Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
TYNAN
Istood for a moment longer, staring at the door that closed in front of me.
Alina was inside with the head of the white clan, the man who dared to claim her right in front of me.
The urge that I felt when he stepped over to her, daring to place his fucking hand on her shoulder, still had not left me.
The desire, the insistent pull to bathe in his still warm blood and show her, and the rest of the world, that he was not her mate. I was.
The way she looked, the way she moved her rigid back and stiffened shoulders told me everything I needed to know. She liked it as much as I did, and yet she has not put up a fight.
She appeared to be accepting her situation, and it infuriated me beyond anything.
She knew that she was betraying everything that was important, betraying me, and betraying herself, in order to give others what they wanted.
I could understand the desire to fit in and survive, but I could not respect it.
Deep down, I hated the way she gave me up, just like many others had before.
Long before I arrived here, I had this na?ve idea that a single look between us would fix everything.
But that never happened, and even her undeniable pull toward me did not make the bond take hold.
I had never been around those who were mated.
All I had seen were the negative effects – my mother slowly losing her humanity, and Sage, clearly tortured by it.
I exhaled through gritted teeth, and touched the hilt of my blade. I could end this. I could kick the door open and fight that bastard who dared take my place. I could force her to come with me. But no, I wanted her to choose me – to be mine because she wanted me.
Was it stupidity or pride?
I could not tell.
Deep in thought, I almost missed the old hag who just closed the door behind her, and stood waiting for something with a smug look on her face. I clenched my fists so hard that pain shot up my arms.
My body required a fast, explosive movement. My skin burned, my hands flexed and with every minute that passed, I became more unhinged, unstable, insane. Servants had just finished bringing the last course, everything seemed quiet inside of the room, but my head was about to explode.
Suddenly, the door opened and Rutherford appeared in the corridor. He paused for a moment expressionless, staring at the wall directly in front of him.
“Well?” Corliss searched his face.
“It’s all set,” he said.
“I congratulate you, milord.” Corliss took his arm and both of them moved along the hall, talking quietly to each other, before disappearing behind the corner.
My head snapped back to the door, as if it was a living creature. With one violent, aggressive shove, I pushed the door open and it hit the wall with a dull thump. I stepped through the doorway, knowing the momentum would have it swinging back, and stilled as the door closed behind me.
Alina was sitting at the table, her hand was on the stem of a long crystal glass. When she saw me, her fingers trembled, and her eyes widened. I could still see the sadness and restlessness in every feature, but there was something else. A quiet determination was growing deep within her.
Hardly controlling myself, I moved to her and placed both of my hands on the tablecloth, leaning closer.
Between us were only the vase of flowers, two sets of plates, and silverware.
She just looked at me, as if determined to wait it out, as if nothing that was happening around her mattered. It infuriated me even more.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
She shook her head slightly and averted her eyes.
“Are you . . . talking about the engagement?”
“Yes.”
“I’m doing what the others want. Isn’t it obvious?” She bit her lip, looking away.
“Why are you not looking at me?”
“What?” Her eyes snapped in my direction.
“You stopped looking at me. I want to know why.”
“This is ridiculous,” she said.
“Tell me why you accepted him.”
“I don’t know what you want to hear.”
“You don’t?”
“No.”
“Why the fuck are you accepting someone you don’t even like?”
“What is it to you?”
“What?”
“You are perfectly happy with me being paraded as the future queen.” Her hand clenched the glass.
“What are you saying?”
“I saw you. I know about your fiance here in the palace,” she said in a voice laced with forced calm.
“My fiance?” I growled.
“Yes. Samantha told me everything.”
“What exactly did she tell you?”
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s just leave it. Nothing matters anymore.”
“What the fuck is that suppose to mean?” I raised my voice.
“You really want to do this?”
“Yes, enlighten me.”
“Fine . . . Fine! I’ll tell you. You don’t flirt with a woman, kissing her, and touching her while you are courting someone else.”
“Are you jealous?” I couldn’t believe my ears.
“Of course not!” Alina’s eyes flickered to mine.
“Whatever she told you is not true.”
“I don’t need to be told anything. I have eyes. I saw you!” she raised her voice.
“You could not have seen much because there is nothing between us.”
“Stop it! Stop! I can’t do this anymore. I’m not an idiot, even if everyone around me seems to think that I am. I saw you, Ty!” she shouted as tears welled in her eyes.
Ty!
Ty!
Ty!
For a moment both of us froze, staring at each other. Alina’s eyes widened, she looked stunned. A long coil of carmine red escaped her updo and brushed her damp cheek. Her lips parted, her eyes searched my face.
She just called me by my name, the real name she had no way of knowing. The name I have been wanting her to say aloud. She knew it through the bond, the bond that was between us, and now both of us knew it.
Time stopped. Somewhere beyond the walls, the low grumble of voices followed the change of guards, and the servants finished up cleaning the many rooms. The wind billowed the curtain behind the girl who sat in front of me.
I lunged forward, incapable of holding back any longer.
At the same time, Alina rose from her chair, pushing herself toward me, closing the distance between us.
I swung my arm over the tablecloth, swiping the silverware out of the way.
“Say it. Say it again.” I whispered into her lips.
She looked at me with bewildered dark eyes, her warm, sweet breath brushed my upper lip. I wanted to touch her, to close the remaining distance between us and lose myself in her completely.