Chapter 11 #3
I close the small distance between our faces and kiss him fiercely.
He matches my enthusiasm with fervour. Our lips and tongues entwine with desperate passion.
Only with him have I felt an attraction this deep.
This all-consuming and dangerous. His taste is exquisite as his tongue moves in perfect rhythm with mine.
It's carnal and desperate and oh so good.
He moans into my mouth as he pulls me against him.
In a moment of reckless impulse, I use the branches to pull his arms back behind him quick and suddenly.
He gasps in surprise and I bite my lip playfully.
His eyes darken further. I kiss him again as I run my hands through his midnight black hair.
I press myself again him and feel him hard as stone.
His trousers are tight from the strain. The thrill that sends through me is intoxicating.
I bite his bottom lip and he smiles showing his fangs.
They’re needle sharp and deadly white. I reach one hand up and touch one with the tip of my finger.
He captures it in his mouth and sucks it as I pull it away.
“You’re driving me crazy.” He moans.
He’s totally restrained. Unable to move and completely at my mercy.
I love the power it gives me. I slide my hand down his chest to his trousers and cup him in my hand.
He feels huge and I feel heat pool between my legs.
I tighten my hand around him as we kiss hungrily.
He groans again as his head tilts back against the tree.
“As much as I want you to continue.” He takes a deep breath. “Gwen is starting to wake and I doubt this is a position you’d like her to see you in.”
Heat rushes to my face and I try to collect myself as I force the thrumming arousal in me to lessen.
I take a few steps back and look over to where my mum is.
She’s still in the car fidgeting in her sleep as she starts to stir awake.
I look back to Alistair who has his eyes shut and is breathing deeply.
His erection still blatantly evident. I feel a hot flush rise up inside me and my core tightens as I think about just now.
He opens his eyes.
“I can smell how turned on you are and it’s not helping me get control of myself.”
“I assumed after living so many years you would have better control of yourself.” I challenge as I fold my arms across my chest.
“Oh I do… just not with you. Your body sings to me like water across an arid desert. You’re lucky you have me restrained otherwise I would have devoured you already.” He warns.
My hand instinctively goes to my neck and I remember his deadly fangs that have now shrunk from view. I shake it off and turn away.
Once again, I start warring with myself.
The internal struggle of right and wrong.
I shouldn’t want him, but I do. Despite us being fated to be together I can’t forget or forgive what he’s done.
How can I be meant to love someone I hate?
Do I hate him? I want to after what he’s done but I’m so drawn to him.
Like a moth to a flame. It doesn’t make sense.
Alistair seems to sense my change of mood, “What are you thinking about?”
“The insanity of it all. How can we be Moira? After everything you’ve done...” My voice breaks. Damn I can’t cry again!
“I’m not as bad as you think.” He sighs.
“My dad is your prisoner. I just witnessed you tormenting him. You murdered the werewolves in the highlands and probably drained the Nymphs that were there. Not to mention the suffering you have undoubtedly caused to so many other people. Do I need to go on?!” I all but scream.
“But Gaia deems you fit to be my soul mate and I’m supposed to be OK with that? I can’t trust myself around you!”
As I speak his face darkens. The aura around him flourishes on it. “You want me to be a monster, don’t you? Will that make all this easier for you?” His normally sultry voice is quiet and menacing.
“You are a monster Alistair! You’ve been toying with me from the start.” I accuse.
“And you’re not toying with me in return? Just a moment ago you were all over me. Now I suddenly repulse you. Your mood swings are giving me fucking whiplash!” He shouts. “Does it not occur to you that this is just as fucking confusing for me as it is for you?”
Honestly it didn’t. He’s been so cocky and nonchalant this whole time.
“How can it be. You’re a god of death, aren’t you? Can you even feel emotion?” I narrow my eyes at him.
“Wow…” He shakes his head with a smile but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m just as alive as you are and as for feeling emotion. I feel more deeply than you could possibly imagine.” His eyes burn into my own. “In future get your facts right before throwing accusations.”
I scoff. “I have every right to accuse you after the things you’ve done!”
He starts to argue back but the sound of a throat clearing stops our argument. I turn to see my mum standing with a stoic expression. How much had she heard?
