Her head flew up from her hands, misery quickly replaced by shock, then a smidge of fear as her tear-streaked face darted about, seeing everyone silently standing at the walls around her. I saw when her survival instinct took hold. She jumped to her feet, ready to bolt, outnumbered as she was, but I threw my hand out, sending a small, but potent pulse wave—a bit harshly—at her, and she grunted at the impact, her body flying back onto the bench, her back slamming against the backing of the white marble. And a small part of me smiled inside, hoping it hurt like hell, but I kept my face impassive, arm outstretched, the force still flowing from my palm, and stated in a very quiet voice, “Just sit there and keep your mouth shut unless I ask you a question before I lose my control.”
Her bold, beautiful features altered past the force holding her back, and she sneered at me. “Chosen.” Her head dipped all it could, which was more of an eye dip, a clear indication she wasn’t powerful, which I had already figured out with her power signature while studying her.
I lowered my hand, the power holding her back relinquished, placing it behind my back again, holding them firmly there, and crossing an ankle in a bored manner. I watched as she sat up more comfortably on the chair, sitting languidly, but she was nervous and scared…yet the nerves didn’t bank the simmering hatred I saw reflected in her beautiful green eyes. Quietly, I stated slowly, “And cut the fucking charade.” I dipped my head to her. “You hate me. I know this. But,” I teetered my head, “what I’d like to know is who you really are, so as I said, cut the fucking façade you pretend to be, and this will end a whole hell of a lot differently than what you fear right now.”
I held her gaze evenly, trying to reign in what I was experiencing, the need to pounce and beat her to death, my skin still shining with a nice, and furious, ethereal glow, blue eyes illuminating dimly. She took her merry time holding my gaze, and I saw many thoughts flying through her mind, past her hate-filled gaze, but eventually after a few silent minutes had past, she sat up, wiped the drying tears from her face, crossed one leg over another, hands on her knees, sitting primly…but shyly, warily, her gaze flying to each of my Lajaks.
I chuckled quietly, the sound menacing. “Pay attention, Lissa. The threat will not come from them.” Green eyes slammed to mine, so many mixed emotions in her gaze, even while my Lajaks finally learned who the hell this woman was, even if some didn’t know the story behind her. I tilted my head back on the window, staring down at her from hooded lids. “Do you love him?”
Her fingers started ringing the barest bit, her lips thinning. “Who?”
“Don’t play stupid right now.”
She inhaled heavily, then her chin jutted up with an act of courageousness. “Yes.”
I hummed quietly, watching her closely. “Would you mind if I tested that?” I knew how Leric felt, but I didn’t know how she truly felt.
White brows instantly slammed together, and her tone was guttural. “Why are you doing this?” Furious, she was damn furious as she pointed a finger at me. “You have him. Not me.” Her chin wobbled, and the bond magic only grinned. “You’ve won.”
I cracked my neck, the sound loud in the room. “Let’s just say I understand where you are coming from.” And I did. With every ounce of my beating heart, I knew how she felt. “I’ve loved someone for a very long time, but I’ve been smart enough not to get into the situation you are currently in.” Or she thought she was. I rolled a finger. “Now, do you mind if I test your honesty?”
Her jaw clenched. “You’re a heartless bitch.”
I inhaled, then hummed softly. “Yes…many think that.” The fact I wasn’t killing her right now, though, showed I was not, in fact, heartless. “I’ll give you one more chance.” My gaze was bored, impassive. “May I test your honesty?” If she denied me, I wouldn’t believe her.
Her face flushed, tears beginning to well in her eyes. “I don’t understand why…”
“I know.”
Chin trembling fiercely, she slowly held out her hand tentatively. “Don’t use this against him.”
Ah…point one in her favor.
The daggers in my hands behind my back disappeared again, and I moved forward. I watched her stiffen. My movements were of a stalking predator, and I knew it scared her, but there was nothing I could do about it. This woman not at all who I had originally thought. Flexing my fingers again, I tried to keep my movements easy as I took her hand gently, and instantly, not wanting to be near her more than needed, I let myself fly to the heavens, concentrating on the connection and pulled her white tether to my lips, whispering, “Show me the last time you were with Leric.”
