His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 82: Aftermath (7)

My stare locks with Eryx’s at his words, and then I look away, not wanting to be manipulated into thinking this was all for me. It isn’t. Our relationship has all been lies from the beginning.

We may have mated and played around, but there were no feelings involved; it was merely my heat and Eryx needing company for the night. My body bristles a little at my thoughts, but I ignore it. I had a right to be mad with Eryx right now.

"But to go as far as announce something that should have been discussed with me first?!" I fume, backing away to the door. Eryx’s sharp eyes grow predatorial, watching my legs that unwillingly stop under that gaze.

Eryx rises and slowly prowls towards me. "I did what I had to."

I did what I had to... It grates at my skin. "This alliance is over!" I hiss, very aware that it hadn’t been an alliance but a forced partnership.

My hand reaches behind me, grasping at the doorknob as Eryx’s eyes flash in utter amusement at my attempt to flee and darken further as his hand wraps around mine and jolts it up, pinning it to the door as he leans over me, caging me in. "It’s only just begun," his voice low, dark and sinfully smooth, caressing my skin where he speaks close to my ear.

My traitorous body shudders at his proximity, the grip on my wrist, the intensity of his eyes and voice. My response to him only angers me more. "Ugh, pig!" My hand slips free, and I shove him in the chest, expecting him to step back.

It does nothing. He doesn’t move. That stupid firm chest of his and stupid muscles

Infuriated, I smack his chest. Once. Twice. Multiple times, my breaths growing harsher the more I saw he didn’t even flinch, and my hands seemed to bounce off him.

Then he grabs my wrists in a vice-like grip. "Stop it," he snarls, glaring down at me, but I can see the slight tilt on the corners of his lips. He’s enjoying this! I glare back at him.

"You’ve taken away my choices!" I scream back at him.

Eryx tugs me forward, releases my hands and spins me around, crushing me to the door, retaking my hands and pinning them behind my back. "Quiet," he snarls into my ear. I know it is because we are in Faidon’s room, but I won’t stop fighting him about this.

Besides, I can feel his growing desire also pinning my back to the door. He’s turned on by this?! I bump my backside into him, hoping I hurt him. His responding grunt makes the corners of my lips tilt up in triumph. Maybe I wasn’t so useless.

"I wouldn’t do that, sweetheart," he growls lowly into my ear, and a rumbling sensation vibrates through my back from his chest. I inhale sharply at his scent and the feel of his body against mine.

NO! My eyes snap open before my heat can take over. He’s gone too far!

Eryx huffs as though he can tell I will not submit even if sparks of desire begin to shoot through my veins.

Then he scoffs. "Your choices?"

My eyes narrow even if my face is half squished against the door with a damned beast at my back. I try to shoot him daggers with my eyes.

"Do you really want to be that old goat’s mate?" He crooned mockingly.

"That isn’t the point!"

"Be mad at me-"

"I am!"

"-all you want... But we can work together. Maybe trust each other more. You could even tell me what’s going on, why Alaric left last night... And why he caved so easily to giving his sister away."

What now? I snarl, possibly saying it aloud.

"What kind of threats could preoccupy him so much that he’d even consider a barbarian as his sister’s betrothed?"

I stomp on his foot, elbow his side and try to headbutt him in response. But Eryx lazily steps back and chuckles quietly.

I’ll give him something to laugh about. I spin around, about to punch the Alpha Prince in the face, or more likely his throat, as I can’t reach until a rough voice calls out from the side of the room.

"Idalia?" I freeze, and we both look at Faidon on the bed.

I glare at Eryx, whose eyes still dance in amusement, and return to the side of the bed. "Faidon, I’m here..." I say softly, wondering what he might wish to say.

"Don’t give up," he says croakily, giving Eryx a flat look. "Give him hell."

A smile spread across my face at the shadow’s words. "You read my mind."

Faidon grins back at me, squeezing my hand lightly before his eyelids grow heavy, and he passes out again. I pat his hand back, then rise to my feet, glowering at Eryx, who still looks like he is having the time of his life!

With a snarl, I stomp past him and hiss, "This isn’t over!"

"I wouldn’t dream of it," he muses, this time watching me as I begin to slam the door behind me but stop halfway and do it lightly, remembering Faidon was severely injured and trying to sleep. The action only makes Eryx tip his head back and laugh boisterously, leaving me to huff and storm away with reddened cheeks.

Walking out of the Guest Pavilion I realise too late that I left my coat in Faidon’s room. But to hell with that. I’m not returning there after I only just managed to escape that lunatic!

The sunlight produces little warmth in the late morning but allows the snow and ice to sparkle. To outsiders, it was wondrous. To me, it was a regular occurrence. A never-ending winter wonderland.

I kick up some of the snow, needing to rid my body of the restlessness and frustration that argument left me with Eryx. Some of the snow dust kisses my face in the upheaval, leaving me to shiver and stop what I was doing. Clutching my arms together, I take a detour, diving away from the courtyards and returning to the hallways and connecting buildings.

My head was already clearing after the brute cold of the North, and I refocused on what I needed to do today. Starting with seeing my brother about what he did last night when his palace started going up in flames.

I round the corner, lost in my thoughts when I bump into someone. An apology is already on my lips as I raise my head, and the words die as any warmth left in my body flees me. I stare back into hazel-brown eyes and dirty blonde hair with two braids running down the side to his shoulders.

My whisper is more breath than word. "Soren."