Chapter 35
Uh Oh
Sinta
She said nothing about the cramps being ten times worse.
Or about my back aching like I’ve been slinging trees around.
Gods, I would give almost anything to go back to a human-like period.
Having been bed-ridden for two days now, barely eating and only migrating into the bathroom to dunk myself in a tub of steamy water, I could confidently say this shit was not what I signed up for.
My dragon wasn’t much better, sluggishly rolling in my middle, curling away from the cramps in my womb, her sounds pitiful.
Neither of us were in the best of shape.
If I didn’t have to roll over every ten minutes like a rotisserie chicken, I wouldn’t move at all.
“Devil Eyes?”
I groan from beneath the blanket, my head stuffed in a pillow.
The bed jostles, the mattress dipping behind me. My blanket is slowly peeled back, inviting unwelcome light into my cocoon.
Growling, curling into a tighter ball, I bristle and hunch in like a pissed-off hedgehog.
A hedgehog with a slasher villain trying to obliterate her uterus.
“Are you feeling any better?” Rapid croons, his chin settling onto my shoulder.
I grunt something that sounds like a very rude no.
“You have to come out at some point, baby.”
Soaking in the comforting feeling of his lips pressed to my temple, I uncurl enough for him to wrap an arm around my middle and spoon me.
“How bad are they?” He asks.
“I want to yank out your tongue and use it as a heating pad.” I lazily snarl, my words slurring.
“Because I’m a master at flirting and my words are scorching?” He laughs.
“Because your blood will be the same temp as your body heat and will remain that way for four minutes outside of your body.” I grunt.
“Okay……..” Rubbing my stomach gently, his large palm warm and firm against my roiling middle, I practically purr. “Sounds like we’re approaching the eye of the storm. How do you feel about eating, Devil Eyes? You didn’t have breakfast.”
“No.” I snap and bury my head under my pillow.
“Oh boy.” He sighs.
But he doesn’t stop rubbing my stomach.
And now I want to cry like a little baby. Stupid fucking hormones.
Wincing and curling around his hand as a cramp hits, I try to muffle my pathetic moans into the pillow.
“Fuck, I felt that.” He mutters, hugging me.
“Ow.” I sniffle.
“Looks like you beat me to her.” Elijah chuckles, striding into my room and rounding the bed to stand before me. “Not doing too well, Beautiful?”
I peak at him and shake my head no.
He nods in sympathy. “I’m sorry I can’t help, Sin. The body can be cruel sometimes.” He soothes and sits on the bed before me, his hand coming out to smooth through my messy hair.
I don’t even remember the last time I washed it. Or brushed it.
“It’s okay.” I mumble.
“You don’t even want some of your mushrooms? Your dragon is probably feeling a little low too.” Elijah pushes.
Frowning, reaching out to her, I realise she really is in the same state as I am. We were suffering through this together.
And she was really low on power and energy.
In my painful misery I’d neglected my dragon’s newly discovered needs.
Sighing, I reach out a hand for help and begin to struggle upwards.
Rapid pulls back and takes the blankets with him, and Elijah takes my hand, helping me climb from the bed.
Hunching around another cramp that seemed even worse now that I was standing, I give the boys a pitiful attempt at a glare.
I’m pretty sure it ended up looking more like a pout.
Chuckling, Elijah wraps an arm around my shoulder and leads me from the room. Rapid takes my hand and walks beside us.
“You are being too nice.” I mumble, my voice wobbling.
“What do you mean?” Rapid questions, looking adorably confused.
“I’m too emotional. You are going to make me cry if you keep being nice.” I sniffle, feeling pathetic.
I couldn’t keep my emotions straight. I was angry, then I was frustrated, then I was inexplicably happy and laughing like a loon, and then I was so sad I wanted to burst into tears.
This shit wasn’t fair.
And now I really was crying.
Wiping away the sparse tears with a frustrated sound, I shake my head and feel like I’m going crazy.
“Elijah?!” Rapid demands, eyes wide.
“It’s okay, it’s just the hormones.” He tells him, his face locked down like he’s trying not to laugh.
I growl at him and he rolls his lips, glancing away.
Great. Now I was mad.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, we step into the kitchen.
And see Fade and Tomashi playing tug-of-war with my container of mushrooms.
My container of poisonous mushrooms.
“What the fuck?” We say in unison.
Tomashi whips around, his eyes homing in on me like a heat-seeking missile.
“You!” He spits.
“Why are you touching my things?!” I snap, pointing at the container that very obviously had my name written on the top.
Along with the words ‘do not touch’.
“He was about to eat them, Magnifique. I had to stop him.” Fade explains, his face tense. “He wouldn’t give up, so I had to explain why he couldn’t eat them.”
Seeing Fade’s distraction, Tomashi rips the container out of his grip and storms towards me, his face seething.
