He puts his fork in the cake, and when he tastes it, he moans too. We don’t talk as we polish off everything on our plates, but we’ll have to talk when we’re done. Things must be said, because there’s no way he can go back to his chamber tonight. We’re stuck sleeping in here, and I have a feeling it will be like that for the whole mission.
Not if I have anything to say about it, Quinn says snidely. I’ll make sure you two are separated the entire time. You make sure that Witch knows you aren’t his.
Groaning to myself, I speak directly to Alaric. Alaric, keep everyone out of my head for the night. I have to talk to Lawrence, and I don’t need them popping in, especially during this discussion. And we have to sleep in the same bed tonight.
His growl fills my head. I’m only doing this one more time, sweetheart. We aren’t meant to be separated from each other like this. This is the last time. Make sure your husband knows his place, or we will. My head clears, and I know I have the privacy I need for this conversation.
Standing up from the table, I bump right into Lawrence’s chest because he’s already moved to my side of the table. This is the first time I’ve seen him out of leather. He’s in normal cotton pants and a waistcoat. He’s wearing a button down shirt, but of course, everything is black.
His hands frame my face, and he puts his lips on my forehead. “I love you, and I’m sorry.”
When his lips pull away from my forehead, I look up at him and imagine what life would have been like if things were different. Rising up on my toes, I wrap my arms around his shoulders to give him a hug, but he must take it as something else because his mouth descends on mine. When I gasp in surprise, his tongue pushes into my mouth, and I push against his shoulder a couple of times, but he doesn’t move, so I bite his tongue. He groans, so I bite his tongue hard enough to draw blood. Unclenching my teeth, I let go of his tongue and grab the cloth on the table to spit his blood out on it.
“What the hell was that!” he demands of me as he turns me around. “I was just kissing you! Why the hell did you bite me?”
I scowl at him. “Maybe you should pay attention when someone is pushing you away, Lawrence. I was trying to get you to stop kissing me. Did you feel me kissing you back or participating in the kiss at all?” Liquid fills my eyes in fury. “You used to ask my permission or at least pay attention to my cues. What’s happened? I don’t get it anymore, Lawrence.”
“Amare, you had your arms around my shoulders. I thought you wanted me to kiss you.” He rubs his hands down my arms, but I wrench them away from him. He runs his hands through his hair in frustration and begins to pace. “You confuse me, Rosalyn. One minute, you’re begging me to talk to you. Now you can’t stand me touching you. Make up your damn mind. I can’t take the back and forth. We’re married and together for eternity. Now your men can’t touch this, especially now that Xavier is married to Alizon,” he arrogantly says.
Looking at him, I slowly count backwards from ten. He’s pissed me off. This time, I go to him. “Just because we were forced into marriage doesn’t mean we’ll stay together for all eternity. The same for Alizon and Xavier,” I hiss. “This marriage is nothing but a sham. My mother ordered me to do it, and I did. Get one thing straight, Lawrence. If you touch me in any way I don’t want again, I will end you.”
His eyes are huge by the time I end my speech, and his nostrils flare, but he gathers himself quickly and gets down so our eyes meet. “I’ll tell you one thing right now, Princess,” he sneers. “I’m not letting you go, and the only way to get out of this is for both of us to agree to it, or one of us to be dead.” My breathing becomes shallow as my heart rate speeds up. He sits down on my bed and puts his foot on his knee. “Let me guess, your boyfriends didn’t tell you that detail, did they? Well, let them know that I’ll never willingly walk away from this. I love you, and I’m not ready to let you go. If it wasn’t for them, you would have chosen me.”
Tears quickly fill my eyes, and I turn away from him. I hasten to my bureau to get a dressing gown. Once I close myself in the bathroom, I sob, falling to the floor in a heap, crying harder than I have in my whole life.
All of a sudden, the door opens, and Lawrence is there. He tries to pick me up, but I swat at his arms. “Amare, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He abandons his efforts to pick me up and gently grabs my chin. “Look at me. Please, just look at me.” I finally look up at him and see tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry for saying those things to you. It made me no better than Xavier.” At that, I cry harder, but he continues, “I don’t want to be that man. Will you let me loosen this dress? I promise not to touch you. I just want to help.”
