Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.-Chapter 280: Her mistake.

Leilani.

Have you ever been hit in the head with a large boulder?

Well, I’ve never experienced that but I just want you to imagine how devastatingly painful it would feel to have your head bashed into your neck.

How nerve wracking it would be to hear that ringing in your ears, to feel tears in your eyes and cracks in your skull... but to not be able to do anything about any of that.

That was exactly how I felt when I heard those words come from Zevran’s mouth.

It was how I felt when his arms wrapped around my body a little too tightly and his breath fanned the crown of my head.

I didn’t like the way he hugged me like he wanted to get into my skin. But what I didn’t like the most was how my body responded to his touch. The sparks flying between us were wild and intense. It crackled with an intensity that made goosebumps spread across my skin. And made my guts pulsate with a wantonness that I hated to feel.

I closed my eyes as I dragged a lungful of his intoxicating scent, and after having my fill of it, I pushed him off and took a step back, ignoring the way his eyes widened slightly—in pain— before they dropped from my face to stare at the floor.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, "I was just scared and desperate. You should forgive me."

But he didn’t look scared. Neither did he seem desperate.

Deciding to push those thoughts away, I didn’t respond right away. I couldn’t bring myself to. My face still burned due to the blush creeping up my cheeks and necks. Gosh, even my ears tingled in that way that made me instantly know that they must look as red as beetroot as right now.

I balled my hands into fists and took a step back, not missing the way his eyes trailed that action like he was trying to have it memorized. I hissed; "You were worried you say..."

"And scared," he cut in, immediately interrupting me. His voice was gruff and sharp, causing shivers to run down my spine. "I learned today that Chalice escaped from her cell, and I couldn’t help but worry that she may have come here... to you... to try to attack you or something."

It took me a moment for his words to sink in, and it wasn’t until a few seconds later that I began to grasp onto scraps and pieces of what he may mean.

When I finally got it, I sighed and turned away, hating the way warmth bloomed in my chest at the realization of what this meant. "I get it."

"You don’t."

"What do I not get?!" I snapped back, "I’ve listened to you. You called me but I didn’t pick up and then you rushed over thinking that I may have been attacked because for some reason, Chalice had managed to escape from a dungeon that was promised to be impossible to escape from."

"Yes, exactly," he hissed, but I could only roll my eyes.

"Now, tell me. How was she able to escape? How do things like this keep happening?"

"She started a fire." He simply responded as if I should understand.

But did I? No. Was I surprised?

Hell, no!

I simply turned away from him and continued my trek to my house, ignoring the way he shouted words at me from behind. His voice carried through the empty space between us, echoing through the street that now seemed completely empty.

But did I stop?

No as well.

Was I willing to listen?

Of course, not.

However, I had just walked a few blocks away when warm hands suddenly clasped around my wrist. I shrieked in shock and reflexively smacked the face of the person beside me, almost smiling in satisfaction when a groan seeped into my ears.

I spun around quickly and upon seeing Zevran clutching at the side of his face, my smile widened. I hissed; "Get away!"

"But I cannot!"

"You can!"

"I really cannot!" He hissed again, sounding way gruff-ier if that’s even a word. His eyes darted from my face to the hand that had slapped him and then he shook his head.

"Leilani, I know that I should not. I am not stupid not to see that you do not like being around me, but I cannot help it. I especially cannot sit back when I know that you may be in danger... and Chalice... your sister, is dangerous."

"Some time ago, I could swear that you all thought I was the evil one... and she the one that should be protected from me." I hissed under my breath, not expecting that he would hear me.

But he did. He did hear me.

And I know this because of the way he took in a sharp breath. Because of the way his fists clenched so tightly, they turned ashen. His face was pale too and his usual smug self appreciative expression had morphed into something else. Something that seemed like shame.

But before I could decipher what exactly it was, he suddenly snatched my bag from my hands and turned away, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open.

"Zevran! Return that!" I yelled at the top of my voice. "This isn’t funny!"

"I cannot leave you behind knowing fully well that you have so many enemies lurking every shadow in every corner of this city!" He snapped back, and I rolled my eyes.

"It is none of your business!" I shouted, but he didn’t turn to acknowledge me. Goddess, he didn’t even act like he was the one I was talking to as he continued to march towards his car.

When he arrived at his car, he threw my grocery bag inside and began to stalk closer again, causing my heart to race in my chest.

It took me a moment to see through his intentions and when I did, I turned away and began to back away quickly, but I was too slow.

Goddess, just like the heroines in many infuriating tv shows, I even stumbled at fell in that perilous moment, giving Zevran the opportunity to catch up to me quickly.

He immediately helped me to my feet and flung me over his shoulder, carrying me like I didn’t weigh shit.

My mouth dropped open— only for a tiny moment— before I screamed; "put me down! Let me go!"

"No baby!" He argued. "Not when you’re under my protection for today!"