“That’s enough, Amara. Stop snooping. Okay, well, it was great seeing you; now time to leave,” Thaddeus announces, and his mom glares at him.
“You’re going to kick me out?” she asks. I can see the hurt behind her eyes.
Amara stands up abruptly. Her eyes go to me, then she glares at Thaddeus before turning back to me. “You know your mark isn’t completed until Orion marks you, did you know?”
Thaddeus jumps to his feet and grabs her. Imogen screams, as Amara is ripped over the table towards him. Ryland yanks me out of the way. Thaddeus growls low at her.
“Don’t fucking tempt me, Amara,” he says, his voice deadly calm as the lights start flickering. Amara smiles at him as her eyes glow brighter, and suddenly, the lights are burning so bright, I have to squint to stop the light from hurting my eyes.
“Oh, for God’s sake, you two, stop fighting,” Imogen calls out as they glare at each other. The power is flickering on and off, and my heart is racing in my chest as the lights burst, the house goes dark, and I hear things being slammed around.
“That’s it!” Imogen yells, and claps her hands.
The bang is so loud my ears ring, and I feel a force that makes me stumble back into Ryland. The only light is coming from the fireplace in the lounge room, just enough to see but not clearly. I find both Amara and Thaddeus frozen in place. Thaddeus growls loudly, as he breaks whatever spell she put on him and shoves his sister away. Thaddeus rips me toward him and away from Ryland.
“Leave, now!” Thaddeus bellows.
I feel goosebumps rise on my skin. Imogen throws up her hands and walks over to me.
Amara smiles deviously. “Fine, we will leave, but I will be back, Thaddeus. Don’t try to run. I will always be able to find her now that I know what she looks like and have met her,” Amara says, as she looks at her mother. Imogen sighs, accepting that they are being made to leave. I just don’t understand why.
Imogen gets up and walks over to hug me. “Please make him visit; he may listen to you,” she tells me.
I look up at Thaddeus. He is looking away, not meeting her gaze. Imogen touches his cheek gently as he turns away from her. She has tears brimming in her eyes, and I feel terrible for her.
“You need to come back to us, son,” she says softly.
“Your son died a long time ago, mother. Now leave; I won’t have you putting nonsense in my mate’s head.”
Amara shakes her head at him. Imogen rushes out the door, but Amara lingers for a few more moments. “Mom has only ever wanted what was best for you. We all want you to come home. Dad has forgiven you; we all have. But you keep pushing us away. Soon it will be too late, and you will destroy your only chance at happiness,” she says, her eyes darting towards me.
She then turns around to leave, but Thaddeus grabs her arm, tugging her back. “What did you see?”
“Come home, and I will tell you,” she taunts, shaking his arm off and following after her mother.
Orion comes back into the kitchen with another lightbulb. He silently removes the old one and replaces it. “You can never sit civilly and just chat, Thaddeus; always take things too far,” he says, as the kitchen light suddenly flicks on.
“You shouldn’t have interfered, Orion, so keep quiet.”
Orion sighs loudly.
“What did your sister mean about my mark?” I ask.
“It was nothing. It won’t matter anyway once Orion marks you,” Thaddeus says.
“But I want to know.”
“And I will tell you once Orion marks you,” Thaddeus growls.
I cross my arms over my chest, annoyed. There’s no point in trying to get the information he refuses to give, so I just storm off into the living room. To my displeasure, Thaddeus is fast on my heels.
“Just leave me, Thaddeus. I am angry with you right now,” I tell him, but I can feel his rage building at me walking away from him.
Ryland suddenly appears at the bottom of the steps and slumps on the couch. I sit on his lap, and he wraps his arms around me.
Thaddeus stops in front of me, looks down, and I shrink back against Ryland. “You think he will save you from me, little one?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. I don’t answer, knowing no one can save me from him. Thaddeus sits next to us, running his fingers through his hair.
“How many?” I ask, glaring at him. Thaddeus sits back, putting his head on the back of the couch.
“None, Evelyn. I didn’t kill anybody, okay?” He sighs, but I don’t believe him. “Don’t believe me. I don’t care,” he says, replying to my thoughts. Thaddeus turns slightly. “You can be mad at me, but please come here,” he says, tapping his chest.
Ryland nudges me. “You won’t be able to stay mad at him long. Believe me; we have tried. The mate pull won’t allow it,” Ryland tells me.
I turn my face away from them, ignoring them when Ryland grips my hips, dumping me on Thaddeus’ lap. Thaddeus chuckles and wraps his arms around me, his face goes to the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent. I melt against him, loving the feeling of his warmth. Thaddeus grips my chin, turning my face to him as his lips find mine. His tongue brushes my bottom lip, wanting me to kiss him back, and I cave.
My lip’s part, and he plunges his tongue into my mouth, making me moan. I hear Ryland laugh beside me as I turn on Thaddeus’ lap, so my legs straddle him. Thaddeus’ hands go to my ass, and he squeezes it, his lips move to my neck as he nips at my skin and sucks on my mark, making me moan.
My moans are swallowed when Ryland grips my face and kisses me. His tongue plays with mine as I feel cold hands on my sides, making me pull away as a shiver runs up my spine. I look over my shoulder and see Orion. He grips my shirt, tugging it off over my head, and Thaddeus attacks my chest, his lips biting my breast. I whimper as he runs his tongue runs over it, then growls softly and pulls back. “Sorry,” he whispers, kissing my chin.
“Just not so hard it hurts. Your teeth are sharp,” I tell him, and he chuckles, nipping the skin of my neck. Orion moves behind me, stepping closer, making me look up at him. He bends down, kissing me while Thaddeus attacks my breasts again. I feel Ryland squeeze my other breast that Thaddeus isn’t attacking with his teeth.