Crocodile tears make tracks down my cheeks as I shake my head, and my voice breaks. “Just give me a knife. I don’t want you touching me.” He looks crushed but nods his head. He pulls a knife from the sheath from his boot. After he hands it to me, he leaves my bathroom. Carefully, I slice the dress to get out of it and pull my nightgown over my head. My dress is now in shreds, but I never want to look at the damn thing again anyway.
Turning the bathroom light off, I open the door and make my way into my chamber to see Lawrence has changed into sleeping pants. His chest is bare. After what he said, my stomach churns, and I shudder. He looks like he’s going to say something, but I go to my side of the bed, jump in, and cover up. The bed dips when he gets in.
There’s a pull in the blankets as he turns toward me, and he takes a deep breath. “When I met you as a little girl, Rosalyn, I didn’t know I would end up falling in love with you. You’re one of the most beautiful, incredible, powerful women I know. I couldn’t be prouder to call you my wife. What I said before, I shouldn’t have said. I’ll never force you to stay in this marriage. I don’t know how long I’ll get to keep you, but I’ll cherish every second I have with you. My love for you runs deep, and no woman will ever be able to grasp my heart the way you have. At least I get to say I had your heart for a little while, and that’s an honor. I love you, amare, and I will love you until my dying breath.”
By the time he’s done, my eyes sting. My love for him runs deep, as well. But it’s time for me to let him go. I hope and pray there is a woman out there for him who is a thousand times better than me. I’ve hurt him so much, and he deserves so much more than I can give him. My heart belongs to four men who are my future. I may not know them all that well, but I feel a bone-deep connection to them. Lawrence will feel that with someone someday.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Alaric
Glass spreads across the stone floor. The growl I force out of my lungs is fierce. “Arghh!”
“Alaric, man,” Quinn’s calm voice comes from my side. “Calm down. She wouldn’t want to see you like this.”
Hair sprouts on my arms as I walk toward the door. My teeth sharpen. I’m ready to tear this castle to the ground.
Alaric, we’re all upset, Xavier tries to placate me. I’ve lost the most in this, but if she sees you like this, she’ll break.
My wolf tears through my clothes, and I bear my teeth at Quinn to let me out of the door. I chew out Xavier through our connection, knowing Rosalyn can hear. This would have never happened if it weren’t for you. You’re the reason she even fell for him, so the blame lies with you. After that, I put my focus on Quinn. Let me out of this chamber now, Quinn. I don’t want to hurt you.
Rosalyn is falling asleep and just on the edge of consciousness, but my anger instantly awakens her. Her presence calms me until I feel how upset she is, and her worry bursts through our minds. What’s going on?
No answer comes from me, but Quinn moves away from the door and opens it as I charge out of it. I’m happy when I see it’s twilight because I know that he can’t follow me. I just want to be alone.
Halfway out of the castle, I’m stopped by my mother, whose power overwhelms me. I know she’ll force me to change back, which is exactly what begins to happen since, as the queen, she has that power. While I’m changing, my eyes meet hers, and I growl
.
“Alaric Lapendon, don’t you dare growl at me.” She places her hands on her hips as her face grows fierce. Not only is she using her queen mode, but her mom voice is coming out. She throws a pair of shorts at me. “Cover up, and tell me what the hell you’re so upset about. Getting a message from your mate all the way from Caldia about an immature brat is the last thing I need right now.”
I’m flabbergasted. Rosalyn was able to reach out to my mother, and she called me an immature brat? I reach through my connection to get to the bottom of this. You reached out to my mother, Rosalyn? Don’t you think you’re overstepping?
Once again, she’s on the edge of consciousness but she’s in fighting form as soon as I communicate with her. Oh, don’t go there, Alaric. I’m going to bed. Goodnight.
What’s happening to our relationship? We’ve always been able to talk to each other, and now I feel like everything’s falling apart. Lucas, who’s normally quiet, offers some wisdom. You’re allowing it. Instead of being there for her, you’re allowing your Alpha personality to take over. Go talk to your mother. She’s seventeen, Alaric, what did you expect her to do when you went crazy like that? She has a power all of us can only dream of.
