“I want to see Ruarc.”
Brazen eyes lifted and met mine. I had run all the way here, and my torn shirt hung off my shoulders, showing enough amount of skin. He had the decency to look away.
“He doesn’t want to see you.”
“Oh, cut me the crap Cocci. Take me to him now.”
He refused and I stormed out. If he wouldn’t let me near him, I would bring him to me. I was exhausted when I reached a small house not too far from Cocci’s home. It was not there before, or maybe I just missed it. I sniff the air. Human, and he’s male.
Perfect.
I kicked the door open, and I dodged the bat which was aimed at me. Slipping into the house with ease, I disarm the man, shutting the door close.
He picks up the baseball bat again, and I move away, to the farther end of the room. “Look, I don’t want to hurt you.”
He stares at me baffled. “You expect me to believe that? You broke into my house!”
“And I have a perfectly good reason for doing so. Look, I just need you to kiss me.”
He blinks. “Are you crazy?”
“I will be if you don’t kiss me.”
“What? I’m not even into girls.”
“Okay, you could have spared me that information,” I say pulling my shirt over my head. I chuckle when I see him staring at my chest. Not into girls my foot. He just hasn’t secured his footing.
“Like what you see?”
“No, I mean yes. I mean no.”
“Kiss me…?”
“Alfred.”
“Good. Alfred. I want you to kiss me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“That’s none of my business. I’m giving you two seconds to get over here and kiss me, or I will seriously hurt you.”
His eyes widened. “You said you aren’t going to hurt me.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t.”
“He…”
I shut him up, pressing my lips to his. We were just getting to the good part before the man was ripped away from me. What happened next was a blur. I heard screams as bone crushed under pressure.
I cleared the fog on my eyes, to find blood splattered on the walls I once thought beautiful. Ruarc sat tall and proud on some throne-like chair. Where did that come from? His boot-clad leg forced Alfred’s skull into the ground. He killed Alfred, just because he kissed me. Yet, Sia has done much worse, and he is still alive.
“Shouldn’t you have found other ways to call me other than snog a human?”
I glared at him. His voice is sharp and brisk, nothing compared to the broken voice I heard earlier.
You hurt us, you hurt him.
“You didn’t need to kill him.”
“He touched you. Had his arms around you and I couldn’t stand it.”
“He was not the first man to touch me. Sia has had a taste, and men before him. We’ve even had sex, and yet I don’t see you killing him.”
Lies, lies, lies.
He twisted in the chair.
“It’s different with him. Cocci said you wanted to see me?”
Always changing the subject, but I let it slide because we have much more important things to talk about like the bond between us.
“Yes. I was hoping we could talk.”
He gestured for me to continue. “So how are you?”
“Better than how you left me.”
Figures. “We have to keep the mating bond between us a secret.”
He blinked and blinked again. “What?”
“Our bond. We need to…”
“I heard that part,” he snapped angrily. “I just want to know why.”
“How would you feel if I am captured?”
He flinched at that. “That would never happen Crinka.”
“Oh, just shut up and listen. Imagine it Ruarc. Imagine me locked up and bloodied.” He hitched a breath at that. “Imagine me naked and immobile. Unable to stop my abductees from forcing my legs apart as they cup my cunt.”
His eyes darkened. “Never. It will…”
“I’m not done,” I say irritated. “Imagine them pounding into me, filling me up with their seed with every single thrust.”
His knuckles turned white and his eyes glowed with a strange light. His palm was open, and in his hand lay an iced squirrel with red eyes and sharp teeth. Now looking at the squirrel, I begin to wonder just what type of powers Ruarc possesses.
“Then imagine me returning to you pregnant with another man’s child.”
The squirrel leaped from his hand, and landed on the dead body, chewing away at the decayed flesh. These Icelanders never seem to amaze me.
“How would you feel about that Ruarc? Will you ever be able to live again knowing that you couldn’t protect me?”
“I will kill them all. Rip them apart,” he snarled.
The anger in his voice made me shiver. Meanwhile, the squirrel ate away Alfred’s skin.
“You’re not getting my point,” I say annoyed. “If word goes out there that I am your mate, I am going to be a target. I don’t want to live my life in fear Ruarc, hiding just because I am your mate. Do you now understand the importance of keeping this bond between us a secret?”
He slowly nodded.
I smiled. “Someday, you’re going to teach me how to do that,” I say pointing at the squirrel.
He just laughed.
…..
We returned to Lyles’ house and found Sia pacing in the living room. Once he caught sight of us, he stopped, narrowing his eyes in on our entwined hands.
“What’s wrong?”, I ask softly.
“I met with your pack this morning and we discussed a few things.”
“Like what?”, Ruarc asks, boredom lacing his tone.
“The pack needs an alpha. I immediately brought up the idea of Crinka becoming alpha again and they shouted down the idea.”
I didn’t expect any less from them. They never liked me when I was alpha and I don’t expect them to do so now that I have turned rogue. The pack would crumble without an alpha and I don’t care. That part of me has died and I am going to explore the new me, which is Ruarc’s mate.
“You were a fool for bringing up the idea,” Ruarc pointed out.
Sia glared and I swiftly jumped in, before they would go at each other. “I appreciate your help, believe me I do, but you must know that I am no long….”
My words of appreciation are cut off by a sudden noise. There’s a bit of swearing and we are rushing out towards the direction of the sound I frown when I see Massa on the ground. He stands, dusting off dirt as he swore again.
“Stupid airplanes,” he muttered. “Always showing up where they are not wanted.”
My frown deepens. “Why are you here?”
But he doesn’t answer me. The bastard jabs a finger at Ruarc, his eyes twisted in fury.
“I refused to believe it when you told me your son was foolish but after today, I am sure in my spirit that he is by no means the stupidest Icelander alive.”
“I’m glad you saw things for yourself,” Ruarc said coolly, as though Massa had not just insulted his son.
“How did you get here?”, I ask, but once more, I am snubbed.
“Calm your tits down Mass, what did Eloive do this time?”, Sia asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Not here,” Ruarc said. “We should talk inside.”
“No,” Massa snapped. “I don’t have the time to be sitting around. I have to be in the palace as soon as possible, and I can’t afford to be late.”
The palace. What does he want there?
Confused, I let out a yell. “Will somebody just tell me what in the moon’s name is going on here?”
Three pairs of eyes snapped at me. Massa blinked, as though now noticing my presence. Then his featured twisted into a snarl. He jabbed a finger at me.
“She is not supposed to hear what I am about to say. She’s not supposed to be here.”
Can this man even hear himself?
“Hello? In case you have forgotten, this is my house, and if there is going to be any serious talk in my house, I have the right to be a part of it.”
Massa frowned as he stared me down.
“You heard the lady Mass, now start talking.”
He pocketed his hands, took a deep breath before speaking. “Eloive went to the council. He told them I had raped Cecilia and that I had forced a mate bond on her.”
Sia’s eyes widened and Ruarc swore.
“Isn’t that what you did?”, I bark and he glares at me. “No. The girl isn’t my type and she is way younger than me.”
“And what did you say when you were summoned?”, Sia asked.
“I denied it of course.”
“And the council?”, Ruarc asked. “What did they say?”
“They asked that I support my claim,” Massa replied.
“And I am guessing you don’t have evidence?”
“The fuck I do. It’s messed up Nasia and if I can’t come up with evidence…”, he shuddered at that thought and silence returned to the balcony once more. Too bad I broke it.
“What? What happens if you can’t come up with evidence?”
Massa pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took out a cigarette, lit it, took a long drag before turning to me.
“I die Crinka, I die.”