Chapter Thirty-Four
Donovan
Ipaced my office, knowing my pounding the carpet would not help a single damn thing, but I did it anyway. Slamming my hand onto the desk, I stilled before sitting down and popping open my laptop. I needed to quiet my mind in an effort to think straight when it came to handling Ezza.
I made sure the hotel was continuing to operate at a six-star level, checking in with the manager, asking if there had been any issues.
Only one, where a teenager got hurt at the pool, but a quick trip to the emergency room showed he was okay, and the parents were happy with a free night and five-course dinner.
My breathing started to regulate as I perused financials, seeing that I was in beyond good shape when it came to that area of my life. My mind even wandered to another resort I’d been eyeing, before coming back to the scene at Tulya’s from this morning.
Fuck Ezza and her throwing my dad at me; I’d taken what he’d built and multiplied it several times over. I was my own fucking man, like I’d told her, and my brain operated just fine.
Screw her. I could take care of her daughter in every way possible, and she knew it.
We would figure out the powers, and I wasn’t worried other than Ezza threatening the torch.
What a bitch… She was still sour over Bruno’s messed-up life.
And who the hell threatened to set her daughter’s house and life on fire?
Only Ezza, and maybe my own mother. Those two deserved one another.
I’d been deep in thought, tapping my fingers on my desk to an easy rhythm and calming my overactive pulse, when there was a soft knock on the door. It was open, so I had no fucking clue who it was until I looked up and spied Emelee.
“Hiiii,” she said, leaning against the doorjamb.
“Everything okay?” I asked the question, despite not being up for whatever situation was unfolding.
“Yeah,” she responded in a whisper, approaching my desk. Taking note of her slip dress and hair sleekly brushed, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on. “I wanted to talk.”
I leaned back in my chair and watched her sit on the corner of my desk. “I guess I don’t have to ask how you got in… I never asked for your key back.”
“I want to make this work.”
That was her answer instead of addressing what I’d specifically asked. I continued to eye her acting like a woman in love, and the hackles on the back of my neck rose. “It’s not going to.”
“When you came to rescue me at Tuvy’s, I knew we were meant to be together.”
God, why is everyone getting the wrong idea over that?
“I didn’t rescue you. It was enough of taking advantage of Tuvy.”
“Tuvy, Tuvy, Tuvy. That’s her role. Ask her mom,” she said, standing and sashaying in front of me, dropping to her knees.
“What are you doing?” I tried to stand but she’d firmly placed her hands on my thighs, and I wasn’t in the habit of pushing a woman off me.
She traced a path up my leg to my groin area, where nothing was happening, but she still made a play. “We could be so good, and we could help with Blake. Cinder needs it—”
“Emelee, get up,” came out on a roar, and this time I did stand and let her gently plop to her butt. This reeked of my mom.
“You were promised to me.” She stayed on her knees, pouting.
I decided to go with, “And you lied.”
“So did you. You cared for someone else. But I was falling for you, and you were letting go of your feelings for Tuvy—”
“You don’t know anything about my feelings.”
She finally stood, and I’d hoped she was leaving but she came close to me as I stood against my desk, my ass hitting the edge, arms crossed in front of me.
“I know you fought with her mother, and I was told to make it right between us. And I have no problem doing so because I love you, Donovan Malachite. There is no you and Tuvy.”
My green eyes must’ve been turning red, I was so pissed. How dare she do Ezza’s dirty work and taint my feelings by even discussing Tulya and me? “Get out, and never say that to me again. In fact, I’d better not hear Tulya’s name come out of your mouth.”
That was when the tears came, and I knew she’d convinced herself she would have me again. Her feelings were back.
Without any notice, she draped herself over me and wept into my shoulder. “You can’t say that.”
As I was trying to disentangle myself, there was yet another soft knock at my office door.
“I see you two have worked things out.” My mother’s shrill tone echoed through my private chamber. She strutted into my quarters like a peacock, fluffing her feathers.
“We have not,” I said a bit gruffly, extricating myself from Emelee’s grasp.
“Well, that simply won’t do. Will it, Em?
We have new plans for Blake, and they are perfect.
” My mother addressed Emelee as if she hadn’t just banished her from my life.
Then she glared at me. “I made a mistake. You were promised to Emelee, and I thought it was because of what you learned about her condition that you didn’t want to pursue the relationship.
