Sia tried hard not to stare at the bruises on Crinka’s neck as she slept. He had done that to her. She had begged him not to do it, but he did it anyway. The council was watching, so he had to make sure that she was punished. He risked one look at her again, taking in her slightly parted lips, the steady rise and fall of her chest, the small blush on her cheeks from the midnight cold. Her shirt had slightly risen, revealing the fading scars from Ruarc’s violent grip. Sia gritted his teeth.
“Awwn, is someone mad? That I left a mark on her body and he didn’t?”, Ruarc asked sweetly, his anger forgotten when he saw the one on Sia’s face. He breathed in, hating the scent of his brother’s room. The scent of two scents becoming one.
Sia glared at his brother, before reaching for the chamomile tea he had prepared for himself. He liked the tea because it helped him relax, and if Ruarc wanted to leave here alive, he needed to drink it fast. Carefully, he put the cup to his lips, held his brother’s mocking gaze, and sipped slowly, before putting the cup away.
“You might have left a mark which would eventually fade and go away after some days but me? Crinka is never going to forget my thrusts, how slick my body felt against hers while we fucked or the taste of my lips on her skin”, he paused, covered Crinka with the duvet before continuing. “Your darling mate is never going to…”
Ruarc cut in angrily. “She is not my mate.”
Sia chuckled. “You have never been the type to admit to anything anyways, not even your own fucking crimes.”
“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!”, Ruarc yelled. Sia cast a glance at sleeping beauty. She hadn’t stirred. Good. He wouldn’t want her waking up now, not when he and his brother were having a heartfelt conversation. He took another sip of the chamomile tea.
“And why would I? You always said that you are afraid of my silence and not Elijah’s, but when I fucking speak you say that I should shut the fuck up?”
“Stop the expletives. They don’t fucking suit you.”
“And they suit you? You know what? I don’t even know why I am arguing with you. As I was saying, my lovely soon-to-be concubine here is never going to forget my touch or my kiss or my thrusts. She’ll remember every single one of it,” he paused, taking in Ruarc’s angry features. What’s the matter elder brother? Can’t bear the fact that your mate is about to become my concubine?”
“I don’t care,” Ruarc huffed. “I don’t care because there will be no ceremony. I’ll make sure she never becomes yours.”
Sia tsked. “What you don’t know Ruarc, is that she is already mine. She has always been since the minute I scent marked her, and I can care less about the ceremony. She’s here with me and that’s all that matters.”
“You should have let her be shamed,” Ruarc spat out. He was angry. He really didn’t mean his words, but it was too late for that now. They were already out of his mouth.
“And what would I gain from doing that? I don’t know why you lied Ruarc and I don’t care. Just don’t think that you and I are alike.”
Ruarc rolled his eyes. Oh, how he wishes to prove his darling brother wrong.
“Tell me something Nasia. Why didn’t you hit me when I raped her? Oh, wrong question,” he said then looked into Sia’s bottomless pits. “Why did you let me rape her?”
“If you think that I let you do that then you’re absolutely mistaken.”
“Or am I? Sia, you knew. You knew the minute I walked into that ward I wasn’t thinking straight. You knew that she was not safe yet you didn’t do a thing about it. You couldn’t…. No scratch that. You didn’t save your little omega Sia. Why didn’t you?”
Sia downed what was left of the chamomile tea and put away the cup. Crinka lifted her leg in her sleep and threw it across his lap. He just stared at her. Why didn’t he? He repeated the question in his head but couldn’t seem to find a direct answer to the question. He lifted his gaze.
“What are you doing here? Are you done preparing the palace for the ceremony?”
Ruarc chuckled. “Haha not funny. I see you didn’t answer the question.”
“Didn’t know I was supposed to.”
Ruarc rolled his eyes. “I will stop you brother. I will ruin the ceremony if there is one.”
“Okay.”
“And if all else fails, I’ll kill her.”
“Okay.”
“Will you stop saying that?”, he asked, irritated.
Sia rolled his eyes. “I have let you get away with a lot of things brother, but don’t mistake it for stupidity on my part. If my patience wears off, I swear on your crown Ruarc, I will kill you. Now get the fuck out of my room.”