My mother leads me through the castle to her chamber so we can have some privacy. Her chamber is by the throne room, near the healing wing of the castle. It’s set up just like my room. The only difference is she has an inner chamber. There aren’t any windows so she has the most protection. She opens the door and takes a seat as I pace back and forth.
She folds her hands in her lap. “Rosalyn told me that she was forced to do something that upset you, but she wouldn’t go into detail.” Her eyes soften as she looks at me, and I stop pacing to stare at her. “Tell me since she was too upset.”
Running my hands through my hair, my hands fall to my side and curl into fists. “I can’t talk about it. It’s too difficult.”
Rosalyn’s voice bursts through my head, Talk to her, Alaric. She needs to know what’s going on.
I’m too furious to talk to her, so I stay quiet. I block her out. Taking a seat across from my mother, I stare at the ground. “She was forced to marry Lawrence,” I mumble so my mother can barely hear me.
Her gasp is sharp. She gets up from her seat and paces, her long, curly hair falling down the back of her light green dress. She pushes it over the shoulder to one side, comes to me and frames my face on one knee. “I’m so sorry, Alaric, but this can be resolved as long as she doesn’t sleep with him.” A tear slips out of her eye. “After losing a mate, I know how much pain you’re going through. Tearing the castle to the ground isn’t going to help the situation. She’s hurting, too. You have to be there for her.”
Taking a deep breath, I understand what she’s saying. Shaking my head, I eventually drop it. “Why does it feel like my heart has been torn out?”
“Oh, my boy,” my mother softly says, “it’s because your mate connection’s been severed temporarily. It’s painful, and it hurts, but Rosalyn’s feeling that pain too and has no clue what’s going on. She’s feeling it times four. You need to be there for her.” She comes to me and pats my shoulder.
I look up at her. “She leaves on her mission tomorrow. I’d like your permission to meet her there.”
She puts her face in her hands while she contemplates my request. After almost losing me during the last mission, I know this is a hard request, but she has to know I’ll leave without her permission. Quinn and I both will.
She looks at me. “I’ll allow it, but you’ll take Thomas, Steise, and two other guards with you. I take it Quinn will be joining you?” she asks somberly.
“When did Steise wake up?” I ask in shock, my mouth dropping open.
She stares at me, stunned. “Alaric, I can’t believe you didn’t know your friend was awake. My son was never this self-absorbed.” Disappointment resonates through her voice as she walks away from me.
Getting up, I leave the room. “I’m going to see them now. It’s true, I’ve been a horrible friend.”
My mother stops me and gives me a hug. “You’ve made me proud. I just wish you would get yourself together.” Leaning back, she kisses my cheek. “You’re going to make an amazing mate once you do.”
I leave the room distracted and slam right into someone, knocking them over. When I move to help them up, I see a yellow dress and bright red hair. Jacque.
She looks up at me with contempt. “Well, if it isn’t the high and mighty prince.”
I’m not in the mood, so I help her up because I’m a gentleman. My mental shield slips a little bit, and Rosalyn gasps. Wow. I’m forced to get married, and you move onto your ex?
No, sweetheart, this isn’t what it looks like. My voice is fierce, but she ignores me.
Jacque talks while I’m trying to communicate with Rosalyn, and her hands hit my chest. “Was I nothing to you?” The hurt in her voice stains the air.
Now I’m getting annoyed, and my patience is thin. “Jacquelyn, how many times do I have to tell you things between us weren’t meant to be?”
A tear slowly rolls down her cheek as her lips roll inward. Shaking her head, she turns and walks away, but stops, and I barely hear her say, “No, you were meant to be with a Witch from Caldia, even though you always said you hated them.” She looks over her shoulder. “I’m surprised you’d allow it. They caused your father’s death.” Then she walks away.
My fists clench, and I’m furious she brought that up. I feel Rosalyn recede further in my head. Xavier breaks through. Great job, Alaric. She’s barely going to talk to us now. His disapproval powers through my brain, and I’m over having four other voices in my head.
