Song of Fire and Flame

4 - Anger issues

Lincoln

“Lincoln, calm down!” Christian hisses as I punch the wall for a fourth time. Only this time, I punch it so hard the damn thing breaks.

It’s no secret that I have anger issues. Sometimes I manage to control them, feeling relief when I do. Other times, my anger flares up uncontrollably, and nothing calms me down. I can only ride it out until exhaustion leaves me numb instead of furious.

I can be a dangerous man to be around sometimes. I’ve been so bad in the past that my great-grandfather Xale, King of Dragons, had to have me locked in the dungeons to keep people safe.

No, I do not go around hurting the innocent. I’m not that crazy. However, I have been known to go out and end the lives of criminals, any criminal, more than once. Of course, this isn’t allowed. Xale puts people on trial so the whole council can decide their fate. There are times when the King makes decisions on the spot, but that’s usually for hardened criminals. So, killing them without his permission is not allowed.

Christian followed me home after telling our friends we’d catch up with them tomorrow. I ignored everyone—even their goodbyes—because I knew if I spoke in that moment of frustration, I’d say something I’d regret. Phil and Zack didn’t deserve that, so I stayed silent, trying to keep a grip on my temper.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Christian asks.

I shrug while scrubbing my hands over my face. The anger is simmering.

“Lincoln, you just smashed the folly wall down!” He hisses. “You were fine until you saw that girl on stage. What was it about her that set you off like this?”

I close my eyes and lean my head back against the part of the wall I didn’t smash. “I don’t know, Christian. Theron was going crazy inside me.” I open my eyes and look at my brother. “Whoever that girl was, her soul was crying out for help. Something terrible happened and probably is still happening to her.”

Christian folds his arms over his chest and sighs. “You want to save her. Don’t you?”

I nod and blow out a long breath.

“What is it with you and women?”

I grit my teeth. “You know damn well that I can’t stand men hurting women! I don’t care if a woman wants to dance for money or even sell herself for it, as long as that’s what she wants. It drives me crazy that people think they can force others to do what they want without giving a shi.t what the other person wants. Men or women, it doesn’t matter, it’s wrong, and you know it!”

“Calm down!” He hisses again. “You’re burning up, Lincoln. I’m proud of you for helping those in need. But you’ve never reacted like this before. Yes, you’ve been angry, but not enough to break down walls that have done nothing to you! There’s more to this than you’re letting on.”

I clench my teeth, struggling to steady myself.

“What the hell is going on out here?”

I roll my eyes as my father walks toward us.

Levi Lightborne is the youngest son of King Xale and Queen Xylia. My dad is a powerful man; his Dragon is even more so. He’s always treated my brother and me like the best things that ever happened to him after our mother.

Dad knew Mom was his mate before she was even born. Mom and Dad are Soul Bonded, a rare occurrence that happens less than it should. They have only ever known each other, and no one could ever come between them.

My cousin Rain’s son, Mark, and his mate Sophie, are Mom and Dad’s Soul Keepers. The four of them will be together for the rest of their lives. I grew up not knowing any different.

However, as much as Dad loves me, he won’t put up with my anger. I have never hit out at my father, and he’s never hit me. But he’s threatened it more than once when he’s tackled me to the ground, trying to calm me down.

Dad is a handsome bastard, tall, blond, blue-eyed, and built like a God. Christian looks just like him, whereas I look like my mother with my dark hair. I’m built like Dad and Christian, but they’re slightly taller than I am.

“Well?” Dad says, crossing his arms over his chest, just like Christian.

I look at the two of them and almost laugh. They could pass for twins. The fact that Dad hasn’t aged since his twenties means it’s easy to think such a thing.

“I was just trying to calm Lincoln down,” Christian says.

Dad groans. “Why this time?”

I say nothing as Christian explains what happened at the club and afterward. Dad’s eyes don’t leave me the whole time.

“Was this girl your mate?” Dad asks as soon as Christian finishes speaking.

I shake my head. “No. It wasn’t that. Believe me, if she had been my mate, everyone in that club would be dead right now!”

“That makes this worse!” Dad snaps, dropping his arms. “You’re this het up over a woman who isn’t your mate. There must be more to it, Lincoln.”

