004
1335 Words
RAVAYA
I was burning up from the inside and could barely walk straight. Stars above, I couldn't remember my heat period being this bad. Was it because my mate was walking right by my side holding on to my forearm? That had to be it. His scent was starting to drive me crazy too. But his silence was driving me crazier.
I halted, turning to face him. "You've refused to talk about the fact that we're mates. What if your brother finds out?"
He stared at me, blankly.
"Fine. I do not want this bond either. I, Ravaya—" my voice trailed off as pain curled in my guts.
I doubled over, and he grabbed me to steady me.
"Let me take you to your room," he said, and I nearly screamed at him.
What part of 'I didn't want to be near him' did he not understand?
Letting out a shaky breath, I straightened.
I bit my lower lip, concentrating on putting one leg in front of the other, my core throbbing with desire. Suddenly, he sighed. Excuse me? He wasn't the one who was physically suffering, and he dared to sigh?
I turned to glare at him.
"You're going to take ages getting to your room if we keep moving like this," he droned, and I squeezed my eyes shut, infuriated.
Without warning, he scooped me off my feet and placed me over his shoulder. I squeaked, squirming against his hold.
Unbothered, he headed straight down the hallway. I squeezed my eyes shut in embarrassment. He could probably smell my arousal. But how was he so stoic? If there was any other alpha around me, they would have taken their chances to screw a helpless omega in heat. His level of control had to be god-tier.
When we arrived in the room, he tossed me on the bed just like before. I curled up in a fetal position, pressing my thighs together. He was silent for a moment, and I could feel his intense gaze on me. Slowly, panic was beginning to build inside of me.
Was he going to take advantage of me now? Had I made assumptions too early? Stars, not like this. Not when I can't even fight back.
I squeezed my eyes shut as I sensed him drawing closer to me. But then, all of a sudden, I was enveloped by the warmth of a fabric. My eyes popped open, widening when I saw that he'd placed his jacket over my body.
"I'm leaving," he said and left the room. I sat up slowly, bewildered.
He'd given me his jacket to comfort me? To comfort the woman who'd tried to kill him earlier?
Despite myself, I brought the fabric to my nose and inhaled deeply.
Goddamnit, he smelled so good.
I lay down on my bed, holding his jacket to myself, his scent soothing the heat in my body.
Even though he was my mate, he was still my enemy.
I needed to reject him as soon as possible. I couldn't let the mating bond stand in the way of my survival and revenge.
Minutes blurred into hours and days. I spent some hours in the bathtub, trying to drown out my desire. And other times, I was trapped in a fever haze in bed. Just like that, two terrifying days passed.
The door suddenly creaked open, and I sat up in bed to see Evander walking in. Following behind him was Kael. They were both wearing tailored black suits that accentuated their smaller waists and broad shoulders. Kael's hair was in a half ponytail, and a silver lip ring sat on his lower lip.
I swallowed, struggling with taking my eyes off him. I hadn't seen him in three days, and he'd taken his time to grow hotter. How the hell does that happen?
Evander cleared his throat. He must've noticed me staring at Kael for too long.
Get a grip, girl.
"You smell divine, Ravaya," Evander said, beaming at me. There was just something off about him. His smile gave me the creeps.
"Why are you here?" I asked with a sigh, clutching at the sheets under which Kael's jacket was hidden.
"Today, I'll be introducing you to my associates as my future bride," he replied, moving to sit on the bed. He reached out a hand to touch me, and I pulled away instinctively.
He squinted at me and turned to look at Kael, who stood at the door like a robot.
Goddamnit, what the hell was wrong with this man?
"She's in heat, you didn't tell me that," Evander said to him. He blinked.
"I didn't think it was necessary," he replied without batting an eyelash.
There was tension between them. It was hard to tell why.
"Come closer, will you?" Evander said to his brother. Kael's right eye twitched. It was so minute that I almost missed it. But it said a lot about how uneasy he was becoming.
I flicked my gaze back to Evander, on edge. Had he figured that something was going on between his brother and me?
Was this a test of some kind?
Kael didn't argue. He simply strode forward, his gloved hands buried in the pockets of his pants. I bit my lower lip, trying not to let my body's attraction to him be obvious.
"Brother, you're good with ponytails. I'd like to see how well she looks with ponytails," Evander said, and I stiffened.
Kael looked away. "You can do it yourself," he deadpanned, and I blinked at him, surprised to know that he could turn down his brother's request.
Evander scoffed and moved over to lift my hair into a ponytail. He peered at my face with a smile tugging at his lips. Then he yanked hard.
I gasped, my eyes widening.
"I've tolerated your bullshit so far. Today's event is important to me. If you act out of line, I'll make you regret it. Do you understand?" He snarled in my ear, goosebumps prickling my skin.
"Use your words, woman," he hissed, and I gripped the sheets hard.
"Yes."
He released me, gently stroking my hair. "Good girl."
He rose to his feet, adjusting his suit jacket. "Someone will be here to help you get ready," he said and headed out of the room.
The instant Kael turned around to leave, I lurched myself at him. He cursed under his breath, shaking me off him.
"Stay put, will you?" He hissed and stormed out of the room. Once he was gone, I twirled the keycard I'd just stolen from him between my fingers.
...
I headed down the hallway, scoffing. A maid had come to help me get ready. And now, I was wearing designer clothes and expensive jewellery, something I'd never worn before. I'd always thought I belonged on the front page of a beauty magazine, and seeing my reflection on the glass windows confirmed it.
Both brothers had asked me to stay in my room until it was time to leave for the event. Yet, Kael had been so oblivious to me stealing his keycard.
Now, who's the clever one?
A smile tugged at my lips as I brushed my wavy hair away from my face, quickening my pace.
I froze when I smelled Kael's scent. There was someone else with him. Someone who smelled like pines and dark chocolate? Weird.
"Do you think he knows?" The stranger said, and I pressed myself against the wall, muting my presence.
It was such a relief that I'd taken the heat suppressants the maid had given me earlier. I could sneak around more easily and steal secrets that would guarantee my survival.
"It feels like he's testing me..." I heard Mr. Steel say.
"Either way, he probably knows that something is up with you or...he's aware that you know that you're the real heir to the empire."
I froze.
Kael was the real heir? Not Evander?
"Who's there?" Kael suddenly called out. Well, s**t.
- Writer
