Chapter 108

“Invited is the savoury description and last I checked I had no need of *your* company,” It felt incomparably satisfying to direct all the anger and disappointment towards him. It had built so much over the months that it festered. Now that Solaire was within her sight, bantering with her, the frustration eased little by little.

“I find that incomprehensible,” He tied his hands behind his back, leaning forward and downwards ever slightly so he could peer closer into those large, emotional orbs. Mindful not to reach out and touch her. Not yet at least. A difficult task since her sassiness ignited a possessiveness in him that had his mind conjuring different ways to coax her into submission. Fun, pleasurable ways.

“Oh, do you?” she cocked a single eye-brow, bringing her arms over her chest to add some distance between them, “well, I suppose a man of your,” she inhaled, clearing her throat “*gifts* is not accustomed to women freezing you out,” there was a bitterness to her tone that Mendora despised. Conjuring images of how Solaire might have been occupying his time during her absence. Not that she was allowed to feel any type of way. The decision to leave was ultimately her own. Whatever Solaire choose to do in their time apart was not her concern, just as her affairs were not his.

The sting persisted though and Mendora hated the reaction she had to him. Even after everything she’d done to get him out of her mind.

“What gifts are we referring to exactly?” he smirked at the insinuation, watching as she stumbled backwards, fluffing her hands over her dress in distraction before raising defiant eyes back to his.

“You should leave,” twisting forward to rasp the words against his lips. The venom and anger in her tone only served to intrigue Solaire. His cock growing to life in his breeches.

“Come with me,” snaking a firm hand at the nap of her neck, holding her steady as he peered into those wide eyes. His urge to rip that mask away mounting with every second that passed them by.

Rosey lips parted, he was almost certain she was gearing up to give him a tongue lashing but he held out hope. His thumb rubbing circles into the side of her neck. Her flesh soft and pliable under his calloused fingers.

“Pardon the intrusion,” Solaire’s hand drifted down from Mendora as a large bodied man inched his way beside Mendora. With sombre lighting it might have been difficult to ascertain the identity of the man but there was no one else brave enough than Finn. Solaire knew. “Should you prefer to change scenery,” he addressed Mendora only. The level of attention annoying Solaire to the point that he grinned, pretending to look away.

“You’re late,” she didn’t directly answer his question. Mendora knew she should want to be away from Solaire and she knew that was what Finn was attempting to aid her with but she could not physically force herself to take that step. Not when he was here.

“I was stalled while attempting to leave home,” he answered gently. The care and patience between them giving Solaire a pulsating headache.

“Ahh,” Mendora’s mind raced. Wondering if there was something she needed to know, “is there something to discuss?” gazing up at Finn but her mind and body was focused on Solaire. He’d not moved an inch and due to his proximity she knew he could overhear them.

“Some parts urgent, others not so much,” Finn responded. “We can discuss it privately now,” he moved to take hold of her arm but Solaire reached out, grabbing Finn’s arm mid-air before releasing it back down to Finn’s side.

“Touch her and it’ll be last time you use that hand,” Solaire growled, stepping closer, his eyes meeting Finn’s for the first time that night. Mendora instantly shoved herself in the middle, laying her palms on Solaire’s chest but before she could speak, Finn’s words took priority.

“It’s you,” Finn had not realised just who was harassing Mendora. That voice could not be mistaken and he instantly understood why he’d found her allowing this man to touch her, even in the slightest. “Are you stalking her?” he huffed, wanting to grab Mendora away from the Marquess.

“Obviously,” Solaire shrugged, unashamed that he ventured here solely to see Mendora. Whatever relationship she shared with Finn, Solaire did not feel that he had to respect it. Not when she was his fiancé. Not when he’d been faithful to her since he first laid eyes on her.

“You are making a scene,” Mendora hissed at him, adding pressure to his chest. A crowd was seeming to gather, the weight of multiple pairs of eyes weighing her down like an anchor attached to her ankles. “I can handle this,” she struggled to look back at Finn, advising him in the same breath as her warning to Solaire. She watched as he hesitated, but soon left, disappearing into the crowd. She knew he too would be pissed but one demon at a time.

“On the contrary, I think I have been uncommonly civil under the circumstances,” Solaire vied for her attention, for she was still looking after the disappeared Finn. Mendora looked back towards him, her hands falling to her side as she scoffed.

“And what circumstances are those?” her chest heaving, nostrils flaring. Having eyes on them in such a setting was not something she felt comfortable with, especially now that she was no longer wearing her false body. She was more exposed or rather open to that risk of someone recognising them.

“Should I really be made to voice it?” his jaw clenching, the words barely audible coming through locked teeth.

“I am not a mind reader, say your peace or hush your complaints,” she hissed back at him. Not at all understanding what right he had to be upset and yet the sight of him standing before her, towering over her, the heat radiating from his eyes scorching her, intimidating her, only served to cause her skin to tingle. Her stomach flipping about in her abdomen, sending waves of heat south and the urge to press her legs together became live.

“Honestly,” Solaire inched closer, lowering his face to hers, “Fuck this.” He breathed against her lips and before Mendora could internalise his swearing, Solaire had grabbed her up, hauling her over his shoulders. A strangled gasp escaped her throat as she wiggled to get herself free.

“Put me down,” she growled, but he only tightened his grip, thwarting her efforts to slide out of his grip. “now!” she pounded at his spine when he didn’t answer or showed no intention to.

“Now who’s making a scene?” Solaire questioned as he navigated his way through the crowd, sinister laugher rumbling in his belly. His comment made her go still, taking a glance at people staring after them.

*Shit!* Mendora’s hands went to her face, holding on to her mask in case of a slip. “You are infuriating!” she growled, knowing he’d have to put her down eventually.

Where the hell was he even going?

“I am taking you somewhere private, princess,” he said as if reading her mind, patting her on the butt simultaneously. Mendora groaned. How embarrassing was this? She prayed Finn didn’t see this scene. She’d never live it down.