Walking on my bare feet, I make my way up to Steise’s chamber. I know I’ll find my sister and two friends up there. When I go up the stairs to the corridor, I knock twice. I’m surprised when I find not only them, but also Caleb and Quinn.
Caleb runs to me. “Alaric!”
My lips pull into a smile. I pick him up and hug him hard before placing him back down. He’s become a huge fixture in our lives. When I look up, I see Steise is extremely well and smiling at me. She’s sitting by the fireplace. Making my way to my friend, I motion for her to stand. When she does, I softly hug her. “I’m sorry I’ve been absent.”
Letting her go, she looks at me and quirks her head to the side, studying me. “From what I hear, you’ve been dealing with your own problems. It’s okay. It’s good to see you now.”
Looking over, I see Thomas, and he moves to shake my hand. “It’s good to have you back, dude.”
My sister is standing by the window, and I realize she’s the one I’ve neglected the most. As her older brother, I should’ve been taking care of her. I head over to her, but she refuses to look at me. “Brailyn, I’m sorry. Please forgive me?” I plead. We’ve always been close, and she looks up to me because I’ve been the only male influence in her life.
When she still refuses to look at me, I raise her chin with my forefinger, but she averts her eyes. She’s going to be the most difficult of everyone to talk to. “I should’ve been there for you. I should have never neglected our relationship.”
Tears sheen in her eyes when she looks at me. Her voice cracks when she talks to me. “I don’t get why you stopped talking to me. We never did anything.”
Crushing her to me, I send a message to the guys. I’m letting them in on our secret, on some of the prophecy. They’re going on the mission and need to know what’s going on.
When I try to get a glimpse of Xavier, all I see is a chamber filled with green material before the connection is shut down tight. Lucas answers, I trust your instincts. They need to know. Keep our mate safe.
Quinn is understanding in his message. I don’t know why you pushed them away and didn’t tell them sooner. Let’s keep our girl safe.
Reaching out to Rosalyn, I feel her deep breaths and know she’s asleep.
Stepping back from Brailyn, I take a seat on the ground. “Let’s
all take a seat, we need to talk.”
Quinn pulls Caleb into his lap at the front of Steise’s bed because he can’t get safely back to his chamber without us. Everyone else finds somewhere to sit.
Taking a deep breath, I look at Quinn, and he nods. With his reassurance, I tell my close friends and sister about Rosalyn and the parts of the prophecy that have already happened. When I tell them about the five of us being mated, there are gasps all around the room, and Brailyn asks, “Why aren’t they all here?”
In a serious voice, I say, “Lucas is in Endennia. It’s going to be extremely hard to get him here. Rosalyn is the Princess of Caldia, but I’m working on that. You know about Xavier.” There are growls around the room at the mention of his name. No one’s a fan of him. “Yes, I know, I agree with your sentiment about him, but I can’t control that the universe chose us all to be mated. The bond is formed, but as of today, Rosalyn’s mother tried to break it. And she’s sending Rosalyn on a mission into the Wildlands. Mother has agreed to allow Quinn and me to go out there to assist.” Brailyn cries, and I move to comfort her because she’s going to dislike the next part even more. I catch Thomas’ eyes and nod. “Mother is also sending Thomas, Steise, and two other guards along with me.”
Brailyn stands up, furious, and turns on me. “You guys barely survived the last mission. And now, you’re going out again? I’m going, too.”
Getting to my feet, I put my hands up and softly explain to her, “There’s a difference this time. We have very strong Witches on our side. Rosalyn is the strongest Witch to come out of Caldia in thousands of years. Xavier, Alizon, and Lawrence will be there, too. It won’t just be us and some guards. We’ll be protected the whole time.”
Steise gets up from her bed and hugs Brailyn. “This is what I was trained to do. Trust me, we’ll be fine. Like your brother said, we’ll have an unfair advantage.” Her tone makes light of the situation to put Brailyn at ease.
Thomas also gets up, putting his arms around them. “No one is going to die. Plus, we’ll have Quinn. They’ll never see a Vampire coming.”
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