried to get here as quickly as possible, but we had a power surge, the elevators reset, and I had to wait for the power to come back on downstairs. The fire escapes locked too,” he explains.
I shake my head, too ashamed to say it out loud.
“Mara, tell me,” Jonah growls.
“Nothing, I dealt with it. I’m fine,” I whisper and try to take another step away from him.
Jonah reaches out to me and stops me. “Don’t do that, not with me. Don’t push away what you’re feeling. You don’t need to hide with me; I know what he is capable of, Mara.” His voice is soft, soothing.
I shake my head. It is partially my fault. I never should have gotten so close to Jonah. I should have realized what he is and why he is the way he is.
“Fine, don’t tell me; I already know. You forget I can feel him, feel his intentions, Mara, but it doesn’t matter. I will deal with it,” Jonah says with finality, and I know he will live up to his promise.
“You can’t, Kaif,” I gasp.
“Oh, believe me, Kaif is tearing him apart enough as it is.” Jonah laughs. His laughter is bitter, so unlike him, a shiver runs down my spine.
I look back at him, my voice still soft and weak. “How do you know?” I ask him, rubbing a hand down my face when Jonah lifts his shirt. Red and black angry lines run down his chest and waist, already scaring his body in black tendril-like veins.
“Because these only happen when Kaif is pissed, yet for once, it isn’t at me,” Jonah laughs again.
My eyes widen, and a gasp leaves my lips. “Kaif, did that?”
“Yes, he wants out. Kyan poisoned him, but when he does, Kyan should start praying Kaif isn’t as suicidal as he is homicidal,” Jonah says. His voice drops low, as he becomes serious.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up,” Jonah says, reaching down and scooping me in his arms. I yelp, not expecting it, and I grab the back of his neck. Though I know it’s wrong, I still feel so safe with him. His fingertips gently caress my skin, and I look at him. Why is this so complicated? Jonah looks into my eyes as he carries me, his eyes drop to my lips, then they trail down lower and his brows furrow, he growls, sniffing me and running his nose across my chest. “He will pay for this,” Jonah growls.