Chapter 20 #2
“You thought I was hot, so you assumed I was trying to use my magic on you for… what? So, you would fuck me?” Ama’s amusement was only growing, and I felt frustration fill my chest because it sounded bad when she put it that way.
It also sounded like I thought a lot of myself, which frankly wasn’t completely off base.
“I’m still sorry,” I grunted as she leaned forward and squeezed my hand.
“Apology accepted.” Thank fuck.
Maybe the dreams would stop now. Ever since that first night I’d met her, I’d been plagued with the most vivid and intense dreams of her and I.
It wasn’t unusual for me to dream, but I’d never felt so sure that someone was there with me.
It was also possible I wanted her badly enough my subconscious had decided to terrorize me with dreams of fucking the gorgeous princess every night.
A dream that would never come to fruition.
My gaze moved over to my parents, who were both watching me, and I felt myself stiffen, having forgotten why I was here.
As if noticing, Ama sat back, watching me with equal parts curiosity and caution.
What I wouldn’t do to make the caution aspect disappear, but I knew my next words weren’t going to do anything to help with that.
“So, have you given any thought to who you are voting for?” I asked directly.
Immediately, her eyes narrowed, “Is that why you apologized, Colt? Because you thought it would somehow garner my vote? Why the hell would I ever vote for the House of Fallen?”
You wouldn’t. I felt like a dumbass for even broaching the topic, but if I wasn’t here to try to convince her to vote for us…
I didn’t know why I was over here. Well, I didn’t want to consider why I was over here.
Honestly, I probably just needed to get up and leave.
I couldn’t, though, because now I hated that she was pissed at me again, and it somehow made me even more frustrated.
“No,” I exhaled and ran a hand through my hair. “Although, I did assume it would help to some extent.”
She blinked and then shook her head, standing up. Without thinking, I caught her wrist, and she scowled down at me. “Don’t leave. Seriously, Ama, it’s not about that.”
Why was I saying that?
“Then what is it about, Colt?” she growled. “Because this sudden urge to play nice feels like bullshit, considering I have had to listen to your father berate me at every chance he gets. I don’t even need to be over there to know he’s been talking shit about me all night.”
My mouth opened as I tried to figure out what I could do to fix this.
I attempted as much truth as I could muster.
“I don’t have an excuse for him. I am telling you, as the heir to the House of Fallen, that I wish to make amends.
It isn’t about the vote—although I can’t discount that’s important.
It's about taking responsibility for my shitty behavior. And getting to know you, Ama. I would very much like to know you better.”
Her eyes dilated slightly as she looked down at me, although ‘down’ was a stretch because even standing in heels, she was nearly eye level with me sitting. I fought the urge to tug her down onto my lap so that I could feel every inch of her curves, and instead waited for her response.
Before she could respond, though, a shadow crowded over us, and my spine stiffened. Annoyance flared inside me.
“Colt,” a voice purred. I frowned, looking away from Ama, and found a woman from my house standing there looking at me expectantly. What the hell was she expecting? Ama tried to tug her wrist from my hand, but I held it there.
“What?” I snapped out at the woman, suddenly annoyed that Ama was trying to escape. Unfortunately, Ama jumped at my tone and pulled away in earnest. I stood up and tried to follow her as she walked across the dance floor, but the new woman stepped in the way.
“Your father sent me over here to get you out of talking to the hybrid whore,” she whispered conspiratorially, flashing a smile I was positive she thought was sexy.
“Do not call her that,” I growled, shoving past the woman as she called out for me. Luckily, I was tall enough that I could see the tips of Ama’s horns as she weaved through the crowd towards a side door. Where the hell was she going?
I muttered in annoyance as she was suddenly stopped by Damien, who looked all too concerned about her.
Normally, I would have backed away, but I needed to talk to her.
Not just about the misunderstanding about why I’d been apologizing, but also because I hadn’t been lying.
I very much wanted to get to know her better.
“I just need some air, I’m seriously fine,” Ama insisted quietly.
“Just hard to be in a room with so many…” her words trailed off as she motioned to the room.
Assholes. She meant assholes, and I didn’t blame her.
Even coming from a house that hated most of the others, I had to admit that people were being exceptionally cold towards her.
“Want me to come with you?” Damien asked, his voice filled with a ridiculous amount of compassion.
Her cheeks tinted pink, and I fought the urge to punch him.
If I tried being that sweet to Ama or used that tone she would think I was plotting her death or some shit.
Something that was completely my fault, to be sure… but I still hated it.
“I was actually in the middle of talking to Ama,” I ground out, and Damien turned his gaze on me, narrowing his eyes before wrapping an arm around her waist.
“We were pretty much done,” Ama mumbled, looking at me with speculation, as if she couldn’t decide exactly how much she hated me.
“I just want to talk. We can even go on a walk—”
“Over my dead body,” Drayven hissed over my shoulder, and Ama went completely still, her eyes darkening with emotion. Way more emotion than I could dissect, and that had me more annoyed with Drayven than before, because it was clearly linked to him. Which probably inspired what I said next.
“That can be arranged.”