…..
“Look who decided to wake up.”
Massa ignored Cocci’s mocking words. His body ached, and his head hurt. He knew he will be fine once a certain vraugmita shows up.
“I saw decorations in the hallway when I passed. What’s going on?”
“Oh, the palace servants are just getting ready for the ceremony.”
Massa frowned. “What ceremony?”
“The one in which Crinka becomes a royal concubine.”
His frown deepened. “But I haven’t given the order yet.”
Cocci laughed. “It’s not for you silly. Crinka would become Sia’s concubine in a few days.”
“How the fuck did that happen? Tell me what exactly happened.”
“Shouldn’t you put on some clothes? I’m not against your… err nakedness, but it’s kind of distracting.”
Massa rolled his eyes. “My nudity is the least of your problems right now. You better tell me what the hell happened, before I gauge your eyes out.”
“Fine. You’re so annoyingly rude.”
Massa was seething by the time Cocci had relayed the matter at hand to him. How could Ruarc do such a thing? He relaxed a bit, facing his brother.
“Nasia? Where is he?”
“His room maybe.”
Massa moved down to the south wing, totally ignoring Ruarc who gave him a mock salute. He would deal with him later, now he had other things to do.
“Couldn’t you have worn clothes before coming in? Crinka could have been awake you know.”
Massa didn’t give a fuck. “It’s nothing she hasn’t seen before,” he spat and glanced at the bruises on her skin.
“I was asleep for three weeks, THREE WEEKS! And in those three weeks, she gets raped! How the fuck did you let that happen?”
Sia narrowed his eyes. “Save all that yelling for Raurc when you see him. Crinka is fine, she isn’t traumatized, so you have nothing to worry about. How are you by the way?”
“Stressed. Izal says I haven’t healed fully and that my wounds are likely to reopen if I don’t lie the fuck down. But how does he expect me to stay in bed, and not be doing some fucking?”
Sia laughed. “I swear all you ever think about is sex. And I’m sure your wounds will heal you just need to wait it out.”
“Not everyone is patient like you Nas, that’s why I have decided that I would be bringing her in.”
“Her who?”
“My mate. The vraugmita I told you about some time ago.”
“I actually thought you were joking.”
Massa narrowed his eyes. “I don’t remember smiling when telling you about her.”
“Whatever. You can’t bring her here Massa. It’s too dangerous. You know how wild her species are.”
“I can tame her.”
“No, you cannot. Massa, it’s why we put them there. I don’t know why fate paired you with her but you can’t be with her.”
“But you can be with her?”, Massa asked, jabbing his finger at Crinka. “For moon’s sake brother, I love that woman. I love that woman so much that I would protect her. Our union is forbidden but I don’t care. It’s the same thing with you and Crinka.”
“No, it’s not.”
“It is. A relationship between a lycan and a werewolf is forbidden and let’s not forget that you are an Icelander prince and she is an omega.”
Sia gritted his teeth. Why does everyone keep mentioning that? It’s just a stupid title.
“It’s not safe for you to bring a vraugmita here Massa.”
“But I need her to heal! Please understand me Nasia. I need her.”
“And if she refuses to be brought here? What would you do then?”
“I’d drag her to the palace.”
“And what about her feeding? What will you do when she hungers and thirsts?”
“I’d have her feed on me.”
“And do you think that you would be able to hide her scent from father? Massa, if you need her to heal then go to her. Don’t bring her here. I beg you.”
“My mind has been made up brother. I need her. Her position is by my side, and not in some fucking tomb.”
“You’re not thinking straight. Have you forgotten the problems she is going to create for us?”
“I will tame her,” he spoke with determination.
“You can’t. Women like her can’t be tamed nor controlled Massa.”
“Let me do this Sia. I promise she won’t hurt anyone. Let me keep her Sia please.”
Sia’s heart ached at the raw plea in Massa’s voice.
“No, you can’t.”
Massa fell on his knees, clasping his hands together. “Please brother. Let me do this please.”
Sia sighed. “Fine.”
As he watched Massa march away happily, Sia hoped he wasn’t making a mistake.