34

The screeching of tires pulls me out of my thoughts. The car lurches to an abrupt stop and I’m thrown forward, my head connected with the dashboard with so much force. I wish I had worn a seat belt, but I didn’t because of my shoulder. Warm blood trickles down the bridge of my nose and I mutter a curse. That seems to bring the stupid man on my left back to reality.
“Shit! Crinka are you okay?”
“Do I look okay!”, I yelled, taking my hair out of my eyes so that I could have a proper look at Sia. I gasp when I see the idiot biting back a smile. Had he done that on purpose?
“You did this on purpose? What the fuck is wrong with you Sia? Are you trying to kill me?”
“Always bringing murder into everything, Crinka. I thought you were asleep since you were closing your eyes and giving me silent treatment. I only tried to wake you up not kill you.”
Now the airbag has shown up. Wake me up? Is that how to wake people up? What a sadistic asshole! He was trying to kill me!
“Well stop thoughting you sadistic bastard. And what if I was silent? That doesn’t give you the right to silence me for life down Sia!”, I calmed a little, only to start yelling again. “Assuming you weren’t trying to kill me, you would have at least offered me a handkerchief to clean myself up.”
Sia rolls his eyes, before pulling out a clean handkerchief from his trouser pocket and handing it to me. I snatched it from him, hissing. Why hasn’t the wound healed by now?
“Your wound should have healed by now,” Sia says, eyes focused on the road ahead of him.
“You think I don’t know that?”, I yell frustrated. This is Ruarc’s fault as well as it is his brother’s. I’m having a headache just because I’ve been trying to figure out the meaning between those words, he said to me. And if Sia hadn’t come barging into the room unannounced, I would have questioned Ruarc.
“What are you thinking about?”
I don’t want to share my thoughts with this murderer, so I changed the subject. “Hey, you didn’t tell me where we’re going to.”
“I didn’t? I thought I told you.”
“You didn’t. So, tell me. Where are you taking me?”
“The hospital.”
“What? The hospital? What for? Wasn’t the test enough for you? Why didn’t you tell me you’re taking me to a hospital?”
“If I had told you, you wouldn’t have entered the car.”
“I know that. But why are we going to the hospital? We’ve already confirmed that I am not pregnant.”
“I know that. I just want to know what’s making you like this. Now come down. We’re already here.
“Oh look, the wound has healed.”
“Get down from the car Crinka.”
“And if I don’t want to? I don’t like hospitals Sia.”
“Then I will carry you. I don’t give a damn if you like hospitals or not, the sooner we get your shoulder looked at, the better.”
“Fine. I don’t want you to carry me,” I say, jumping down from the car. The hospital looks okay, but I don’t want to be here.
“Lead the way Sia.”
“Ladies first.”
I stuck my tongue out at him, before going in.
?
Sia and I are seated side by side as we both await the test results. I felt queasy when my blood was drawn, so I puked on the nurse.
Aren’t I a darling?
Sia jumps on his feet when the doctor arrives, a brown envelope in hand. “Doctor, what does the test result say?”
“Please come with me to my office.”
Sia and I followed him silently and I shut the door once I’m inside the office. His office is modern and pretty okay to me. HE gestures for both of us to sit and we do.
“So, what does the test result say?”, I ask the man.
“You’re not pregnant, but you were drugged.”
Boom! I said it. But why would Sia drug me? He is clearly in denial, but I will find out why he drugged me and why he lied about doing so.
“Drugged?”, Sia asks.
“Yes drugged. And the effective presence of the drug is why she is dizzy.”
“So, this drug, it has a name, right?”, I ask gleefully. I’m so loving this moment.
The doctor has a grievous look on his face and it is scary.
“Tell us doctor”, Sia probes. “What is the name of the drug?”
“Wolfsbane.”
“You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me. How is that even possible? Wolfsbane is only accessible to alphas. How can a rogue like Sia acquire it?”
You forgot he’s an Icelander.
Sia’s eyes widen. “You think I drugged you?”
“If you didn’t who did?”
“I can’t believe this. I am trying to help your sorry arse and you’re putting the blame on me.”
“You’re trying to help me? Well guess what arsehole? I don’t need your help. I never needed it and I never will.”
Sia sighs before turning to the doctor. “So, what do we do now doc?”
“I will keep her on IV fluid to flush away the wolfsbane from her system then she will be fine.”
“And my shoulder? Will it ever be fine?”
“Yes. I’ll prepare an ointment for you. It should help with the injury. Mr. Lancaster, I would like to speak to you alone.”
I am left alone in the doctor’s office and I frankly wonder what he wants to discuss with Sia that he couldn’t possibly discuss in my presence. I want to figure out the meaning behind Ruarc’s words, when Sia comes back in alone, wallet in sight. It must have been about the bills.
“How much was it?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he says harshly, approaching me. “You’re going to stay here for a while until you are fit to be discharged.”
“What? I’m going to be admitted?”
“Yes. A nurse will meet you with the clothes that you are supposed to wear.”
This can’t be happening to me. “Clothes? What’s wrong with my clothes?”
“Um, they are not hospital worthy.”
I bolt for the door, but Sia catches me, and I’m thrown over his shoulder. I should have been content with my clothes and not gone after his shirt. Now the world will see my underwear.
“Pink lingerie huh? You struck me as the dark colours type.”
I roll my eyes. “Put me down Sia! Now!”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’ll report you to the authorities! Um, I’ll leave you and stay with Ruarc!”
Hearing his brother’s name must have set him off, because I landed on the ground with a thud.
“Ouch! You could have at least dropped me nicely.”
“Get up. The sooner we get the wolfsbane out of your system, the better.”
