Chapter 6 #3
“Facts aren’t complicated, Lavender. They’re quite simple.
” I gasp when he wraps his hand around my throat, his thumb brushing over my rapidly beating pulse point and causing goose bumps to spread all over them while the air hitches in my throat.
“That’s their beauty and ugliness. They have no color gray in it. ”
His wrists flex, cutting off my oxygen. Fear flips my insides, only for me to gulp for breath when he loosens his grip, his eyes drilling their stare into me when something else glazes over them.
It’s an emotion I don’t recognize, and somehow I want to see more of it while at the same time dig a hole to protect myself from him.
“Did I choke you right now, Lavender? Or was it complicated?” Another brush of his thumb while my heart beats so wildly in my chest, I expect it to jump out of my rib cage so he can cause more damage to it.
“Answer my question.” His raspy voice should be forbidden because of how hypnotizing he sounds in the moment.
I should scream for help because what he’s doing is wrong and malicious.
However, my fear pales compared with the anger and adrenaline crushing into me in waves, demanding an outlet for all the pent-up emotions rocking inside me, and pressing my head harder against the bookshelf, I fire a question of my own.
“Would we be even then?” He places his arm above my head, caging me in, and I hold the book between us, at least creating an illusion of a barrier.
“Would hurting me finally sustain your thirst for revenge?” The muscle in his cheek twitches, his eyes turning blank, and he steps closer, the tips of his boots bumping against mine.
His masculine scent mixed with strong perfume and tobacco envelops me, pulling me deeper into the twisted web he creates around my mind, tricking me into going along with whatever he wants because that’s how temptations work.
They become too irresistible, and by the time you realize what’s going on, it’s too late.
You’ve already accepted the devil’s offer and end up trapped in his hell.
His deep timbre glides over my skin, the invisible caress leaving burning sensations across my flesh to my despair, confusing my already exhausted mind.
For in his presence, all my dark thoughts awaken, and I hate him for it.
“Did I hurt you right now, Lavender?”
The burning sensations just intensify from this, and the bookshelf rattles once again as I take a step back when he moves forward, the muscles of his chest brushing against the book. I grip it so tight, my knuckles start to hurt. “Would you prefer for me to call it an assault?”
A sinister smile curves his mouth, and a chuckle slips past his throat while his thumb traces over my pulse once again before he grips my chin, tipping my head up.
“We can play this game of endless questions for eternity, moy cvetochek. You’ll still lose.
” He leans closer, our mouths inches apart, his touch sending electric waves over my nerve endings despite my mind yelling at me to kick him so I could escape him.
What the hell am I even doing? “But I’ll be generous today and answer your question.
Never.” I swallow when his thumb brushes over my lips as his voice turns deadly, replacing the earlier heat with coldness.
“My thirst for revenge would never be sustained. I do not forgive those who hurt what belongs to me.”
Fury boils my blood at this threat because how can anyone understand it differently, and it finally snaps me from whatever cursed spell he has placed on me, akin to freezing water poured on me.
Without a single thought, I kick him hard in the knee, and the fucker laughs.
He laughs but steps away, finally letting me escape.
And I hate him for it as well. Everything he does or says points to the fact that he’s the one controlling the situation, and I’ve had enough of this.
I’m still gathering the pieces of myself after what he did at the engagement party. I won’t subject myself to his abuse due to his high possessive nature. “Stay away from me, Levi.”
“Or what, Lavender? You’ll be forced to stop acting perfect and give free rein to your rage?”
The words hit me right in my vulnerable spot, making me want to lash out at him more. I don’t get the chance because something crashes in the distance, followed by a female yelp, and I dart toward the sound.
My eyes widen at the sight of Aurelia sitting on the floor and rubbing her hip while a huge pile of books surrounds her. “Are you all right?” I kneel next to her, and she nods, her hands still trembling. “What happened?”
“I fell.”
Which is not surprising since that wooden ladder is wobbly as hell. “Can you stand?”
“Yes.” I help her get up, and she winces, still rubbing her hip. “The books,” she whispers as pain flashes on her face.
I grab them and put them on a nearby table one by one.
“Did you carry them while climbing up that ladder?” There are around ten thick books, and at her nod, the anger caused by Levi grows to epic proportions, finally finding an outlet.
I glare at Wyatt, who lounges lazily on the chair by the table, staring at us. “I hope you’re proud of yourself.”
“I asked for books. I didn’t force her to carry them all, so you’re barking up the wrong tree, darling.”
“That might come as news to you, Wyatt, but acting like an entitled brat doesn’t suit anyone. Least of all a man.”
“Ah, shots have been fired. I don’t really care.
You can’t be liked by everyone. I’ll take my chances.
” He gets up and waves his hand. “Either way, I changed my mind. I wasted too much time on this. It’s easier to order them online.
” He looks at Aurelia again, and once freaking again, this girl casts her gaze down where her body shivers in fear.
“You need to do a better job next time.” He shifts his attention to me and blows me a kiss, and I barely resist the urge to punch him. “See you soon, darling.”