Her heart pounded furiously, tears she tried to hide as the most loving eyes she had ever known stared down into hers, as he whispered, “I’m so sorry, my moon.” Silver eyes tortured down on her. “I have to go.” His lips, the lips she had loved forever kissed her forehead softly as he whispered against her skin, “We knew this day would come.”
“I know,” she whispered past the burning ache in her throat. She only needed to hold it together until he was gone…just a little while longer. Just hold it together a little longer. “Go to her.” Don’t go! “Go to her, your Chosen.”
Reverently, his cherished lips brushed hers, the lips she longed to call her own…then he swept from the room, her door closing swiftly behind him.
She fell to her knees, her aching love for him tearing through her, consuming her, shaking and uncontrollable sobs wracking her body, her love never ending for him as she screamed—
I shut it down quickly, yanking fiercely on that white solace I had honed years ago as I swiftly turned from her, moving away quickly back to the window, magical bond burning deep within me. Placing a hand on the window, I ignored Lissa’s soft sobbing behind me, and tried to breathe evenly, staring out at the setting sun, heaving with all my might as I trembled silently, trying to focus on the beauty before me…waiting…until I could breathe, possessive fury not only rippling through me, but anger at the bond which was unyielding in its merciless grip.
A deep inhale, my voice void, I stated, “For the love of God, shut up, Lissa.” I couldn’t take her damn tears…because I only wanted to make her cry more…and, also, console her.
“I fucking hate you!” she screamed at my back.
I knew she was moving at me, but I made my muscles tight, unmoving so I didn’t attack, even as Cain stepped beside me, and Elder Farrar threw a steady stream of golden magic at her. I heard her gasp, then a thump, and glanced over my shoulder to her, eyes like ice, staring where she was held immobile by a shimmering golden magic against the bench. “Lissa, I need you to listen.” I turned slowly, again leaning a shoulder impassively against the window. “If he lifts his magic, will you sit there, and try to listen to me because what I have to say is very important?”
Teeth gritted, tears tracking down her face, she hissed, “Yes.” Her only fathomable answer.
“Good.” I glanced to Elder Farrar. “Release her.” He did so, and she instantly breathed heavily, glaring under hooded lids to first him, then me, her fury barely banked, all of which I tried to ignore, it only pulling at me to hurt her. Focusing on that white solace, feeling it enter my system slowly, I stated coldly, “This is how it is going to be with no exceptions to my dictates. And really, they are very simple. One, I will never see, or hear of, you and Leric together in a physical nature. Two, you will keep your relationship quiet, even if you decide to marry and have children, and all that merry shit. Three, and most importantly, you will both respect me if you are together when I am near.”
She blinked ever so slowly in the hanging silence, my Lajaks not making a damn peep, Cain seeming to be made of stone next to me, although, his heat was wrapping around me nicely, so I didn’t move away or ask him to, the only bit of peace I felt right now.
“Lissa, do you understand what I’m saying?”
Her chest heaved once. Twice. Then, those damn tears began to flow down her cheeks again, and her smile…
my God…the smile that lifted her cheeks was breathtaking as she choked, “The choice.”
I nodded once. “Yes.” My voice was chilled, and I made myself say the truth. “I’ve seen how he feels for you. He doesn’t believe me comparable to you in any way. He loves you just as dearly as you love him.”
She instantly sat up straighter, staring out the windows with an expression of absolute wonder on her face, mumbling absently, “You’re not his type.”
My chuckle was death. “I’m apparently no one’s type.” And fuck, wasn’t that the damn truth. I turned my attention back out to the window, thoughts in turmoil, but I tried to stay focused. “Lissa, can you follow my rules?”