Elijah and Rapid take a step in front of me – Elijah with his hands out, and Rapid shaking his head.
“Mashi—”
“No! I told you she was bad news. I told you she was here for some nefarious reason – she’s so brazen about it that she hid her weapon in plain fucking sight!” He roars, throwing the container at my feet.
Jumping back, it skids along the floor but thankfully doesn’t break or open.
Bending down to pick it up, I hug it to my chest when I feel a little woozy from the movement.
“I’m not here to hurt you, for the billionth fucking time.” I growl, feeling lightheaded.
I push it aside, my hormones ramping up my anger as I fix the asshole with a glare.
“And why the hell were you going through my things in the first place? Who eats someone else’s clearly labelled food?!”
“Food? It’s poison!” He barks.
“Tomashi, you don’t understand.” Elijah tries, his voice calming.
“The fuck I don’t. I know she’s fucking all of you, wrapping you around her finger. She doesn’t have feelings for you, that’s just how she’s getting close enough to kill you.” He yells, spinning around to look at each of them before returning to me. “My PI got back to me this morning. I was going to wait, talk to you all later when she wasn’t around, but now I know she’s not just trying to manipulate us – she’s trying to kill us!”
“I don’t know how many times I can say it. Have you got cotton in your fucking ears?!” I demand, stomping my foot.
This was not my finest moment, but I was too far gone to care.
“I. AM. NOT. HERE. TO. HURT. YOU.” I scream.
“No? Maybe just seduce and manipulate under the orders of whoever fucking paid you, huh, Mistress X?” He scoffs.
I jerk back like he’s slapped me.
“What?” I mutter.
“You heard me. I know all about your sordid past, Mistress X. Angel’s Fare should really update their cyber security.” He taunts.
“That was your stage name?” Rapid whispers, the ghost of a grin stretching his lips.
I smack him hard in the shoulder. “Not now!” Looking at the other two, both of whom are examining me with an odd mixture of surprise and wary confusion, I wince. “Um, I was going to tell you. I just wanted to wait for the right time, you know, because it was private.” I throw a sneer at Tomashi.
“How about the hundred thousand dollars in your account, hmm? Why don’t you tell them what you were ordered to do for that money, huh?” He jeers, stepping towards me.
Elijah shifts forward, shaking his head. “Stop it, man. This isn’t cool – she’s not what you think—”
“I think she’s a whore who saw a chance to earn some real money and didn’t care who she had to hurt for it.” He snaps, and I flinch. “Someone like her doesn’t just end up with that kind of money. She’s a powerless snake shifter that spreads her legs for any man willing to pay the price – she’s not worth your attention. And she knows it.” Pinning me in place with his dark eyes, his sneer is sinister. “Did they order you to kill us, or just slither your way into our beds? Maybe even get yourself knocked up by one of us—”
“Tomashi, enough.” Fade intones, his eyes focused on me.
On the tears I’d tried to stop but were dripping down my face.
Fucking hormones.
“I’m not a whore.” I croak. “And that money was from a generous client – it was meant to pay for the Academy, but I got a partial scholarship. Not that I should be explaining myself to you.”
He scoffs. “And we’re just supposed to believe that?”
He spoke like I was an open book. Like I was so fucking easy to read.
Labelled me a brainless desperate twit like half the females at this Academy.
Made me sound so fucking ordinary. A dime a dozen.
It made me angry, but all I could do was cry silent tears.
Stupid fucking hormones.
“I don’t care what you believe. The day I care more about the opinion of a self-important arrogant prince over my own is the day I lose all respect for myself.” I croak. “You’re trying to hurt me, but I see through you. I see the pathetic little emotionally stunted boy lashing out at the easiest target.”
His mouth snaps shut.
I sniffle. “I’m done with you. Done being nice – I fucking tried, and this is what I get.” Turning, I glare at our boyfriend. “Don’t ask me to again, Rapid. I refuse.”
Rapid grimaces, pulling me into his side. “He just doesn’t understand. We should tell him—”
“No. I don’t trust him to keep his mouth shut about any of it.” I refute, shaking my head.
Face tight, he nods and looks away.
“What the hell could possibly explain all of this?” Tomashi snarls, throwing his hands up. “What amazing tale has she spun to fool all three of you?”
“Tomashi.” Fade growls. “Stop it. You are losing more and more of my respect every time you open your mouth.”
“Because she’s manipulating you! You are too caught up in her—”
“Because unlike you I know the truth of the situation and therefore can objectively say that your rough conclusion is bullshit.” He seethes.
Tomashi stares at him, sour emotions crossing his features one after another.
Spinning, he takes in Rapid and Elijah. “And you two—”
“Also know what is going on. And I can say I never thought you were like this.” Elijah sighs, looking away. “We’re your friends, Tomashi. You couldn’t trust us? You care about our opinions so little?”