Aurelia lets go of my hand, and I mutter, “What is his problem anyway?” Wyatt is a perfect gentleman. I expected him to gather Aurelia in his arms and help her out himself before offering to take her home or to the nurse to check out her injuries.
Scratch that, he’d be the one climbing up that ladder in the first place so that the fall wouldn’t have even happened.
He and Aurelia must share a past, which doesn’t excuse his behavior. Still, there must be some explanation for this bullshit.
“I need to go to the bathroom. Could you please wait here in case anyone needs something?”
“Of course. Do you want me to go with you?” I glance around, and everyone is buried deep in their books, so it doesn’t look like anyone might ask for help in the near future. “Maybe we need to take you to the nurse?”
“No!” she almost shouts, covering her mouth with her hand and shaking her head. “No, it’s fine. I just need a minute. Please stay here.” She limps to the bathroom, and I sigh in resignation.
Some souls are too pure for this world.
At this point, familiar heat hits me from the back, and I turn around to face Levi once more, who perches on the table with the books. “Wyatt has to stop harassing Aurelia.” If her earlier reaction is any indication, it’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.
And while I decided not to talk to Levi in the foreseeable future, or at least not before my next session with Dr. King to figure out my mixed emotions toward this guy, I have to do something to protect this girl.
Pure souls are easy to crush, and I would hate for hers to be tarnished.
Mine crashed and burned a long time ago. Aurelia still hopes to save hers.
Something flashes in his gaze as if he despises me for mentioning his friend’s name, but that would be ridiculous, right? “That’s not going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“Aurelia is the reason Wyatt lost Ian.”
You’d have to be deaf and blind not to hear about the fallout of the century, as some media outlets called it.
Almost a year ago, news came out that Ian King bullied a girl at his university, and as a result, she lost her scholarship and got expelled. Since the details weren’t really clear on this one, most people assumed someone decided to smear the Kings’ name, and that Ian had nothing to do with it.
Their father, Zachary King, thought otherwise.
His punishment was harsh, and most of the family didn’t agree with it. Especially after Rafael managed to reinstate the girl at the university and the Kings funded her new scholarship.
Zachary cut Ian off. His trust fund was divided between Emmaline and Wyatt, and Ian even had to quit school because he couldn’t afford it.
He wouldn’t let anyone help him because their father warned them that if they did, he’d cut them off, too.
So Ian went months without contact before showing up uninvited at the family dinner Wyatt mentioned earlier, doing God knows what to survive in the meantime.
I know Wyatt despises his father’s decision because, according to Emmaline, he never uses a dime from his trust fund and has taken a loan from Rafael to finish his education after switching majors.
Needless to say, he harbors a lot of resentment toward Zachary, so the loving King family is experiencing significant turmoil right now.
Especially considering Wyatt worshipped the ground his father walked on and never went against his decisions.
“So what’s Wyatt’s plan? To make her feel sorry for telling the truth?” I have no opinion of Ian. He’s more stoic and brooding than Wyatt and rarely engages in conversations, at least with me. Their bond used to be amazing as twins. I think it cracked since they had that fight during the dinner.
Mostly because Ian somehow understood their father’s decision and never questioned or challenged it, which only intensified Wyatt’s anger.
It hurt my heart because separation destroyed Rush and Rafael's bond once upon a time until they reconnected recently, so watching it happen to another set of twins was tragic to my eyes.
“Wyatt is a lot like me.” I blink at this. “He’s protective of those he considers his. Aurelia hurt the one he loved, so she has to pay the price, and only Wyatt knows what it would be.”
“If Ian bullied her, and I’m inclined to believe that, judging by how the girl wouldn’t hurt a fly, then Wyatt’s revenge is misguided.” I cross my arms and lift my chin. “I won’t let him bully her.”
He grabs his lighter from the table along with the jacket, flipping it through his fingers.
“Revenge is usually misguided because it lacks satisfaction.” What kind of bullshit is that?
“Stay out of it, Lavender. Wyatt might be charming, but only when he wants to be. Don’t awaken his ruthless nature. ”
“Stop threatening me. And you need to stay away from me. You two might think you’re invincible, but news flash, no one is.”
“Ah, I’m trembling already.” I clench my fists. “Sooner or later, you’ll break, moy cvetochek. And that would be a magnificent sight to see.”
He walks away, and I resist the urge to throw a book at his back.
Levi is dangerous to my sanity, and I should stay away.
Is it possible to stay away from a man who wishes to see you hurt to get justice for what he thinks was done to his sister, though?
Growing up among hunters taught me a lesson.
They’ll stop at nothing to catch their prey, and the only way to escape them…is to be several steps ahead of them. Otherwise, they’ll trap you in their nets.
I freeze as his words echo in my ears.
Moy cvetochek.
I was forced to study several languages as a child, including Russian. It means my little flower, and why would he call me that if he isn’t part Russian himself?
Maybe Levi Scott also has secrets.
And to save myself from his wrath, I’d have to uncover some of them.
God help me.
Levi
Darkness never gives you the prerogative to lie.
Sadly…people never crave truth.
They crave illusions.
I guess it’s my turn to shatter Lavender’s.