I agree, getting up. “Lead the way Sia, and don’t say ladies first or I will bash your head in.”
****
I have spent three days in the hospital under IV fluid and Sia hasn’t been very supportive. He only showed up randomly, and that was just to jeer at me. The nurses helped me apply the ointment; the doctor had prepared for me. It peppered when applied. I don’t think it’s helping matters, but I will give it a month, before coming to a conclusion. If things don’t work out by then, I’m suing that doctor to court. I’ve changed into a white shirt and shorts. The packaged ointment was handed to me, and I received it, rushing out to meet Sia.
“Do those shorts have to be so tight?”, was the first thing Sia said the moment I got into the passenger seat in his red sports car.
“Are they? Hmm, I really didn’t notice. Why are you jealous?”
“I’m not jealous. You look like a slut,” he says.
“The only slut here is you Sia. Hmm, I think I will buy more of these. You know it really brings out my arse. What do you think Sia? Does your brother like the derriere or would he rather go for the chest? I’m afraid I don’t have rather large breasts, but I’m guessing my C-cups will do the trick.”
“STOP TALKING!”, Sia yells. “I don’t want to hear about breasts or arses from you.”
“Yes sir.”
He eyes me. “We are going to Massa’s house.”
“For what? I don’t want to go there for nothing.”
“The last time we checked, he was not at home. What makes you think he would be there?”
“It won’t hurt to try. Plus, you seem adamant about meeting Massa. Maybe he can give you his opinion on those slutty shorts.”
“Just shut up and drive.”
*****
“Stay in the car,” Sia orders, getting down. He’s stupid if he thinks I’m going to obey. Once he’s some distance away, I unbuckle my seatbelt and get down.
“See? I told you he won’t be here. Now look we just wasted our time.”
“I thought I told you to stay in the car?”
“I needed to stretch my legs out for a bit.”
“Well since you are here, you can as well start turning back.”
I’m walking back to the car when a sharp movement catches my eye. I turn around and gape at the six-foot something inches man dressed in black. He has a satchel slung over his shoulder and he is twisting the lock to Massa’s home. He’s locking it, that means he has been here earlier and we missed him.
“Sia, who is that guy?”
“What guy?”
“Look behind you dumb-face.”
He turns around. “The guy in black. Who is he?”
“I don’t know. Let’s just wait. He might turn around.
He does and my eyes widen. “Is that not Ruarc?”
Sia takes a look for himself. “It is. Come let’s go see what he wants.”
I don’t go immediately, waving and shouting. “Ruarc! Ruarc!”
He is surprised to see me, and I run up to him, stopping beside Sia. Ruarc looks really good in black and I can’t stop checking him out.
“What are you doing here?”, Sia asks, crossing his arms. Ruarc pulls down his hood, revealing black beautiful hair. I long to feel those strands of hair.
“I should be asking you the same. What are you doing here?”
“I came here to see Massa. What’s with the satchel?”
“None of your business,” Ruarc replied. My heart skips a beat when those dark eyes land on me. “Crinka, you’re no longer dizzy.”
“Yeah, all thanks to Sia.”
His jaw is clenched. “And the baby? Is it fine?”
It takes me a moment to realize what he just asked. Sia bursts out laughing and I frown.
“Oh… oh God. You really thought that she was pregnant? I thought you were smarter than this Ruarc.”
Ruarc’s brows furrow. “What’s he laughing about?”
“I’m not pregnant. Never have been. Fuck, I don’t even think I’m capable of being pregnant.”
He exhales harshly through his nostrils. “Let me get this straight. You lied to me?”
“What was I supposed to say? You wouldn’t tell me who whipped you.”
Sia stops laughing. “Whipped? That’s why you were here, right? To get the herbs? Ruarc, you have to stop doing this. You can get Massa in serious trouble.”
“Massa? Why would he whip his own brother?”
Ruarc’s about to reply, when a ringing tone pierces the air. “It’s Massa.”
“Answer it, and put it on loud speaker.”
He does. “What the fuck is taking you so long man? Ceci needs me.”
That voice. I have heard it before. But where?
“I ran into Nasia at your house. We were just catching up.”
“Catching up? At this crucial moment? If you don’t come back quickly, Cecilia could lose her life.”
“How about you come meet me? Forget it. Why did you call?”
“So, am I not allowed to call my dearest brother?”
“Stop it. You sound like Cocci.”
Massa groans. “The bastard didn’t ask of me, right?”
“You didn’t call me to discuss Cocci. What do you want?”
“I couldn’t find any obsidian whip at the store.”
“Then just make one.”
Another whip? Why is Ruarc doing this to himself?
“I can’t be at the palace then. Father will kill me if he finds out.”
“Then come here.”
“Saying please wouldn’t hurt you. Greet Nasia for me.”
The call ends. “So, he’s hiding at the palace?”
Ruarc doesn’t reply.
“I’ve heard that voice before,” I say suddenly and they both look at me.
“Who hasn’t?”, Ruarc says rudely.
What’s his problem?
I walk away from the duo, needing some time to think. My thumb traces Sia’s fading mark. Why haven’t I removed it? The process would be painful, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
I think of the pack that I have left in Sleepy Joe’s care. Are they well? Are they happy without me?
“Penny for your shorts?”
“Ha. Very funny. I knew you would find my shorts interesting.”
His hand leaves mine, coming down to rest on my arse. He squeezes a cheek, turning me on.
“Crinka, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. Ask away.”
“Did you like it?”, he asked, looking away.
“What are you talking about?”
“When he marked you. Did you like it?”
Why is he asking this now? And why won’t he look at me?
“No.”
“You haven’t removed it.”
“What?”
“Let’s go. Massa is here.”