“That’s not—”
“Mashi.” Rapid sighs.
When Tomashi faces him, Rapid just shakes his head, features set with disappointment. “You’ve gone too far this time. I get you only want to protect us, but she’s not a threat.”
Tomashi doesn’t look at all convinced, and I feel pathetic just standing in Rapid’s arms in my wrinkled sweats hugging a container of poisonous fungi.
Shaking my head, ignoring the way it makes me dizzy; I look up at Rapid. “I’m going back to my room.”
“I’ll take you up.” He offers.
A ringing sound stops us.
Everyone stands still for a moment, looking at each other.
“It’s the doorbell.” Fade announces, his brow furrowed as he goes to answer it.
“Rapid—”
“Not now.” He sighs at Tomashi. “We’ll talk later.”
Tomashi shifts and looks like he sucked on a lemon.
“You aren’t welcome here!”
Turning towards the hallway as Fade’s angry voice reaches us, I shift forward and Rapid follows.
“No? Strange. I could have sworn I was invited.” A voice I don’t know croons, followed by footsteps.
A male emerges into the kitchen, tall and tanned with dark brown hair and familiar blue eyes.
He’s dressed in slacks and an expensive long-sleeved shirt, swaggering like he owns the very ground he walks on.
Every male in the room tenses, and my dragon lifts her head – some random instinct urging her to watch this male closely.
Like he was a threat.
Taking a small step back, I eye him with the same wariness.
I think I was right to, when a rumbling roar of a growl echoes out of Elijah’s stiff form.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” He growls.
“Elijah.” The male greets, then glances around the room. “Rapid, Tomashi, Fade, nice to see you all again. I see my cousin hasn’t returned yet.”
“The fuck are you doing here?!” Elijah roars, storming forward.
The male’s eyes turn reptilian and focus on him. “Careful.” He croons. “I’d hate to scorch that pretty hair of yours; I know how protective lions are of their mane.”
I get a sinking feeling in my gut, a sudden realisation that smacks me like a two-by-four to the face.
And realise Mr Orichalcum and Imelda have dropped me into the middle of drama I know nothing about.
“Festos?” I mutter as Fade and Tomashi intervene and tug Elijah back.
Luminescent sapphire blue eyes focus on me, the pupil split with a strip of black, and the male takes me in from head to toe with a frown.
“Ah, I’ve come at a bad time. I see you are in your cycle.” He murmurs, stepping towards me.
“Oh, this is just perfect.” Tomashi snorts. “Was it him that paid you? Are you fucking him too? It wouldn’t surprise me, he has a habit of fucking Elijah’s girlfriends.”
Elijah’s gaze whips to me, his eyes glowing gold and his features soaked with hurt.
Deep, soul-bruising hurt.
I shake my head in immediate denial, my eyes locked with his. “No, I’m not—”
“Then why is he here? For a tea party?” Tomashi scoffs.
“Mr Orichalcum said Festos is going to help me.” I announce to the room, knowing Tomashi won’t understand anyway. “He said that Festos was the only one Dominant enough to guide me through the….. thing.”
Fade sucks in a breath, and Rapid tightens his arm around me.
Looking back to Elijah, taking in his face now creased with anger and grudging comprehension, I implore him to understand. “I didn’t know there was bad blood between you two – no one said anything. Not even Imelda. I swear, this is the first time I’ve met him. If he doesn’t help, Mr O and Imelda said I could die.”
“You will die if I don’t help.” Festos corrects, glancing around the house. “It sounds like they sugar coated some things for you. Without a more Dominant dragon at the time of the shift, yours will fail to break through the barrier of your soul and you will die stuck in a crippled half-form.”
I blanch, wavering on my feet.
Rapid clutches me to him, cursing. “The fuck, man? Are you trying to scare her?”
“She will be better prepared if she knows the truth. Best she learns it now rather than later.” Festos shrugs elegantly.
“Am I hearing this right? I swear to fuck he just said you have a dragon.” Tomashi demands, his slack face whipping from person to person, expecting an answer.
“My apologies, I thought everyone here was in the know.” Raising a brow, Festos eyes the scene more carefully. “Never thought I’d see the day you were all fighting over a female.”
“We’re not.” Tomashi snarls.
“Hmm.” Pinning him with a long stare, Festos eventually turns to face me. “I simply wanted to see you for myself. I will be attending your sessions with Imelda every few days until you shift, to help things along. I will get your number off of her and leave you to deal with your cycle in peace.”
“Good. Get the fuck out.” Elijah snaps, his arms still held by Fade and Tomashi.
Grinning, giving us all a finger wave, he struts from the house with a whistle and slams the front door.
Suddenly feeling ridiculously dizzy, my head all kinds of jumbled, I grab Rapid’s forearm as I begin to sway.
“I don’t feel good.” I warn him, but its slurred, and I’m already falling.