“Shopping? Really? You want to take her shopping? If that’s not the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! An Icelander prince taking a she wolf shopping!”
Sia pursed his lips as he towel dried his hair. “Uncle, what a surprise seeing you here! I thought you were in Finland?”
“I was in Finland,” Hanos snarled. “Why’s that wolf still on our lands Nasia?”
“I think you know the answer to that uncle.”
“Do not play smart with me boy. I gave you time.”
“Hours is not enough to turn away a lover uncle,” Sia snapped, discarding the towel.
Hanos smirked. “So, you’ve finally agreed that she’s a lover but that realization has nothing to do with me. She has to leave the Icelands Sia.”
“That’s the first time you’re calling me that,” Sia remarked as he put on his boxers. “It’s always been Nasia,” he passed, reaching for his jeans, “or Sycamore or the hound.”
“Isn’t that what you are son?” Hanos asked, eyeing Sia’s coat.
“No, I’m not any of that,” he thought as he pulled on his jeans, but he didn’t tell Hanos that.
“That woman is not just a lover uncle. She’s also my royal concubine,” Sia defended.
“I disagree son. The rites were not complete, and the ceremony did not take place.”
“She shares a bond with Ruarc uncle. It was only fair to not have the ceremony take place.”
“I do not care if she shares a bond with Ruarc son. Bonds can always be broken. Send her away Sia and do it immediately.”
“You know, I liked you better when you called me the hound.”
Hanos narrowed his eyes. “Not my problem. Send her away Sia.”
“No.”
Hanos blinked, surprised. “No? Sia, you’re crossing the line with your disobedience. Send her away! It’s important you must!”
“I disagree. If she’s to go, then I shall go with her.”
“Look at you! She has you wrapped around her finger and you don’t even notice! You’re losing focus son. Your reports show that.”
Sia glared. “I didn’t know you were keeping tabs on me too.”
“Of course I have to keep tabs on you son. Can’t have you going out of order.”
“I haven’t lost focus uncle.”
“But you’re losing it! Thjis told me about your appearance at the common grounds the other day. Your eyes had color and those dark tattoos were appearing again! Now tell me the truth son, ever since she walked into your life…”
Sia cut in rudely. “She didn’t walk into my life. I walked into hers.”
Hanos glowered. “I don’t care who walked in first. Ever since you met her, have you taken your lessons seriously? Have you sought help on how to keep your shit together?”
Sia remained quiet.
“That’s what I thought. You’ve got to let that human go.”
“Wolf,” Sia corrected. “They’re reunited now.”
“Like I give two fucks!”, Hanos snapped, eyes ablaze. “I’m trying so hard to protect your goddamned arse, and you’re not even helping!”
“I didn’t ask you to try,” Sia said coolly.
Annoyed, Hanos slapped him. Sia spat out blood.
“You should be grateful to have someone care, genuinely care about your sorry arse. You might think Thjis cares, but he doesn’t. He’s only using you to satisfy his inner beast.”
“That’s enough,” Sia snarled. “I don’t want to hear anymore. I appreciate your genuine concern for me. Uncle, I really do, but I know exactly what I am doing. She’s staying until I find a way to break the blood bond between us.”
“And here I was thinking that you liked me enough not to send me away.”
Both men turned toward the direction of the voice. Crinka stood there, looking pretty in a blue dress, a troubled look in her eyes. Sia swore softly.
“How… how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know that I’m just a tool in your so-called game,” she replied.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Hanos said before vanishing into thin air.
“Shut the door,” Sia said.
“Why? Afraid people would learn of your cruelty? I was told you’re the most compassionate royal, but it’s obvious you’re the worst.”
Sia exhaled sharply. “Crinka, just shut the door.”
She slammed the door shut, twisting the lock. “There. I’ve shut it. Happy?”
“Very. You’re looking good.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Complimenting me won’t change the fact that you are an asshole Sia.”
“So just because I want to save you from future problems, I’m now an asshole?”
“How is destroying our bond saving me from future problems?”
Sia sighed. “Firstly, blood bonds were only created as a form of punishment for criminals.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“I didn’t expect you to.”
“You’re such an ass. A blasted morphemic type of human being.”
Sia cocked a brow. “You call me all these names yet your heart still beats for me.”
Her mouth dropped open in shock. She quickly closed it. “You… you’re lying. Moon knows I’d never have loved you if we hadn’t bonded.”
Sia snorted. “You loved me before we bonded Crinka. What do you have to say about that?”
