15 #3
“That is a dangerous rumor to risk starting and that’s how rumors get out of control fast. Someone says something flippant and later people say the queen is broke.
So I was annoyed at them, at myself for how I handled things, and you wouldn’t talk to me…
And I just wanted to help and thought at least I could do this when I heard the elders were fucking with your accounts. ”
“I get you wanted to help and had no bad intentions,” I interjected, absolutely believing him. “But you get where I’m coming from, right?”
He sighed and scrubbed his face again but with both hands, really punishing his skin.
“I do, but I don’t, and it’s stuff and I want you to remember me and like…
I get annoyed I don’t get a vote in like anything, not just you, but then I shouldn’t get a vote on stuff like you’re saying.
It’s just always more than it should be in my mind. ”
I snorted, knowing that feeling all too well.
“Yeah, you know what I’m saying. That’s why I’m being honest,” he accepted and blew a harsh breath between his lips which was actually adorable and we both smiled.
How could a man that fucking huge be so cute to blow a damn raspberry when we were talking serious? Apparently, stern Thorn could pull it off when he was frustrated.
“I actually met someone who totally reminds me of you,” he said, clearly wanting to change the topic to something less serious. “I wanted to help her too and she was just as stubborn on it—totally not open to it. She was valid but…” He frowned. “It was weird because it was like she knew me.”
I froze. Like went too still and I think he noticed. I tried to play it off and move, but this was the first time he brought it up to me and I was still too emotional about too much. He studied me but continued.
“She talked like you and basically—she fights like you. Now that I’ve watched you spar, not just beat some Alphas, you really fight alike.
I wonder if you had the same trainer or something.
” He slowly blinked at me. “And her look of surprise is just like that but on a different face. I’m a fucking moron.
I saw Belinda and Myriam at the last fight. It’s you. You’re the fighter.”
“What fighter?” I asked too quietly but kept my voice even.
Anger filled his eyes in a way I wasn’t sure I’d seen pointed at me. “Don’t fucking bullshit me. Don’t fucking insult me by lying to my fucking face right now, Sagan.”
That was the wrong thing to say. I ran my tongue over my teeth and pushed off the wall. “I don’t owe you anything, and I lie all the time to survive, so don’t you dare judge me when you’re lying to your uncle about being here to take over from him.”
He was on his feet in a flash and grabbed my arm when I went to leave. “You’re right, but we’re together and—”
“We’re not together,” I sneered. “We’re fucking. You made sure of that, remember? You didn’t want to be anything and panicked at the idea of being with me and insulted me maybe worse than anyone when I even suggested it.”
He dropped me like I’d burned him. “Then why are you here?”
“For sex,” I replied, giving him the look he deserved. I snorted when he got mad. “That’s why we only have sex. We don’t talk. We don’t cuddle. Why get mad?”
“So you’re still upset with me but will sleep with me?” he asked, like he couldn’t comprehend it.
“I am not the only one who has hate sex or sex without love or any of it,” I drawled and yanked my arm away. “So don’t be demanding with me and leave it what it is. Thank you for what you tried to do, but I don’t want it.”
He chuffed and blocked me. “No, you’re not turning this around and escaping like this. I know I can be dense, but I’m not stupid. You just freaked out. You’re Mystic Frost, and I want to know what’s going on.”
I stared up at him and let him see the coldness I felt down to my soul on too many things, my dragons not holding back their power until he cowered.
“There are a lot of things I want too, Thorn, but I live with disappointment every fucking day. You’ll be just fine without the answers you think you deserve. Now move before I make you move.”
“No,” he gasped, my power actually making his knees go weak. “Talk to me.”
Later, I might be impressed he held out, probably because he was worried for me… But right then, I was just annoyed.
“Why?” he groaned as he sank to the ground. “Just tell me why, Sagan. Why would you risk this and—”
“You know nothing, you spoiled brat,” I seethed, realizing it was more Iris than me.
I grabbed his chin and bared my teeth. “You let what you were owed consume you without doing more than sending emails and making a few calls.
Demanding I fix it all without being willing to help unless it benefited you or landed you next to me.
“You were loved by your parents and hate them because they didn’t plan for their deaths and someone they loved screwed you.
Are you kidding? You’re still rich and have so much.
Others would kill for that, and all you do is—grow up.
” I shoved him away and reeled in my power.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“I know you don’t, and you’re probably right about all of it,” he panted, his eyes too wide as he stared at me. “But I care and—”
“Could use it against me later,” I bit out.
“What you think you’ve realized is a weapon to use against me.
We aren’t going to be friends later, Thorn.
You think I’m friends with any of the Alphas?
Vex was my ally. Applerest was with the royal family, and look at how fast they fucked us—me over as soon as they could.
You will be the one Alpha in history who won’t do that? ”
I snorted when he swallowed loudly.
“You think you put something together. It’s insane. You think I fight like some underground fighter.”
Fire filled his eyes. “I didn’t say she was an underground fighter, Sagan.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know who she is, idiot. Yeah, I know what Myriam and Belinda are doing. They’re doing it at my request. I’ve said that I know that the gambling and fighting dens owned by the elders were branching into sex trafficking. How do you think I knew that?”
“So you went undercover,” he hedged, studying.
I scoffed at him and then snorted. “I did not say it was me, and no one would ever believe you that the Queen of Thovudin would do that. You’re reaching, and I’m not telling you what’s really going on. All the Alphas do is fight with me, even the ones who say they’re on the team like Dray.”
“That’s not what—” he tried to argue.
“And you will too one day,” I mumbled as I walked out the door.
Which was why it was stupid to have ever shown up to his room and had sex with him again. No matter my upset and need to relieve stress… I was stupid for having done this.
Lesson learned. Another hard lesson learned, and don’t make this mistake again, Sagan.