“How long until you’re tried?”
“Two days,” he said bitterly, throwing the cigar away.
“And I’m guessing you have only two days to come up with evidence?”, Sia asks and Massa slowly nodded.
“It would also take us two days to reach the palace,” Ruarc stated, pinching the bridge of his nose as he exhaled sharply. “This is seriously fucked up,” Sia exclaims.
“That’s why I need your help,” he said. “With your help, I can come up with evidence.”
“Hate to tell you this Mass, but I haven’t got anything for you,” Sia said.
Massa’s shoulders slumped as he faced Ruarc. He only shook his head.
It wasn’t fair. I racked my brain for any sort of information that could help him but there was none. It made me sad.
“Well, this is it,” Massa said. “I will go the palace now and die, all thanks to a stupid promise I made to Heshina.”
Heshina. That has to be Cecilia’s mother.
“You could use the promise as your evidence,” Sia suggested.
“It’s not enough,” Massa snapped. “They are the council Nas. They will want stronger evidence.”
“If you were to win the case, what would happen?”, I ask quietly.
Massa’s green eyes bore into mine before he spoke. “Cecilia will be killed for lying to the council.”
“And not Eloive?”
“No. Eloive was only defending her accusation, but he wouldn’t go unpunished. He would be punished for defending a lie.”
“They won’t have to do much to punish him,” Sia says. “Cecilia’s death is enough punishment for him given they are both mates.”
“I know my son,” Ruarc said. “If he’s sure that he’s losing, he would break the bond between them.”
“Cecilia is human, she won’t survive it,” Sia said.
“If she dies because of that, the council will be furious and seriously hurt Eloive,” Massa said.
“Who exactly is the council?”, I ask.
Massa looked sullen. “A group of fucked up monsters you don’t want to meet.”
Ruarc shot his brother a look. “In nicer words, the council is a judging body made up of Icelanders, witches, wizards, vampires, and faes. Humans and werewolves used to be a part of the council until they fell in love with each other. And that was the first rule. You don’t fall in love.”
Vampires. I’ve never seen one before, but I imagine tall monsters with skin as white as snow, crimson eyes, and serpent claws. Fangs drop just above their lower lip. Immortal but dangerous.
Then I imagined the faes. Creatures with slightly pointed ears and big eyes. Talons for claws had to be the worst creatures created. I imagined wings poking from their back, and them flying towards their prey, before burying those talons in the most sensitive areas.
“I shouldn’t have made that promise to Heshina,” Massa said angrily.
“You were you and stupid Mass, stop blaming yourself,” Sia said.
We lulled back into silence, and I hoped that we would come up with something, anything to save Massa from impending doom.
“I think you should compel her,” I say softly. “Persuade her to tell the council the truth.”
“If only it’s that easy. There’s a consequence for using magic unnecessarily but that’s not the point. If they were to ever find out that I compelled her, I’d be in deep shit.”
So that’s out of the option then. But I don’t plan on giving up, so I spoke again.
“Has… has she ever looked at you in a way that is not normal?”
“What do you mean?”, he asks eyeing me.
“I mean has she ever looked at you like she wanted you?”, I ask, biting my lip.
He blinked as he tried to recollect. “A few times yes.”
“Then that’s your evidence.”
“Please elaborate.”
“You can tell the council that she wanted you and you couldn’t resist. You mated with her, unknowingly forming a mate bond with her.”
“That’s a dumb idea,” Massa said glumly, then he grinned. “But I like it.”
“So now that we have evidence, what’s the plan?”, Ruarc asks dryly.
“We go to the palace right away.”
…..
“I’m coming with you.”
“You’re not coming and that’s final,” Ruarc sneered.
We were ready to go before Ruarc decided to put on this protective male aura and demanded I stay behind like a fucking housewife.
“I’m coming with you Ruarc,” I say firmly.
He sighs. “Guys, tell my mate here that she is not coming with us.”
Massa flicked off invisible dirt from his shirt. “He’s right sweetie. Wolves are not tolerated in the palace.”
I glared at him. “I’ll be fine as long as I’m with you guys.”
Sia rolled his eyes. “We’re busy men Crinka, and we certainly don’t need a liability on our hands,” he spat out the words, and he was backed up against the wall in seconds, Ruarc snarling in his face.
“My mate is not a liability.”
“She is and deep down you know it.”
Ruarc’s fist stopped in the air.
“I hate to use magic on you brother, but with the way you’re going, we’re never going to make it to the palace on time.”
Ruarc couldn’t seem to move so Sia slipped out of his hold and took up shelter behind Massa. Massa snapped his dingers and Ruarc fell groaning as he stood up. Goddess, is he hurt?
“Maybe a fucking head start before you suspend me in time, okay?”
Massa just rolled his eyes. “I’m coming with you,” I repeated slowly.
His eyes flashed as he turned to me. “You’re not coming with Crinka and that’s final!”, he yelled before gesturing to the space around us. “This is not up for discussion. You will stay here.”
“The fuck I will. I won’t stay here and cross my legs like a fucking housewife. I provided Massa with evidence, so I have a right to see if my evidence saves his arse!”
“She’s right Ruarc,” Massa muttered. “She will stay here,” he said finally. “Let’s go.”
I picked up the silver knife I had kept by the couch and pressed the cool blade against my throat. Ruarc froze as he looked at me. “Crinka what are you doing? Put the knife down.”
I pressed it closer. One more push and I’ll start bleeding.
“Are you not afraid of death?”, Sia asks calmly.
“I’m going to die someday Sia. I just happen to want to speed up the process”, I say and it was the truth. I am not afraid of dying. My life’s pitiful now that I am an omega and with Ruarc constantly reminding me of that through his actions, I don’t think I want to be alive anymore. Might as well go join my parents now, wherever they are.”
“Crinka honey put the knife down,” Ruarc coaxed.
“I’m not doing that until you allow me to come with you.”
“You can’t come with me Crinka. Heaven knows that the palace is dangerous and unsafe for your kind.”
“And you think staying here in this goddamned house is fucking sage? As soon as the pack gets to know that you guys are gone, they would kill me and all those things you imagined at that house will come true.”
He sucked in a breath.
“I don’t know what you imagined brother, but she has a point,” Sia said lowly.
“I’d put up a protective barrier around the house. You will be safe,” he said.
“I’m going to kill myself,” I say angrily, but I don’t push the blade in further. Standing here with a silver blade pressed against my throat was starting to hurt.
Massa chuckled. “You do that, and we’ll just bring you back to life.”
I blinked. “What? You can do that?”
“Of course, I can. Who do you think brought Eloive back to life? And now the little rascal has turned against me, all because of a woman.”
I dropped the knife. “Ruarc, please all I really want is for you to let me go with you. Please allow me to prove my worth to you Ruarc.”
“You can prove that to me in the bedroom,” he said sharply and my cheeks reddened.
Massa rolled his eyes. “We don’t have much to sit around and listen to bedroom talk. Are you bringing her or not?”