~YULIA
“I need fresh air.” I got up.
I was feeling suffocated with everyone in this room and I was especially pissed at Issa because of how he was objecting to Jamal trying to help me.
If he was not interested in getting justice for my mom, then he had lied about having my interest at heart. I will get to the bottom of this with or without him. It was a vow that I made to myself as I left the room.
The curious glances I got as I left the room almost overwhelmed me but I ignored all of them.
I was the niece of the newest Lycan in town so I understood the attention but I was not going to tolerate it. I located the exit and headed for the door. I needed a cool breeze from all this pretence.
“Gray eyes, just like the moon,” A voice said. It creeped me out.
I turned to locate the voice only to see that it was one of the Order. A male this time and he had that same look that Davina had given me the first time we met.
“Was that a compliment?” I sarcastically asked.
“Yes, it was. It is very rare to see one with such eyes as yours, you are a curious little wolf, aren’t you?” I watched as he approached me.
I scoffed. “If you are trying to get laid, you walked up to the wrong wolf, pal,” I turned to leave but he cut in.
“Far from it,” The man said. “But I would not mind having a taste of the Lycan’s niece.” Then he eyed me hungrily.
“I admire the fact that you shamelessly know what a creep you are.” I was going to leave again when he hit me with the dirtiest line.
“How much are you worth?”
“Excuse me?”
“There is always a price for everything, and I know that you have one,” He said as the timbre of his voice began to poke my mind.
Anger sliced through my chest as an uneasiness followed. This was because I could almost feel his presence inside my mind.
I was not sure what he was doing but he was doing something.
“Let me guess, you are one of them.” My tone was bland as I balled my hands into fists.
It had been fun telling Issa that I wanted to see who would attempt buying me but now that it was happening, it only made me angry.
“One of who?”
“The weirdos who buy people,” I replied. “Why would I want to sell myself to you? Or anyone?” I still felt him mentally probing my mind. It felt like wet octopus tentacles wrapped around my brain.
It felt disgusting.
He shrugged. “I like to collect rare and beautiful things,” he paused. “And you are rare, beautiful and most especially mysterious…”
“Hate to break it to you, but I am not for sale,” I stood firm on my initial decision, wanting this conversation to end.
“What if I solve your problems, the one that you so much desire, would you consider the offer to be owned by me?” He asked.
Why could he not take a hint? And most especially, why was he being so desperate?
“I can see the questions in your eyes, you want answers to a very personal thing that happened to you… or someone you once loved…” He continued.
I felt Nara shift coly within me as I balled my fists even harder. He had touched a sensitive topic and it sent my senses reeling.
Was I that obvious? Or was he just messing with me?
“I think that is enough mind probing,” Jamal’s voice sounded from behind me. “The Lady is not interested, find another poor soul to collect.”
The poking in my mind stopped immediately and that was when I realised and understood what the stranger had been doing to me.
“Wait, that was you trying to get into my head?” A mixture of shock and disbelief took over my emotions. “Why?”
“So he can influence your decision and weaken your mind, it’s what they do.” Jamal’s tone was cold and protective as he gave the man a piercing and deadly look.
“It was worth a shot.” The man shrugged and turned to leave.
Jamal moved so quickly that I did not have time to react. He grabbed the man’s wrist and I could tell that his grip was hard because the man stopped smiling instantly and began to grimace in pain.
“And I believe that it should be the last shot you take tonight.” Jamal’s tone was firm and dangerous as he tightened his grip on the struggling and suffering man.
The pervert tried to set himself free and remain stubborn but Jamal’s grip only grew stronger to the extent that I started hearing the sound of bones breaking.
Jamal smiled coldly. “I see that you are trying to get into my head. You underestimate me, man of the Order.”
The man swallowed nervously. Jamal reached into his inner jacket and brought out his badge; raised it so the man could see despite still holding on to his almost broken wrist.
“I see.” The man tried to mask the pain he was going through. “A Nocturnal Detective. I apologise for the disrespect.”
“Apologise to the niece of the Lycan, not me.” Jamal replied coldly.
The man turned to look at me, the pain evident in his eyes but he still held on to his dignity.
“I sorely apologise, Lady Yulia, forgive my forwardness.”
“Let me think about it, before I accept your apology,” I said, enjoying the man’s discomfort. No one probed my mind and got away with it.
Jamal squeezed the man’s wrist again, making him wince in pain. “You can press charges, if you want Lady Yulia,” he paused. “I wonder what the Order would think if they found out that one of their own tried to hypnotise the Lycan’s niece on the day of his announcement.”
The man went still with fear. His arrogant demeanour disappeared and was replaced with worry. In that moment, he realized that he fucked up.
“My Lady, please forgive me. It would never happen again, I swear to you.” The fear in his eyes had intensified and Yara marvelled at the sight.
“You’re not worth the effort, and for the record, your apology means nothing to me because you don’t mean it. You are only saying because you got caught.” I folded my arms at him. Then I turned to Jamal.
“Let him go.”
He released the man’s wrist. The man bowed slightly as he massaged his wrist but I saw the look he gave Jamal as he backed off.
“If you want to continue from here, you know where to find me,” Jamal said as if he read the man’s mind. “Now fuck off and go make some potions or whatever it is your Order does.”
“Thanks,” I said to Jamal.
“Anything for you, Yulia.” He replied and the butterflies in my stomach started fluttering even harder.
Why was he so hot?