Chapter 5 #3
But as we reconvene into the living area, the other guests constantly appeared to have a reason to try and lure Coral away to discuss something in private.
By pure coincidence no doubt, Angie always conveniently happened to be lurking nearby and strolling over to strike a conversation with me.
Avoiding her was becoming a most infuriating challenge.
At one point, when Myrtil, the Head Priestess of Angelique’s coven requested a word with my woman, I nearly snapped. This time, she didn’t just take her a few steps away just out of hearing distance. Myrtil flat out dragged Coral onto the immense terrace and closed the glass doors behind them.
I didn’t even have to look to feel our hostess barreling down on me from behind.
The gleeful, predatory emotions radiating from her shouted her intentions loud and clear.
Pretending not to be aware of her approach, I headed towards the bar with all the refreshments to get myself a drink and a second one for my Mistress.
Before I could even grab a glass, Angie bumped into me, acting as if she’d lost her footing.
“Oh dear! I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, clinging to me as if for dear life. “You’d think I’d be less clumsy walking in these heels. After all, I’ve pounded many catwalks on even higher heels than these ones.”
She added that last part while straightening and lifting her leg to show me. Naturally, it was the leg on the side of the insanely high slit of her skirt. The silky fabric of her black dress slipped sideways, showing the flawless skin of her slender thigh all the way down to her feet.
“Maybe you should change into something less challenging then,” I said in a neutral voice while gently but firmly removing her hands from me.
“And ruined my attire?” she asked, eyes wide with fake innocence and surprise. “Impossible. Those shoes are perfect with this outfit,” she added, running her hands down her sides in a caress that highlighted the curves of her body.
“Then make sure you are more careful. It would be unfortunate to be stuck with a twisted ankle right before a major exhibit,” I said with a cold smile.
“Unfortunate indeed,” she said, trying to hide her irritation with my distant behavior.
“How come I’ve never seen you before? I flatter myself to know every remarkable and influential individual in this city.
How come I’ve never run into you before?
Such a handsome man would be heavily talked about among the fairer sex.
How did Coral snag you under our collective noses? ”
“Coral didn’t snag me. I snagged her. The moment I became aware of her, I knew she had to be mine, and I had to be hers. So I came to her and refused to take no for an answer until she honored me by claiming me as hers,” I said with a smile, my eyes locked with hers.
She scrunched her face as if she had bitten into something sour before quickly regaining her composure.
“Wow. That’s quite unexpected.”
“Is that so?” I challenged, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
“Well yes. Coral is a very sweet and charming young woman. But she’s such a quiet homebody, I would have expected a man like you to be more into wilder and stronger women, with a fierce appetite for all the thrills life has to offer,” she said resting her palm on top of the table as she leaned slightly forward, giving me a better glimpse of her chest.
To her dismay, I didn’t glance down at her cleavage, but kept my eyes locked with hers.
“First, being quiet and finding fulfillment in a home you love does not make one boring or weak. Ever heard of quiet strength? You don’t have to be loud to be powerful.
In fact, it’s the quiet ones you should always beware of.
You never know what secrets they keep and just how great their hand is until they finally choose to lay down their cards. Do not underestimate my woman.”
She huffed. “While I agree with your statement in principle, you may not know that I shared an apartment with Coral for a year. She’s a sweet girl, predictable, and a completely open book. There is no powerful secret. We would know…”
“You can be married to someone for twenty years only to realize you actually never really knew them. Do not presume to know Coral,” I replied dismissively. “Which leads me to the second point. We’ve only just met, and yet you think you know what kind of man I am. What would that be, exactly?”
The way she perked up at that question indicated she’d been looking for that very opening to launch her attack.
“I do not need to know you for long to understand that you are an apex alpha,” Angelique said in a purring tone.
“You are strong, a leader of men. Your mere presence commands attention. That impressive body of yours screams of discipline and dedication. One doesn’t get this lean and muscular without having a healthy and steady routine.
The way you present yourself from your clothes, your hair, the subtle yet alluring aroma of your cologne speaks of elegance, refinement, and impeccable taste.
And beneath that delicious package, a lion prowls, ready to devour its prey.
And I can assure you, any prey you set your sights on would be a willing sacrifice. ”
She added that last sentence leaning forward, her lips parted as if inviting me to kiss her.
I stared at her for a second, letting the tension build in tandem with her ridiculous expectations. Then I snorted and shook my head while looking at her with disbelief. She stiffened, shocked and offended by my response.
“That’s a very interesting take. I want to believe that people would indeed consider me a leader, not that I particularly care or seek anyone’s approval.
As for my body, I’m actually what one would call a slacker when it comes to fitness training.
I just happened to have an exceptional metabolism.
And regarding my fashion sense, you should congratulate my woman instead as all of these were chosen by her for me,” I said as I tauntingly waved at my body.
“Her taste in everything is always impeccable.”