I heard her jump from the bench, and I swiftly glanced to her, holding a hand out, tossing her with a pulse wave back onto the bench, holding her there when she had appeared to be coming at me with a fucking…hug. “Lissa, I don’t believe you understand the control I am keeping right now.” I held her steady with my pulse wave, her expression startled, and I spoke extremely slowly, letting her see what I truly felt for her in my gaze. “I want to kill you. I want to take every single perfect hair on your head, and make a noose of it, and hang you outside by your elegant neck from that tree,” I pointed to the perfect palm tree right outside I had been trying to ignore, “and then, take my silver knife while you’re struggling for breath and slice you right as you die so the scars are permanent even in death.” I blinked. “I don’t love him, but this bond I have for my One, is very,” I inhaled slowly, “intoxicating, and only my control is keeping me from mutilating your very pretty body in the most spectacular of ways.” Another slow blink as I slowly released my magic against her, lowering my arm, her face decently frightened now. “We will never be friends. I will always hate you. It just is as it is.”
I crossed my arms deliberately to keep from strangling her. “Now…do you understand my rules for you and Leric to be together?”
She nodded slowly, eyes wide. “Yes.”
“Excellent.” I itched my cheek, pointing an absent finger at her. “You should also know, should you ever hurt him,” I shrugged a shoulder, “you won’t even see me coming.” I moved around Cain, striding from the room. “So don’t even bother to run. Just say a small prayer, because you’ll be dead soon after.”
She murmured softly behind me, “Thank you.”
“Yeah, fuck off,” I muttered under my breath, hurrying from the room, my Lajaks quickly, and damn silently, moving into place behind me with varying expressions on their faces I was in no frame of mind to try to contemplate. But…I came to a halt just outside of the room, they, also, halting behind me…because Leric was leaning a shoulder against the wall, arms crossed; gaze down on the tile, his expression utterly blank. Inhaling shallowly, I waited until his silver eyes…guarded eyes…met mine ever so slowly, and I asked quietly, “Were you ever really trying with me, or were you pushing me away?”
His lips thinned the barest bit, but his voice was deep, even when he spoke. “A little of both.”
I nodded once, because that was what I had thought, and ran a trembling hand over my face. “In the future, Leric, I don’t want to have to pry into your damn mind to know the truth. If you want this relationship to work between us, I suggest you show me who the hell you really are and stop with the spirit bullshit intrigue. We are bound forever, fighting the most horrific of battles, and I would much rather prefer doing it with someone I trust.”
His lips thinned further. A slight nod of his head. “Understood.” He stared for a long moment, and his head dipped. “Thank you for not killing her.”
I snorted. “You would have tried to stop me.” That was why he was here after all. “Again, stop with the spirit bullshit. I don’t need your fucking platitudes and sweet words for doing what was right. I need the real goddamn man I’m unfortunately bound with to make a damn appearance and start fresh, so we can do our damn jobs.” My feet were moving, taking me past where my mind needed to detox from. “And, Leric,” I hissed as I passed him, “a magic bond doesn’t make someone whole. The love, respect, and trust two people have for each other does.” A thought as I quickly moved away, and I barked over my shoulder, “And follow my goddamn rules.”
Walking at a fast clip, I swiftly stuffed the daggers back into my treasure trove that had materialized when I heard Lissa squeal happily behind me and Leric hurriedly hushing her, he, at least, understanding the battle warring within me. Walking up the white stairs, needing to move, not using the elevators, I slammed into my Lajaks room, grabbing the first bottle of vodka I found, and demanded brusquely over my shoulder, “Everyone leaves me the fuck alone tonight.” And with that, I jammed the balcony door closed behind me I had escaped outside to, sat heavily on a white chair, holding my head with a shaking hand, took a large swallow of the liquor and stared out at the sun as it finished setting…and tried to pull my thoughts together on so many different subjects…and finished the damn bottle off while doing so…and then, another, barely noticing when Sin slipped outside in the darkness, scooping my drunken, half sleeping form from the chair and carried me to bed.
Sitting at breakfast the next morning was…awkward.
