“You stink.” I murmured, a distasteful look plastered on to my face as I willingly allowed him to pull me up the stairs. Despite my words, he continued to puff at his cigar, and the scent slapped me straight in the face. I scrunched up my nose.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against smoking or anything, especially since I’ve lived around men who are always either smoking or doing drugs, but… for some reason, the scent was so fucking strong to the point where it felt suffocating.
When we stopped in his room, he thankfully took the cigar from between his lips and moved to the window before tossing it out. Then, he flew pass me, slamming the mahogany door shut. I jumped at the sound.
He spun around to look at me and shot words the moment his eyes caught mine. “Has anything changed?!” His fingers suddenly grasped my shoulders in a tight hold, his ebony eyes bearing both impatience and worry.
I blinked.
“What do you mean?” I shrugged his hands off, feet pushing backwards on instinct.
It wasn’t that I was scared of him, more like I was scared of knowing whatever he had on his mind. Was it what Jace said? Do I really… have some kind of disease?
“Did anything happen to you? …anything that never happened before?”
“Like what?”
He ran a hand over his face, while my confusion only deepened. What’s does he mean?
“The wolfsbane… Jace thought it might have affected you a bit.” He clarified with a heavy sigh. “You might feel drowsy for a few days.”
I’m not drowsy at all though. I’m perfectly fine now.
“Is it that dangerous? Like deadly?”
His lips pursed together and the longer they stayed like that, the more torturous it felt. I had no idea how serious this was. And if he wasn’t going to tell me what’s wrong with me, who will?
“For werewolves, yes.” He finally answered, “As long as you’ve seen no changes, you’ll be fine.” His feet closed the small gap between us and his hands then snaked around my waist, pulling me closer to his body. And out of nowhere, his lips pecked mine, the warmth lingering briefly. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Nothing to worry about yet you seemed like you’d die if I said something was wrong just now? But is that really all it was…the wolfsbane? That meant I worried for nothing but why am I not relieved though?
I’m still unconvinced but whatever. Now that that’s settled, I have a lot to ask. Things like: Why do you think Lucas is a traitor even though he doesn’t have any memories? Is Lucas one of those who can change human to werewolves? The woman those people mentioned (terra)… does she have anything to do with the name on my necklace? Why are you hid—?
“I couldn’t help but notice you strongly dislike that mutt’s mate. Did you guys have some sort of telepathic cat fight I didn’t know about?”
“Mutt? Who are y-” My eyes bulged in realization, “When were you planning on telling me they’re mates?! That brat and my brother? And you even let her leave like that?”
I could tell he was trying to change the subject with his sudden expression switch and the brother talk, but I tried to ignore it.
“Yup,” he uttered, lips spreading across his face as if he found something funny, when in fact, nothing was amusing about this. Nothing at all!
I glared, “Don’t laugh!”
“She’s become a blabbermouth ever since she found out the Luna here would flip the world upside down if anyone were to hurt her precious brother, and it wasn’t too long ago that he recognized her as his mate too.”
Yet she said she didn’t want him?!
“You could say her bratty attitude is partly your fault… If I went ahead and followed my mind by killing her back there, that would basically mean killing Lucas as well. Though I like the idea, I’m positive you’d hate my guts if I were to do that. But!” He chirped, “It seems your brother doesn’t want her either. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy watching him suffer.”
I grimaced, “Can he change mates?”
“If we could, do you think I’d be here with you right now?”
I slapped his arm with every fiber of my being and felt immensely satisfied when he actually winced. At least this time, he felt it.
“I’m just kidding.” He chuckled.
“Where did she even come from anyway? I thought there were only guys here?”
“She’s a spy’s daughter. She deals with all the decoding.”
“Oh.” I nodded. A spy’s daughter huh? She should know a thing or two then…
“Well then, can’t you just give her what she wants? She said something about her father?”
“She wants me to look for a dead man. I would bring her the body if she begged nicely, however, it’s become ashes so what can I do? I had to burn the place down and I had no time to move a measly dead body.” He shrugged.
“So you burned the remains of your spy and still have the daughter working for you now without even knowing that he’s dead?”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let that slip.”