“Oh, stop playing coy,” she snapped, sounding a little irritated. “Why settle when you can have so much more? A man like you could have anything, and anyone.”
This time, my gaze hardened. “I’m not playing coy. And frankly, your words would be flattering if you weren’t being so disrespectful to my woman right now.”
“Stop calling her your woman!” she hissed. “You deserve much more than that mousey little girl. Let me help you see reason.”
To my shock, she waved her hand and whispered an incantation in such a low voice that most humans wouldn’t have heard it, or it would have sounded like nothing more than a sigh.
But the wretched female had cast a love spell on me.
Confident in my inability to resist, Angie leaned forwards as she caressed my biceps left exposed by the short-sleeved shirt I was wearing.
She clearly intended to press her chest against mine and maybe even embrace me, but the foolish female was messing with the wrong one.
With a single thought, I ignited my fire beneath the skin of my upper arm.
The lightning-shaped fiery tendrils flared at one of the intense heat levels I normally used for defense in combat.
Angie immediately yelped and yanked her hand away from me as she stumbled a couple of steps back.
Holding the wrist of her wounded hand, she stared at the latter in horror.
An angry red welt was already swelling in the middle of her palm.
Angie glanced back at me, shock, confusion, and a hint of fear flashing in quick succession on her face.
“Please, you foolish woman. Your pathetic lust spells do not work on the likes of me. Shame on you for trying to steal the partner of someone you claim to be your friend. And even greater shame on you for trying to coerce someone into nonconsensual frolic. I doubt the Council of Witches would approve.”
She paled and took a step back while holding her injured hand against her chest.
“What are you?” she whispered, fear and confusion audible in her voice.
I stared at her quietly for a moment, then put down the glass I had initially picked up without bothering to fill it, then started walking away. She immediately recited an incantation. It represented no threat to me. But it also meant the gig was up.
“Oh, my God! You’re a Liderc!” she exclaimed.
A few people peered at us. They hadn’t understood what she had said thanks to the ambient music providing a semblance of privacy, and the fact that everyone had conveniently stayed out of hearing range as soon as their dear hostess had cornered me.
A single vicious glare from Angie sufficed for them to avert their eyes.
I stopped and turned back to face her. She stared at me in disbelief, her mind struggling to reconcile this impossible reality.
“How in the world did Coral of all people manage to get…?”
Angelique’s voice trailed off as her brain finally put two and two together. At that moment, I realized that she had truly forgotten that she left my egg lying around, discarded in her old apartment.
“Oh, my God! You’re mine! That bitch stole you from me!” she hissed, anger twisting her features in a rather unattractive fashion.
“Careful how you address my woman,” I warned, taking a menacing step forward. “Coral stole nothing from you.”
“You came from my egg,” she snarled, slapping her chest with her good hand. “I paid a fortune to acquire you!”
“And then you discarded the egg. You abandoned it in your former apartment, and it would have been trashed if not for my woman retrieving it. Therefore, you have no claim. Owning an egg means nothing. It is the one who hatches it who holds every right.”
“And that was me!” she exclaimed angrily, advancing another step. “For three months, I incubated you. It was I who did all the work.”
I shrugged. “Clearly, you did it wrong. It doesn’t take that long to hatch one of us.”
“Right or wrong, you’re still mine,” she said with a dismissive gesture before giving me a baffled look.
“Why do you want her anyway? She’s the weakest witch I’ve ever met—if she can even be called that.
She’s boring and probably insanely vanilla in bed.
She will cramp your style with her stiff, prim and proper ways.
You’ll be begging to be freed of her before the week ends. ”
The expression on my face must have made it clear she had better tread carefully as I would not tolerate her continued disrespect of my Mistress. Switching up tactics, she shed all angry or aggressive demeanor and returned to the enticing seductress she’d initially greeted me with.
“I can give you the life of endless lust one such as you crave. With me, no kink, no form of debauchery will be off limits. There will be no feeding restrictions, which I’m sure Coral has imposed on you.
We both know that she will keep you from exploring your sensuality with anyone else.
Whereas I will happily share all that you have to offer with others.
My friends will gladly give up some of their lifeforce to feed and sustain you as part of the most potent sex rituals.
What more could a sex demon possibly want?
You name it, and it’s yours. All you have to do is come back to your rightful owner. ”
I shook my head at her with a bored expression.
“While all of this might have been tempting to another, it does not appeal to me in any way. Do not waste your time—and especially mine—arguing with me. Whatever you can offer is irrelevant. I belong to Coral, forever. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I would like to spend the evening with my woman. ”
I turned around and left.
“We shall see about that,” Angelique hissed behind my back in an angry whisper.
The murderous rage radiating from her made it clear she meant every word.
This woman would seek to make our lives miserable.
But she would soon discover I wasn’t one to be played with.
Whatever she had in store for us, I’d be ready.
And then, I’d make her rue the day she ever attempted to cross my Mistress.