The view was picturesque, which I stared at avidly, enjoying the lush tranquility of the ocean and the white square homes on the hills, this side of the coastline very reminiscent of Greece. But nothing helped the pure tension in the air, the silent knowledge Leric wanted someone else, even though we were bound with the mystical ties every Mystical cherished, and I had given it to him. And honestly, I didn’t really have anything to say to him, not feeling much this morning other than a bit of quiet relief and a sense of lingering possessiveness I knew I would always feel, the emotion not going hostile because I didn’t let my thoughts wonder to Lissa, but I, really, I had nothing to say because I didn’t know him…the real Leric.
On the plus side, I had no hangover—thank God—but the table was utterly silent, which I didn’t interrupt with any aimless blather, just continued to eat my succulent breakfast, as he, my Lajaks, and Roselle and Reese did. I was sure they knew, all with a heavy silence weighing on our table, the forced nature of our existence here at the Temple never more palatable than before.
Leric scooted on his seat. Ate part of a biscuit. Shuffled a bit more. Took a drink. Cleared his throat. Tilted his head to me, and asked courteously, “What would you like to do today?”
I blinked. “I’m sure your day’s full.” On what, I wasn’t going to linger on. Meals and meetings and events, we had to make an appearance together, but the rest of our time was ours to do as we wished. “We have lunch, that meeting at two o’clock on the Guardian’s work in Cullo and Jeria, and dinner we need to attend, but outside of that, I don’t need to know your schedule any more than you need to know mine.” Tomorrow, we were heading to another city.
“Caro,” his lips thinned, “I…don’t know what to say to make this right.” He shook his head slightly, brows pinched. “This wasn’t exactly how I pictured being with…you.”
My lips curved a bit, and it was as cool as I felt inside. “You love another, Leric. I’ve given you the opportunity to be with her. Let the reins go, for lack of a better description.” I shrugged a shoulder. “I imagine this isn’t what anyone would expect for two people who were bound magically, but it is. I’m not hurt by it.” Hell, I was in an exclusive, sexual relationship myself—albeit a screwed up one, but still…it was there. “And you’re happy with her.” I rolled a finger. “We just need to move on, and as I stated, start fresh without preconceived notions of how any of us thought we would end up in the future.”
Silver intelligent eyes watched me for long moments, and I saw when it occurred to him…the truth…outside of his own selfish thoughts, and instantly, his entire body went still, his eyes flaring brightly, and he hissed, “You’re with someone else.” The glass he was holding shattered in his hand, glass tinkling to the table, attracting other’s attention except for the man’s who was actuall
y bleeding from it. “That’s why you’re so fine with this.”
I held the thick, expensive napkin out, staring at him sharply, stating in my mind, “Take a walk and calm down.”
But the fury I knew well had taken hold of him, and he ignored me, asking aloud, his voice harsh, “Which one is it?”
Gritting my teeth, I grabbed his hand that had already healed, and started wiping the blood off, ordering through our connection, “Leric, you need to control,”
“Fuck control,” he barked harshly, starting to glow a bit. “I want to know which person my goddamn Chosen is cradling between her thighs.”
My gaze slammed to his. “Stop this.”
“No,” he growled, his glowing eyes narrowing. He gripped my hand in his. “And I don’t even need to ask.”
Instantly, I sucked in a harsh breath, trying to jerk my hand back…
…but the images flooded my mind in a flurry, his power flooding my being in an uncontrollable burst of dizzying speed, every detail whizzing by in sharp relief.
The first time I had slept with Cain in our drunken state.
The second time, of our own free, sober will.
Every subsequent time in the past.
The manic, carnal joining in the present.
Our tender kiss after the Barren.
And our last, more violent joining in my room at the Temple.
…and then, it stopped, maybe ten seconds passing, but honestly, it could have been ten seconds or ten minutes, no real clue as I groaned, slumping against my chair, blinking slowly, shaking my head against the nausea, hearing Leric’s tiger growling fiercely, his entire being lit up, crown of the galaxies on his head as he stared down at me, utterly livid with possession.
“Leric…don’t,” I managed to croak, holding my head, squinting past the blurriness, everyone at the table silent, and I knew my Lajaks didn’t understand how quickly his power passed, but all were deathly still, and I felt Cain’s hand where he sat directly on my left instantly land on my leg under the table, gripping me tightly.
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