CHAPTER 9 #4
Our meeting was cut short though when a little girl came running from the castle, calling for her mummy.
My mate embraced her, picking her up. She didn’t want a mate; she had a family already.
I couldn’t bear to watch and left. I heard her call out to me, I shifted and didn’t look back.
My soul felt like it shattered into a million pieces.
Father was furious when I returned home with no information.
Matitus knew the moment I walked in the door; he felt my pain, shared it, and so did Dragus.
Dragus thinks we can convince her the mate bond will sort itself out.
He is right, she won’t be able to resist the mate pull, won’t be able to stop the Dragon heat.
The more time I spend with her, the stronger the pull.
Once the Dragon heat starts, she will beg us to mark her, she would be ours. She just doesn’t know it yet.
Everyone knows once the Dragon heat starts there is no stopping the bond from forming.
Even if she could resist, she would soon be forced to choose us.
No one has survived past the third Dragon heat and she would know this, and I know that is why she tried to reject me.
Little does she know to reject one, she will have to reject all three.
I shake my head at what I just read, anger coursing through me.
Dragus said he was forcing me to sleep up in their room to forge the mate bond, that I wouldn’t be able to resist the pull.
I understand their logic for it. They need their mate to have offspring.
I get it. Not once did they mention that once the third Dragon heat hits, I would die.
They know I don’t want this and they’re forcing me to choose—life or death.
Well, jokes on them. If dying is what it takes to be free of them, then I am fine with that.
Out of the three of them I trust Dragus the most, and I feel a little betrayed that he didn’t warn me that the Dragon heat is lethal.
No wonder it felt like burning alive. Exactly how hot do I have to become to die, because if that was the first heat and I lived, does that mean the second and third will be worse? I’m not sure I can handle the pain.
Last time I passed out. Will it be like that next time? Will it become worse? The door opens and Matitus enters. He glances at the journal in my hand. Anger bubbles violently in my veins. I have never felt anger like this, but for them to claim they want me, they had a funny way of showing it.
“Come, Elora, you were supposed to meet us for lunch,” Matitus said, stepping into my small room. He looks huge standing in here as he crosses his arms over his chest and stares down at me on the bed.
I fold my arms defiantly, and he raises an eyebrow, grabbing my wrist, pulling me off the bed. I shake off his grip.
“That’s why he wanted me in the room, isn’t it,” I spat at him.
Matitus’s lips turn up into a smirk like he thinks my anger is amusing. He tries to grab me again, and I step back. He growls low, stepping forward.
“Take it up with Silas, we need to go before you anger him,” Matitus says, lunging forward and grabbing me around the waist. I kick and struggle; I may as well be a small child in his impossibly tight grip as he drags me down the corridor.
“Put me down, Matitus,” I spit, kicking my heel into his leg. He ignores me, and I decide to hit him where it hurts. Bringing my hand up, I curl it into a fist before hitting him between the legs. He grunts and stops, his grip on my waist becoming so tight I can barely breathe as I gasp for air.
Matitus groans in pain and a whimper leaves my lips, my legs losing feeling from his grip. He loosens his grip slightly, and I take a breath.
“I let you go, will you walk?” he asks, to which I nod. He releases me, my feet touching the ground, and I place my hands on my knees, catching my breath. Matitus tugs on my arm. I shake him off, storming down the corridor in search of Silas.
I find Silas reading something in the dining room.
He peers up when I walk in, looking at Matitus in confusion at the anger on my face.
He stands, moving toward me, concern shadows on his face with the way his eyes soften.
I don’t care. I slap him and the force I use as his head whips to the side shocks me.
My hand burns from the sting of flesh on flesh.
After, I see Dragus jump up and hear Matitus gasp behind me.
I didn’t let my eyes stray from Silas’s face.
He rubs his face where my hand connects, in shock. I see his eyes glint dangerously in my direction. His jaw clenches tight. He looks like he’s about to say something. I don’t give him a chance.
“You knew putting me in that room with you, I would go into your stupid Dragon heat. That’s why you did it!”
Silas smiles cruelly before stepping forward. I step back, noticing his hands have turned into fists.
“And what if I did? What are you going to do about it?” he asks, daring me to do something, anything. “That’s what I thought. Now, sit the fuck down before I do something I will regret,” he spat venomously.
