NALEDI’S POV
I gritted my teeth, contemplating whether to take him up on the offer to be a bitch, because, boy was he trying me. I didn’t know how long I could keep this up but I spoke anyway.
“Luka is up to something.”
“Tell us something we don’t know.”
“If you could give me five seconds without hurling-” I stopped myself when I saw his face grow cold. “If you are going to keep this up then this is not the right time to have this conversation.” I got up, “Lest I say something rebellious.”
“Sit down, Naledi.” He said when I made my way out of the darned room.
He could go fuck himself for all I cared.
“Naledi!” I heard him growl just when I was about to hit the stairs. “Don’t you fucking turn your back on me.” I didn’t need to turn around to see he was pissed.
He fucking snapped.
I turned around in silence, holding the resting bitch face but knowing how to pick my battles. This was not the time and place to do anything funny.
I returned to my seat and heaved a sigh. One look at Korah and I knew they were literally in hell. Sitting through this madness between us.
“Before I say anything, I need to know something,” I said in a serious tone.
“Not until you tell us every single thing that transpired between you and Luka. I want the details. Down to the air he breathes.” Caellum said and I nodded.
Fair enough.
“After we left the Casino, he took me to a club.” I met Caellum’s eyes. “De Luca’s. He dined me to some drinks, compelled me, and took me in as a plus one to his secret villain meeting.”
It was Marcus’ turn to look confused.
“I was able to convince him to let me follow him into the meeting where they talked about a secret deal that was supposed to go down that night.”
“Hold up, a deal went down last night?”
Caellum was barely giving me time to finish my damn story with his timely interruptions. But I answered nonetheless.
“Apparently, our blood-sucking Luka was threatened by your appearance at the Casino. He called in an emergency meeting with his partners in crime to forward their plans with getting the goods, which is honestly code for the girls, out of the borders last night.”
A smile played on my lips but my eyes were anything but amused. “You were right to suspect him. There’s a whole lot to his business that screams fishy and human trafficky.” I rounded up coldly.
“He made a move last night and you only thought to tell me now?”
I rolled my eyes. Again with his looking for who to blame.
“We were otherwise occupied, Alpha.” I said pointedly, “Not to mention how I barely escaped with my life intact. If Korah had been a second too late I probably would have died in the fire.” My head swerved to Korah, “That brings me to the question, how the fuck did you get fire out of my way last night?” I turned to Caellum. “You said Marcus was a witch?”
Caellum looked like he was going to blow off anytime soon. I knew it was as a result of the bad news I had so brought along with me. And if I was being sincere, I hated the fact that something terrible might have happened to unsuspecting humans last night.
Especially when it could have been avoided. However, I wasn’t one to cry over spilt milk. I was the kind to ensure history didn’t repeat itself. And that was my motivation towards getting this job done and sorted out.
“If we are going to stand a chance working together, then I need to know who, or what I am working with.” My eyes moved around the three others in the room, expectant and waiting for answers.
Korah broke first. “Marcus is a witch.” She was immediately corrected by Marcus.
“The word is warlock. I am a lot stronger than a regular witch, thank you.” The bite in his tone took me by surprise.
How didn’t I see it?
“You are not a werewolf?” I asked in disbelief. “How are you not a werewolf?”
“I never remembered telling you he was a werewolf,” Caellum muttered, looking like he could be done with this conversation.
“I never remembered you telling me he was not.” I fired back.
My eyes wafted towards Korah, and I almost felt betrayed. “Let me guess, you are also a witch.”
She shook her head, then made contact with Marcus. “The word is elemental witch.”
As much as I liked her sarcasm, I wasn’t comfortable with being lied to. Especially by the ones around me.
“You forgot to mention when you told me,” I said, expressing my discontent at their decision to leave me out of the loop.
“I asked them not to mention it to you.” Caellum intervened.
“Why?”
“Because it was none of your business.”
That hurt. “I am struggling to understand why it is my business right now.” I made a recollecting look. “Oh yeah! I know! Because they were my fucking partners.” I deadpanned.
Korah looked sorry. Marcus looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here, while Caellum couldn’t care much about my tantrums.
“Is there anything more I need to know?” I gritted when they maintained silence. “Maybe how Caellum is a god-darned hybrid or worse, a blood-sucking demon.”
Caellum was at my throat in seconds. “You will not compare me to that scum, Naledi.” He roared in my face and I swallowed, trying to breathe.
I didn’t say a word. How could I? Who wanted to die?
“The Alpha is a werewolf. The strongest we’ve been privileged to meet.” Korah stuttered, and I nodded.
Caellum let me go in an instant.
“No more surprises,” I said to his face. And I meant every word. “If we are doing this, then I want to be in the loop. No more secrets.”
“And no more getting on my nerves, flouting my instructions and putting your life in danger.”
For someone who just had my neck in a tight grip, he sure as hell cared about my life.
“You’ve got yourself a deal.”