I furrow my brow. “I can’t just be pissed off that a woman clearly needed help?”

Dad nods. “You can be pissed off, Lincoln. What you can’t be is so angry over a woman you don’t know, nor is your mate that you would destroy things! How many times do you have to be told to keep your cool?”

I shake my head, push off the wall, and walk away. I’m not listening to this crap. Yeah, I’ve got my own issues. Anger isn’t going to fix them. Still, that girl looked shattered. I can’t let it go. I want to help her.

Is that so wrong?

“Lincoln!” A two-sweet voice calls after me.

I roll my eyes because I’m not in the mood for this right now.

Brenda Cole is a stunning-looking woman. She’s also a nightmare! For as long as I’ve known her, she’s tried to get me to notice her. She’s never said it directly, but she implies to anyone who will listen that she’ll one day be my bride.

I have nothing against Brenda, other than the fact that I don’t want her. She knows this because I’ve told her enough times. But for some reason, it doesn’t seem to sink into her brain.

“What do you want, Brenda?” I ask, still walking toward the castle.

She practically runs beside me to keep up with my strides. “I just wondered how you are. I saw you with Christian and your father. I could see that you were upset, so I wanted to check on you.”

In other words, she was spying on me again.

“I’m fine. You can go now.”

“Please, don’t be like that, Lincoln.” She says in that whiny tone of hers.

I stop walking and look at her. She’s dressed up as if she were going to a ball – tight red dress showcasing her curves, jewelry fit for a queen, red hair down and curled around her shoulders, and heels that make her at least four inches taller. Ridiculous.

“Brenda, you don’t need to follow me around,” I say, trying to make her understand without being cruel. “It’s inappropriate for you to follow a prince around. Don’t you think?”

Brenda breathes deeply. I can see her Dragon flashing in her eyes. “I’m just trying to be friendly.”

I smirk. “Friendly? You and I both know you’re after more than friendship, Brenda. But I will tell you this for the last time. You and I,” I wave my finger back and forth between us. “Will never happen. I have absolutely no feelings for you, romantic or otherwise.”

Brenda’s eyes widen. “What the hell is so wrong with me? You don’t find me attractive at all?”

She’s pretty enough, but she’s not for me.

“Go find somebody who actually wants you and leave me alone.” With that, I walk away from her as fast as I can.

‘Women like her never give up.’ Theron mumbles inside my head.

‘I’m well aware of that, thank you.’

My Dragon huffs. ‘She’ll be back. You’ll see.’

I don’t bother answering him because I don’t have the energy.

I get to my chambers just as my cell starts ringing in my pocket. I throw my jacket on the couch and answer my phone.

“Jared. What can I do for you?”

My close friend chuckles. “You told me to call you if I had news.”

“And do you?” I ask while running my hand through my hair.

“I found out who the owner of the club is. His name is Kyle Whitmore.”

“And the girl?”

Jared breathes deeply. “It turns out the girl is Whitmore’s stepsister. I did a little more digging and found out that her name is Darcie McClain. She doesn’t share her father’s surname. The reason is unknown. Anyway, her mother died when she was eighteen, and she was sent to live with her father and stepmother.

“Kyle and Darcie share a sister, Mila. From what I’ve learned, no one in that house treats Darcie right. I managed to speak to one of the other dancers who knew who Darcie was. Kayla, the dancer, said that Kyle treats Darcie like filth. The girl is always covered in bruises, and she never speaks. Kayla believes that Kyle threatens Darcie into keeping quiet.”

I grit my teeth.

I knew there was more going on than I realized. What I didn’t think was that her own family would be hurting her so badly.

“Contact this Kyle,” I say. “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Jared sighs. “Are you sure about this, Lincoln? I mean, what will you even do with the girl if you manage to rescue her?”

I roll my eyes. “Get her the help she needs, Jared. Look,” I hiss. “Just do what I asked asap. Then, call me back and let me know what he says. This cannot wait, Jared. I want an answer within the next hour.” I end the call before Jared can say anything more.

I tap the phone, mind racing with plans.

Darcie. I wonder who she really is.

No matter who she is, I’m going to ensure she’s free by the end of play tomorrow. You mark my words!