“Perhaps I was desperate, I was also curious and emotional,” she replied.
“To the point that you decided to give your heart to a total stranger?” Sia asked, putting on his shoes.
“Why do you keep doing that? Making it seem as if loving you was a big mistake.”
“Because it is!”, he yelled. “All the women who had ever loved me died Crinka. My mother, sister, Anita, Nuella, Eloive’s mother, even Pharix!”
Her eyes widened. “But… Dogara’s still alive, and I don’t remember you mentioning a sister or that Eloive’s mother was in love with you. And what do you mean by Pharix is dead?”
Sia exhaled sharply. He had said too much. “That delta can never be my mother. My sister was friends with Eloive’s mother. She died trying to protect me. Eloive’s mother was murdered simply because she harbored love for me and not Ruarc. It was never because of Eloive. And Pharix, well, she kind of deserved it. All those women would still be alive today if they hadn’t loved me. So please Crinka, I don’t know how you want to do it, but you’ve got to fall out of love with me. It’s the only way you can live long,” Sia muttered, turning away from her.
“What if… what if I don’t want to live long?”
Sia turned to her sharply. “Don’t you ever say that Crinka. You have to want to live long. You’ve got tons of things to do with your life Crinka. You can’t do them if you’re dead.”
“I don’t have anything to do Sia. It’s why I chose to love you.”
“That’s ridiculous. You’re talking nonsense.”
“Just because what you heard isn’t what you wanted to hear, doesn’t mean the other party is talking nonsense Sia. I thought hard about it in those dungeons Sia. My life changed when I lost my alpha title. I thought I had lost my destiny because while growing up, it was the only thing I looked forward to, ruling my people. When Sleepy Joe took that away and I turned rogue, I didn’t see the point of living anymore given I didn’t have anything to live for. That was why I was furious when I learned if I died, someone else would have to die as well. I wanted to die without it affecting anyone, then you came along and created that bond. Now I’ve got so much to live for, and that’s all thanks to you.”
“It won’t have to be that way once I break the bond,” Sia said. “You’d get your freedom and we’ll never see each other again. Every memory you have of me, I’ll erase so that you can stay reassured and your fears buried. You would be free from the curse of the Icelanders.”
“What if I don’t want to be free from it Sia?”
Sia exhaled sharply. She wasn’t making any of this easy for him. “It’s time for lunch. Meet me in Massa’s wing when you’re done with lunch.”
“I thought… I thought we’d be having lunch together.”
“I thought so too until you decided to love me.” Sia said as he grabbed his coat, and headed for the door. Crinka blocked his path.
“You didn’t just learn of my feelings today. Are you trying to distance yourself from me?”
“I’ll still be around, but you won’t be seeing me around often.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He doesn’t answer, sidestepping her. Annoyed, Crinka yanked him back with all the strength she had. He knocked into her, and they both tumbled on the ground, Sia on his back, Crinka hovering above him, breathing hard.
“You… you called me your queen, but you certainly don’t treat me like one.”
“Am I supposed to?”
She was surprised. “You’re… you’re an asshole! Why give me such a title if you’re never going to treat me like one?”
“I’m taking you shopping. What else do you want from me?” Sia asked, annoyed. With her chest heaving in his face, he was finding it hard to concentrate.
“Let’s have lunch together.”
“So you knocked me down just to say that?”
“Maybe. Let’s have lunch together, Sia,” she then batted her eyelids, pouting, “please.”
“Massa and I already agreed to have lunch.”
“Then cancel,” she whispered, stroking her mark on his shoulder. Sia swore as pleasure built up in his toes. “And have lunch with me.”
He swallowed. “I can’t…”
“You can’t or you won’t?” she asked, rubbing her thumb against his nipple while stroking her mark on his shoulder. A bead of sweat rolled down his chest. She was evil, making him feel things he shouldn’t feel.
“If I say yes,” he paused, breathing heavily. “Where do you intend, we have this lunch?”
“You’ll have to say yes to find out, ice boy,” she muttered. He didn’t want to cancel his arrangement with Massa, but he was also curious to know what his she-devil had planned.
“Fine.”
“That doesn’t sound like a yes, Mr. Lancaster.”
“Yes, dammit! We’d have lunch together. Jesus!”
“I don’t know who Jesus is, but he better not spoil what I have in mind.”
“And what, pray tell, do you have in mind?”
“You’d have to have lunch with me to find out. Meet me in the royal garden. Don’t be late.”