Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
Scarlett poured them each a small glass and sat next to Brayden with her drink in hand. “How was your day?”
“Good. Successfully met with the general my father wanted me to meet. We had lunch and he showed me around army headquarters. He was surprised to hear we got married.” He laughed to himself.
“Seems like he’ll be a helpful contact in the future.
And I had a chat with Cassidy. It was her at the boxing match, so Lachlan was right—she’s a nocturna.
Cass was cryptic at first when I asked about the night she met you, but when I made it clear I’m only trying to hire a bodyguard on your behalf, she relaxed.
She seems great, and she’s free to meet tomorrow morning. ”
Scarlett’s face lit up. “That’s so perfect.
I’d love to meet her tomorrow, and I’m thrilled she’s the same Cass I met.
I really trust her after what she did for me that night.
Thank you for getting in touch with her.
” She squeezed Brayden’s hand. “Shall we grab some dinner and head home? Beni sent me a text to tell me he’s invited his buddy Blake over, and he asked me to order them pizza, if you’re up for that. ”
“Sure.”
Scarlett was locking her door in the hallway when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around to find Alastair and Brayden staring at each other. Elestine was nowhere in sight.
“Alastair, what are you doing here? I don’t want to speak to you,” said Scarlett. She wanted to tell him to fuck off after their earlier conversation, but she was bone-tired and didn’t want another blowup.
“I came to see him. Mother mentioned he might be with you.” He was eyeing Brayden up and down, and the angry glint in his eye had Scarlett’s hackles up.
The contrast between the two was stark. Brayden looked, if not happy, calm, while Alastair was on the verge of a temper tantrum.
Brayden was muscular, and Alastair was fit but lean.
Most importantly, she was madly in love with one and couldn’t remember what she’d ever seen in the other.
Brayden folded his arms across his chest. “Alastair. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Clearly, he hadn’t heard good things.
Alastair looked like he wanted to physically assault him. “She might not see you for what you are, but don’t think you’ve fooled me. I know you’ve compelled her somehow, and I’ll have you arrested.”
Scarlett’s fingertips went to her lips. She nearly died of embarrassment. What would Brayden think, knowing this was the man she’d loved before him?
Brayden shifted his stance, placing himself more squarely in front of her. “How little you know about the world. We don’t do compulsion where I’m from. You’re a fool if you think that’s why she left you.”
Scarlett grimaced. Only days ago she’d asked James if her vox power was a form of compulsion… but she was still different from Alastair. She wanted to be a part of the outside world. To know it better.
“Then why did she, if you know so much?” scoffed Alastair.
Scarlett wanted to save Brayden from this, but he took a step forward, looking more than happy to answer.
“Where to begin? How about this—you only care about yourself. She was suffering under the surface, and you either had no idea or didn’t care.
” He took another step closer as Alastair took one step back.
Scarlett was as riveted by Brayden’s words as she was anxious to get him away from Alastair’s poison.
“Or maybe she broke up with you because you didn’t know what to do with her in bed,” said Nori, as if Alastair could hear her.
Scarlett’s eyebrows flew up. Did you really just say that?
“Yes.” Nori laughed.
Her light’s laugh made Scarlett crack a smile, even though that was completely inappropriate, given what was happening in front of her. Thankfully, neither Brayden nor Alastair could see her face.
Brayden took another step forward, and Alastair had to pivot to keep from being backed against a wall. “Then there’s my personal favorite reason—she’s my North Star. Not that you’d know what that means. Let me rephrase. She’s my soul mate. No one could ever love her better than I do,” said Brayden.
The bond between them was all she could feel, and Brayden’s words meant everything to Scarlett. Hearing him speak such truths like he knew her as well as he knew himself—he was right about all of it. She wanted nothing more than to leave with him.
Scarlett moved in between them and took Brayden’s hand. “Thank you, my love.” She tried to imbue her gratitude for his words into her expression as she met his gaze. “Let’s go home.”
She turned to leave, but Alastair reached out and grabbed her by the arm. “Don’t you see I’m trying to help you?” His voice broke. “I care about you.”
His words and obvious distress on her behalf would usually move her, but the way he was grabbing her erased any sympathy she might have felt. Scarlett tried to yank her arm away. Alastair held on, but Brayden’s hand came down over it and squeezed until Alastair released her with a shout of pain.
“Listen to her, and let us go,” said Brayden, his voice low and threatening.
Alastair slammed his body into Brayden’s, but Brayden didn’t budge. “This isn’t over,” he yelled over his shoulder as he stormed off.
“Keep telling yourself that, mate. Try not to trip over your own ego on the way out,” Brayden called after him, earning a growl from Alastair.
“I’m so sorry,” said Scarlett when he was gone. They started down the hallway hand in hand.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said, but he was smiling.
Why was he smiling?
“What’s funny?” she asked.
“It’s not really that funny,” he said, sobering. “It’s just, I’ve always been a little bit jealous of him. He got to be here, with you, and it seemed serious. It might be petty of me, but I’m enjoying our role reversal.”
“You were right about everything you said back there,” she said. “And I’m enjoying our life together too.”
His hand slid to the small of her back as he let her go first through the exit. Happiness flooded through her as she replayed his words again and again in her mind.
“She’s my soul mate.”
Scarlett would never tire of hearing those words.