“I won’t, you know?” I say defiantly.
“Won’t what?” he responds, cocking his head to the side.
“I won’t let you mark me. I would rather burn alive then be your fucking mate,” I spit at him again.
Then I feel myself slammed into the wall.
It happens so quickly I don’t even see him move, only feel the rush of air before feeling something solid collide with my back.
I clutch at his hands around my throat, feeling his entire body shaking with anger.
Tears well in my eyes as I struggle to breathe.
“Who said anything about you having a choice? You are ours. If you die. It won’t be because of the Dragon heat. It will be by my fucking hands,” he says squeezing tighter, so tight, I think he’s about to crush my throat. I can feel my face changing color, my eyes aching as they pulse in my head.
“Silas,” Dragus calls him. Silas says nothing.
“Silas,” both Matitus and Dragus growl warningly at him and he lets go.
I drop to the floor, gasping for air and clutching my throat.
I can still feel his fingers wrapped tightly on my skin.
Matitus kneels beside me before gripping me under my arms, standing me up and wrapping my legs around his waist. I didn’t care, instead relaxing against him trying to catch my breath.
I see Dragus get up, shoving his chair back violently.
“Where are you going?” Silas demands, shooting Dragus a look of pure venom.
“She isn’t just your mate; I am done watching you hurt her when you don’t like what she says,” Matitus growls, shoving past Silas.
Silas grips his arm, and I smell the coppery scent of his blood, realizing Silas’s claws are in Matitus’ arm.
Dragus moves behind Matitus and grips Silas’s wrist, ripping his hand off his mate.
Silas growls, grabbing me. I wrap my arms around Matitus’ neck, refusing to let go.
If I had to choose, I would choose them over Silas.
At least they don’t hurt me intentionally.
I hear Silas growl as he storms off. One of the maids screams in the corridor and I peer up.
Marian walks in clutching her chest. She eyes me in Matitus’s arms, quickly moving her gaze to the floor.
Matitus starts moving, and I find myself back in my room. Matitus sits on the bed, and I stare up, Dragus is standing in the doorway
“He will calm down. I’ll go check on him in a minute. Are you alright with Matitus?” he asks. I look at Matitus and he is watching me, wanting to know my answer. I nod and Dragus smiles, heading out.
I go to get off his lap, Matitus grabs my hips forcing me to remain on him.
“I won’t do anything; I just like it when you’re close,” he says, his eyes softening as he leans in, pressing his face into the crook of my neck and inhaling. I flinch when his nose touches the skin of my neck. He pulls back, worry on his face as he eyes my neck.
I try to say something, opening and closing my mouth, but I feel like something is lodged painfully in my throat from his vice-like grip.
Matitus stares up and watches me, biting into his wrist, his eyes not leaving mine.
His wrist starts bleeding, and I can see his teeth marks embedded deeply in his skin. He holds his wrist up expectantly.
“Here,” he says, and I hesitate, looking at his wrist. Matitus brings his wrist to my lips, and I open my mouth, clamping my lips over the bite mark and swallowing his blood.
It hurts to swallow, though the pain quickly stops, and I feel the lump in my throat leave and the pain goes away.
I attempt to pull back when Matitus speaks.
“Keep going.” Confused, I look at him, pulling back.
“What?”
“Trust me, keep going,” he says, holding his wrist to my lips.
I do as he says. Letting his blood flood into my mouth, it is disgusting to think I’m drinking blood, it didn’t exactly taste unpleasant, not at all what I expected it to taste like.
It is a smoky bitter taste. I feel Matitus pull me to him, forcing my head on his shoulder and I understand why.
After a few seconds, his blood rushes into my mouth and down my throat.
It’s no secret Dragons and all supernatural creatures have special gifts—powers—I didn’t expect their blood to make me high.
I feel floaty—no that isn’t an accurate word for it—I feel high as a kite.
The room warps and twists, and I can’t help the giggle that escapes my lips.
My head rolls back heavily. I hold my hands up, and it looks like I have no gaps between my fingers and every time I move them, funny patterns follow in the sky.
I feel my head hit something soft, and I realize it is my pillow. “What did you do?” I ask at least I think I ask. My voice sounds melodious, and I giggle at the sound.
Matitus leans over me, an amused expression on his face. “You look so high,” he chuckles.