“I’m sorry mum I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Don’t worry it’s about time I got up. I take it some things have come to light?” She’s always so cryptic.
Alistair forces a laugh. “Yeah a bit too much I think.”
I realise my mum knew that me and Alistair were fated after I woke up last night from my vision of the Strix.
That was what she whispered to him when I first restrained him!
I feel hurt that she didn’t tell me herself.
Did I not deserve to know that my whole life is tied to an ancient masochistic God from practically the beginning of time?
“Mum why didn’t you tell me? You knew and-” A lump forms in my throat.
“You had to realise it for yourself in your own time sweetheart. I’m sorry.” She apologises.
“Is there a way to change it?” I ask.
I see Alistair shake his head in the corner of my eye but I refuse to look at him.
“Fate is a strong force and so is Gaia. No one can change it. You two are meant to be.” Her tone is sympathetic. “You can resist it but it will only cause you both pain.”
So that’s it. Clearly, I have no choice in the matter. This is practically an arranged marriage. Decided before I was even born. Bloody fantastic…
I throw my hands up in the air in exasperation.
“I’m done. This is just… I’m done.”
I walk away.
How much more am I supposed to take. How can someone's life change so much in such a short amount of time? It's complete and utter madness! I don’t want to be with Alistair. I’m only 18 and now I’m all but married to the guy! How old is he anyway? I dread to think. Fecking paedophile.
I don’t know where I’m walking. I just had to get away from them both.
I keep putting one foot in front of the other with no real direction in mind.
I won’t go far. I can’t risk letting Alistair escape.
Just far enough away that I can breathe.
I see a tree stump and sit on it. letting my head flop into my hands.
I’m done with crying. I’m past that. I just need to figure out what I’m going to do with all this.
We have until midnight before Hades comes after us.
What sort of position is that going to put Alistair in?
Where will his loyalty lie? With his dad surely.
I’ve given him no reason to trust us and I sure as hell don’t trust him.
No, I don’t think I can count on him. Despite us being Moira.
We are nowhere near love. I doubt we ever will be.
Lust maybe but we don’t even like each other so if it came down to it he will turn us in. So, I can’t release him. No way.
I hear a flutter in the trees above me and I look up to see Alistair’s Strix watching me. I stick my tongue out at it and it just blinks at me.
“You’re a nosey pigeon aren’t you.”
It gives a small hoot.
“Watch all you want nothing exciting going on here.” I mutter.
I turn back around and look out through the trees. Hoping to find an answer to this mess somehow.
I hear a swoop and the Strix lands on my knee. Its huge white eyes staring up at me. The weight of it pushes its huge talons into my leg. It’s a little uncomfortable but it doesn’t hurt.
“What do you want?”
It fidgets getting comfy and I slowly lift my hand to its head.
Tentatively I lightly brush over its pitch-black feathers.
They’re so soft I can barely feel them. Like smoke.
As the sun catches them there are hints of metallic purples and deep dark blues.
It’s beautiful. It stays totally still as I stroke it.
I can’t help but smile at its cuteness. The minuets pass in the same way. It’s nice. Serene. Just what I needed.
I release a sigh when I think I should probably head back. How do I deal with it all? I wish I could go back to being a normal college student. Life was so much easier a week ago. I just wanna switch places with someone normal… Hold one that’s it!
I jump up and the Strix hoots in shock as it flaps to the floor looking affronted. I run back to where Mum and Alistair are. Mums leaning against the tree opposite Alistair’s.
“I know what to do! I have a plan!” I shout excitedly. “Alistair, you were shocked at my strength. Your father will be to. He would never dream that I could capture you. Let alone kill you!”
“Wait what? Kill me?” He says wide eyed.
“Sweetheart you can’t kill him.” My mum says slowly.
“Hades doesn’t know that, does he? Once he sees Alistair in what looks like mortal danger we can strike a bargain. His sons safe return for Dad and the pack being freed!” I pause with a huge expectant smile on my face. Neither of them says anything. “Come on its a good idea!” I assure.
Alistair is the first to speak. “You might be onto something there but you’re talking about bluffing the devil. Something very few have managed to do.” He smirks.
I turn to my mum wide eyed and hopeful.
“Your so much like Carter.” She shakes her head. “Your plan worked before who knows it might work again.” She laughs.