FORBIDDEN BLOOM

20 — HIS LIFE FOR MINE

VANESSA

Sex with Leonidas was not just the next best thing after clean air. It was the strength in which he f****d me, coupled with the gentleness in the way he cradled me after.

We took the s*x back to his bed, f*****g thoroughly until it was well into the evening, and when he was asleep on his side, I snuck out of his room.

Leonidas and s*x together was an addicting mix. A nasty elixir I wanted to drown in.

But that was where the real problem lied. It was impossible for us to be together for obvious reasons.

I quickly halted my train of thoughts before it went a step further.

“That can’t be right,” I murmured as I made my way to my room. “Be together? Pathetic.”

Turning into a corner of the hallway, there was a figure which was almost blended into the shadows. It did not take me long to realize who it was.

“Ha, I see you let yourself be roped in by his fake charms that you spend nearly two days with my brother.” Lysandros’s gaze raked over what I knew was my s*x hair. “Was that how good his c**k was?”

Irritation sparked within me. “If you’d excuse me, I have an evening dinner to prepare for. He’s asked me to be by his side.”

His nostrils flared in anger. No, jealousy was the word. In a flash, he pulled me into the shadows and pressed me against the wall with his body.

“Why him? Why not me? I promised I would give you everything, including your freedom and your place at my side if you so desire.” An emotion so intense swirled in his eyes. “Why him?”

Reaching up, I let my fingers thread through his hair, watching in satisfaction his eyes flutter close.

A sweet thrill coursed through me. One when you had two powerful men at your feet, each of them fighting to win your heart.

“Let’s just say Leonidas is the man I need. There is something about him which I cannot shake off.”

He was back to glaring at me. “Because he is the King? I assure you, that is just for a little while.” He then leaned in. “As soon as Rose is done with the spell, the throne will belong to me.”

“And I will be long gone by then.” As I side-stepped him towards my room, my fingers scraped his jaw lightly. “I’d suggest you forget about me soon and get some other person to warm your bed. Whatever happened between us was just…convenient.”

“Really? You call riding my c**k convenient?” He let out a derisive laughter. “That’s what I get for thinking a murderous w***e can be changed. You obviously can never be satisfied.”

The hurt I’d buried deep for years came rushing back double-fold at the mention of that word “w***e”. Putting on a smile I didn’t feel, I turned back to him.

“You know what? I think I do have an answer for your question.” I stopped in front of him. “Why Leonidas? Because he is not a boy in a man’s suit, throwing tantrums because life did not give him what he want. He fights his demons and wears his battle scars proudly.”

He stepped back, flinching like I’d just slapped him.

“I’d pick a man like him over a whiner like you.”

With those words, I continued on my way to my room, doing my best to suppress every ounce of rage that was bubbling within me, threatening to tip over.

“Well, they say do not give pearls to swines.” He echoed behind me. “I should have listened.”

Asshole.

All that mattered to me now was escaping into the sanctuary of my room and calming down.

So I did.

After shutting the door, I leaned against it with a hand on my chest and my eyes closed, trying to catch my breath when a voice broke the spell of silence.

“I have never heard anyone speak of Leonidas the way you just did.”

My eyes flew open. To my shock, Cipher was standing at the dresser with a hand in his pocket and a dagger in hand.

My dagger.

The fact that he was here meant only one thing and that smirk on his mouth was proof.

“What are you doing in here?” I asked dumbly, approaching him with caution.

“Nyra needed me to keep an eye on her precious asset.” He grinned. “What do you think will be her reaction when she finds out you are busy pining after your target.”

“I am not pining after him. I am devising a way to end this once and for all,” I bit out through my teeth as anger spiked again.

He chuckled as he struck the dresser with the dagger once, letting it stand.

“What I heard out there was not making plans. Just as I suspected, you have direct access to Leonidas and the man still walks.”

“Say that to a man who daggers can’t kill,” I scoffed. “It’s always easier when you’re looking in from the outside.”

This time, his laughter rang out loud and scornful. “Wait, is that supposed to be code word for you falling for his might c**k?”

I motioned to the door, unable to withstand his nonsense. “Get out.”

“Okay.” His hands went up in mock surrender. “Just checking in on you. Finish up and don’t grant me the satisfaction of killing you for failing to deliver.”

“Out before I skin off whatever is left of your bald head.” And I meant it.

He gave me one last look that chilled me to my bones. I was not easily thrown off but that singular look shining with malice?

Cipher was going to do it and I had the option of killing him and escaping or letting him kill me.

For now, I just had to hasten the mission.

***

As evening came, I was prepared and ready to grace the dinner as Leonidas’s date. My hair was styled to perfection and my emerald green dress was a wonder.

My eyes found the small velvet box on the dresser. It was a gift from him; a gold bracelet ringed with tiny jasmine flowers.

But he sent a message saying he would send an escort instead because something urgent had come up.

Right as I reached the stairs, I found Noel waiting for me at the bottom. Confusion flickered in his face as he watched me approach.

“You’re the King’s date?” He asked with his hand held out.

“You are my escort?” I returned the question, placing my hand in his.

“Since when did you and the King…you know…” He cleared his throat, whispering, “The King has never been that close with a woman in all his years of ruling.”

My fingers twitched on reflex and I forced a smile on my face.

“I think that is our personal business and I would like to keep it a secret.”

“Hmm,” was all he said as we moved to what looked like an open pavillion.

Other guests present were milling around and exchanging pleasantries. The crowd was quite small unlike that of the ball.

The less the messier, I guess.

“Have a lovely evening, Nessa.” Without looking back, Noel walked off to interact with other people.

Was he…jealous?

I had no time to linger on it because there was only one man on my mind.

A certain man to kill.

We were good while we lasted but like Nyra always reminded us; a deal was a deal.

I could not let my feelings jeopardize this.

Dopplegangers or not. Intense, earth-shattering, mind-numbing, toe-curling, p***y-steaming s*x or not.

Not even the way he called me ‘love’ in Greek.

Neither of those mattered in the line of duty and I was not going to let them down.

Just as I my eyes continued the search, I felt the faintest touch on my exposed shoulders and the smell of him tickling my senses.

I knew who it was without needing to turn. What I couldn’t control was my body’s shameless reaction to him.

“I almost did not recognize you for a second, agapi.” He smiled, lifting my hand and kissing it. I turned to him. “You’re not wearing your bracelet?”

I must have left it in my room.

“I’ll go get it. Don’t go anywhere.”

I’m not sure who heard but someone gasped in shock. Deal with it, Susanna, he’s a sucker for me tonight.

I quickly grabbed the bracelet and wrapped it around my wrist. As I was making my way back to the party, I heard voices speaking in hushed tones.

“...she’s bound to him now. If you kill him, she dies too,” he was saying. It was Lysandros.

“Who cares? It’s a win-win for you. Didn’t you say she chose him over you earlier today?” Her voice dropped lower. “You will be King soon and girls will flock in their numbers.”

And Rose?

He said something inaudible to which she replied,

“Thanks to her, we have the King’s hair. Have the servants serve him this and he won’t last a night.”

My heart slammed painfully against my chest as I realized who this was about.

Me.

And not only had I just accomplished my mission, my life was now tied to his.