Chapter 14
“Speak to me, Constantine!” I snap at him as he remains silent. “That’s where you kept them, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” he says eventually, looking away from me.
I inhale sharply and stand. I can’t deal with this. There is just too much drama, too much heartache, too many secrets and surprises.
“I can’t live here,” I whisper to him and he jumps to his feet.
“No, don’t say that. You have to,” he implores me, grabbing my arm as I back away. “Please, Aefre, please.”
“You called me ‘Liv.’ In there. You called me ‘Liv,’” I say, pulling my arm out of his tight grip. “You didn’t want to call me ‘Aefre’ in there. Why? Is it because you called them that? You called them by MY NAME?” I am yelling at the top of my voice at him. I am sure the entire castle can hear me, but I don’t give two shits at the moment. I am so angry with him. But as I look at his beautiful, perfect face, his expression turns from one of torment to one of horror.
“NO!” he roars at me and I step back from the sheer volume of it. Christ, he has a pair of lungs on him. I thought I was being loud. “How dare you even suggest that!”
How dare I? Oh, you are in for it now, pal.
“How dare I? Who the fuck do you think you are talking to? How dare YOU! How dare you bring those…women,” I spit the word out at him, “…here and then expect me to live here.”
“Where the fuck did you think I took them?” he asks nastily and for the second time in these few short weeks, I bring my hand back to hit him, only this time I bunch my hand into a fist and I knock him flying with a good old dose of Dragon Power behind my Vampire strength.
My breathing is ragged as I try to calm myself. He is going to fucking kill me, but I don’t give three shits by now.
“Fuck!” he exclaims, getting up off the floor a few feet away and rubbing his jaw. “Christ, woman, you might want to give a bit of warning next time.”
And just like that his mood has altered, like flicking a switch and I can’t stay mad at him. I laugh, not an amused laugh, but one of sheer nerves and relief that he isn’t going to counterattack. I may be as strong as he is now, but he knows how to harness his strength and fighting prowess better than anyone else I know. Certainly, better than me, and I am not so sure I want to find out firsthand just how “Roman Warrior” he can go on me.
He peers at me warily as he comes closer. “I’m sorry. That was a stupid thing to say.”
“No, you are right. Of course, you would bring them here,” I say quietly.
“Aefre, don’t ever think that I wanted them to be you. Not really you. I would never have called them by your name. Not ever. Please believe me.”
I nod stiffly.
He carries on when I don’t say anything. “Seeing you in there. In that room, was a shock to me. So many nights I wanted you in that room. I wanted you there with me,” he whispers so quietly I barely hear him. He risks bringing his hand up to my face to stroke me gently and I just lose all the anger and fight. I can’t honestly say for sure why I am so mad. I already knew about the substitutes and have forgiven him, and it makes sense that he would bring them here.
“Sorry for hitting you,” I mumble, and he looks amused.
“No, you aren’t,” he says.
“No, I’m not,” I agree. “I am glad that Sebastian wasn’t here though. I am fairly sure you would be cleaning me off the carpet for weeks if he had been.”
He snorts in amusement. “You underestimate your strength, my sweet. Trust me,” he says rubbing his jaw again.
“Yeah, I seem to be hearing that a lot lately.” I sigh and take his hand. “Can we just take a shower and head back? I meant it when I said I can’t bear any more drama.”
“Of course. Allow me.” He wraps his arms around me and Teleports us into his luxurious bathroom. He turns on the shower and disrobes me, helping me in.
“Aren’t you joining me?” I ask as he just stands there watching me. “You know how I feel about wet you,” I add with a small smile.
He looks relieved. “I wasn’t sure you wanted me to, after…you know…before,” he stammers, and I resist the urge to laugh at him standing there like an uncomfortable teenager.
“Just shut up and get in here,” I say and shake my head at him.
He doesn’t need telling twice and is naked, wet and in my arms in seconds, kissing me as if he had lost me and then found me again.
I am just getting very into the moment, when he pulls back and looks at me with an expression so serious it douses any arousal I felt from his kisses. “Everything is okay, with us?” he asks tentatively.