But I was wrong. Those silly rumors about you and Tuvy are all I thought they were, rumors.
Why would I believe you would tangle yourself up with the one person you are forbidden to?
I was also wronged—and Emelee can’t be blamed for something that isn’t her fault.
She will love Blake as her own. With that magic she has, you’ll be able to hone her. ”
Emelee tag-teamed with my mother and stated, “We can fix us, and make it right.”
She threw her arm around my neck in a dramatic way and clung to me again, making me want to shoo her off, especially when Tulya showed up in my doorway breathless.
She’d never been to my area of the house before, and I presumed the housekeeping staff had let her in and showed her the way. I took in her chest rapidly rising and falling.
“Donovan,” she choked out, her eyes scanning the scene before her.
“Tulya, what is it?” This time I did wrestle free of Emelee and walk straight toward the woman who held my heart. “What happened?” I didn’t know why, but I grabbed her weakened hand and held it tightly, absorbing the tremor running through it.
“My mom… She said…this,” was all she got out. Her eyes zipped around the room, taking in the scene in front of her.
“Donovan, you heard your mother. You’re promised to me,” Emelee said, slinking up to my side.
“You’re not. I’m my own man,” was my response, to which she started crying.
“Ceci, you said—”
“Maybe I should leave?”
My grip on Tulya’s hand tightened. “No, you’re the only one not leaving,” I said.
Granted, this wasn’t how I imagined Tulya’s first time in my space. I had to temper my thoughts; I would show her around later after I dealt with this fiasco.
“Mother, listen. I made a mistake in siding with you against Magnum. He should love who he wants. Our family’s legacy will still go on. Look at Blake—she has greater powers than most. The House of Malachite prevails no matter what. We are stronger than this.”
She looked like I’d put a gun to her temple. “You don’t believe such a thing.”
“I do, and I should have a choice too. I want Tulya for me, and she picks me. We are good together, better than good. Amazing.”
“You will do no such thing. The woman who cares for you is by your side.” She motioned toward Emelee who was still clinging to me. “Tsk, Tulya, you know you can’t. I always told your mom she babied you.”
I shook my head. “Tulya, I need you to take Emelee’s feelings away. I know I shouldn’t ask, but I need this all to be done with her. She’s confused by my mother’s words and has fallen for me all over again. But I’m not Ceci’s to promise to anyone.”
Emelee started backing away, but Tulya stepped forward, letting go of her connection with me. She brought her strong hand in the air and was close to Emelee’s cheek when the room darkened, the lights dimming in the Minister’s presence.
Looking up, I found he and Ezza had joined our miserable party.
“I will have you know I did no such thing,” Ezza told my mother with a glare. “I heard you, and I did not baby Tulya. She is at my disposal.”
A small gasp left Tulya’s mouth, and it wound its way up my spine, making my chest rage with anger.
“Emelee is with Donovan, and you’re to back away,” Ezza said to her daughter.
“She will not,” I barked back.
“Tulya! You will do as I say.”
I watched Tulya take in her mother and look back to me and then glance at her uncle.
“You’re being taken advantage of, sweet Tulya,” I said, standing up to them. “They’re always telling you to use your powers, or not to, and even have subjected you to being hurt while exhausting them on humans. And yes, I asked you too, but it’s time for us. I’ve had enough of this bullshit.”
“No! I’ve had enough, dear young Malachite,” said the Minister.
“Ceci, your boys have made a mess in Rubia, starting with your younger one and ending with this malcontent.” He pointed at me.
“We have risked everything, and at the very least, Donovan is right that Tulya was injured helping you with Magnum.”
“I’m abiding by Rubian law!” Ceci tried to argue with the Minister, but it was to no avail.
He raised his hand in the air and the room went black.
Then he produced a mirage like Ezza had done earlier, except this time it was of the holiday party.
Tulya and I were having a conversation. She was saying she had to go, and we parted ways easily and seemingly forgot about one another in that moment.
Magnum was making his way toward Cinder and gathering her in his arms. It was the way the evening should have ended for the four of us.
Tulya and I separated, and Mag and Cinder leaving together.
“We will go back to this,” he said in a deep tone, looking at the mirage. “To a time when there was peace and my ruling prevailed and you both listened to your elders, coming and going from parties with whom you are meant to. I am in charge of Rubia, only me, and I demand due process.”