Oh lord. Another complicated shit. Apparently, it won’t be good if they’re apart so its best I try to appease her or something.
Maybe I should tell her Kasan sent him abroad? But then there wouldn’t be any reason for him to go abroad! Ugh!
“By the way, what did you mean when you implied that he’s a traitor? Do you really think he’d betray you as he is now?”
Kasan looked confused for a second before seeming to grasp what I was saying. Frustration instantly ate him whole. “I was just laying out the possibilities. He might not be a traitor like you said. Besides, I didn’t say anything was solid.”
“Well then what about the people who just came here? The woman they were searching for… does she have anything to do with the name on my necklace? I mean, I know that’s stretching it a bit too far but, that’d be one hell of a coincidence. Is it?”
That question seemed to render him speechless, and the apologetic look that abruptly took form in his eyes made it obvious that even if he knew something, he would never tell me.
But what am I asking him? It’s not like he’s the owner of the necklace. I don’t even know the owner! The best person I could ever ask would be… my parents.
“Never mind that.” I sighed, deciding to simply leave that argument alone, “Can I check on mom and Dad wherever they are? I haven’t seen them since that time.”
“I can bring them here and-”
“No, I want to go there. I’d feel better to know that they’re safe wherever they are.”
He made no move answer, but simply stared.
“What?” Adamant, I shifted my weight on one leg and cocked my hip. If he says no, I’ll fucking punch him.
“If you’re not okay with me going with you then tha-”
“You can tag along.” I frowned. I didn’t like the idea but as long as I get to go, there will definitely be an opportunity where we’re alone and I can ask them for answers… since my pathetic excuse of a mate here, makes it his hobby to hide stuff from me.
“Anyway, can you take me to where Lucas is? I want to see if he’s okay.” I wiggled out of his hold and grabbed his hand in mine then pulled to the best of my ability, but he wouldn’t budge one bit.
“Kasan!” Annoyed, I turned to glare at him, only to be met with a glare of his own.
“Are you two buddies now? Just because you were locked in a room for what… five minutes?” He scowled. “You were the one telling me you didn’t want to stay with him, now you want to go check if he’s okay?”
“I just wanna check. He saved my life back there while you were busy talking shit with the delusional Cinderella outside.”
That seemed to hit him where it hurts because his lips clamped shut and he reluctantly allowed me to pull him out the door, all the while, his glare never leaving the back of my head.
–
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–
–
“It’s up ahead, last door. I’ll stay outside since you asked nicely.” Kasan pulled to a stop and used his chin to gesture to the end of the hall. But he didn’t release my hand for some reason.
This place is one of the buildings on the land, but it’s a bit far from the main house. This is where they treat all the sick peeps, eh?
But I’ve seen a few persons who were knocked out during the attack and they’re already perfectly fine. Is Lucas’s condition really that bad? Did he–
I was pulled out of my thoughts by a finger brushing away the hair that lingered on my forehead and tucking it behind my ear. “If…” He hesitated, “If he ever says or does anything suspicious, you’d tell me right?”
Huh? How dare he even ask me that?
“It’s not like you tell me anything,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Clara, you’d tell me, right?” He repeated. His relentless gaze demanded that I say ‘yes’ but I knew that if I did, I’d definitely be lying. He’s making me feel as if he’s backing me into a corner!
“Why are you asking me that? He probably won’t even get his memories back. He always looks like a lost puppy.”
His gaze still didn’t cease despite my words. I tried my best to look away, but his face unfortunately followed me everywhere. And even when I downcasted my gaze, his fingers quickly grabbed my chin, gently raising it so I was looking up at him.
“…Right?”
I nodded reluctantly, but with that single action, I could already feel the guilt creep up my spine.
His eyes narrowed. “Words.”
“Fine! Happy?!”
A satisfied grin instantly formed on his lips and finally, he released my arm. Then just when I moved to step away, his warm palms pressed against my cheeks, holding me in place as he swept down to connect our lips.
He seemed content now but…
In the case that Lucas did anything that would make Kasan target his life again, even if he placed himself or even me in danger… I’m positive I’d never let him know, ever. So, I’m sorry but the answer to that question would be ‘no’…