Chapter 76 HER COMMAND
MERRIELYNN.
The text on my phone glowed faintly in the dark room, the only source of light as I read it over and over again.
“Will you come see me?”
Sent 27 minutes ago.
My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last.
The question lingered in my mind, and without thinking too much about it, I typed back:
‘I’m on my way.’
I didn’t feel even a hint of remorse as I tossed my blanket aside and got out of bed.
My bare feet hit the cold floor as I moved toward the bathroom, brushing my teeth again despite already having done it before bed.
Next came the shower—another routine I didn’t need to do but suddenly felt compelled to. The hot water did little to settle my nerves, though.
When I returned to my room, wrapped in a towel, I hesitated for what felt like hours. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to decide what to wear. The answer should’ve been simple—comfortable clothes, something easy. But instead, my gaze kept drifting toward my dresser, specifically the drawer that held the lingerie I’d bought with Emorie when Cormac and I had made our original deal.
The red teddy.
I bit my lip, hesitating. Was I seriously considering wearing it?
Cormac had just been injured.
What happened on the football field could definitely be classified as an accident—or worse. Less than twenty-four hours had passed, and here I was thinking about lingerie?
But the thought nagged at me. I’d bought it for a reason. And, honestly, I didn’t know what tonight would bring. Maybe this wasn’t about sex, but… maybe it was?
I felt ridiculous as I pulled the teddy on, the lace cool against my skin. Over it, I chose a simple, comfortable outfit—a soft sweater and jeans. Something casual but still nice.
After taking a deep breath, I grabbed my phone and bag and left.
The night outside was pitch black, the streetlights casting faint, golden halos across the pavement. It was quiet except for the occasional car passing by, and I struggled to flag down a cab. When one finally stopped, I climbed into the backseat, giving Cormac’s address to the driver.
As the cab moved through the city streets, I rested my head against the window. My leg bounced nervously, and I forced myself to keep my mind blank.
I didn’t want to think too much about what I was doing.
When we arrived at Cormac’s building, I felt a jolt of familiarity. The luxurious lobby and the sleek elevator—it was all the same as before, back when I’d followed the pull of our bond to see him during his rut.
I stepped into the lobby, my boots clicking softly on the polished floor, and approached the elevator. My brow furrowed when I noticed something new: a keypad for a code.
That hadn’t been there before.
Pulling out my phone, I messaged Cormac:
‘I need a code.’
He responded instantly:
‘8424’
I stared at the screen, my mind racing.
Had he been waiting for my message? Just... like I’d been waiting for his?
Shaking the thought off, I punched in the numbers, and the elevator doors slid open.
When I entered his apartment, I didn’t know what to expect.
The first thing I saw was Cormac, leaning against the wall directly in front of the door.
I swallowed.
My gaze trailed up his body, taking him in. He was barefoot, wearing nothing but dark sweatpants.
My eyes snagged on the deep purple bruise covering the left side of his stomach.
I froze, staring in horror.
“It’s not so bad,” he said, his voice low and even.
“That must hurt a lot,” I murmured, unable to look away.
He shrugged, his expression passive, not saying anything more. Instead, his eyes studied me, quiet and searching.
Then he pushed away from the wall, moving slowly, and gestured for me to come in. “Make yourself at home.”
Hesitantly, I stepped inside, letting the door close behind me.
I tried to take in my surroundings, noticing how much neater his apartment looked compared to the last time I’d been here. Everything was clean, organized, and far too quiet.
Cormac made his way to the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a container. He glanced at me and asked, “Do you want sushi?”
I blinked at him, caught off guard. “I’ve never tried it.”
He muttered something under his breath before gesturing for me to come closer. “You’ll love it.”
His tone was… odd.
Cordial.
I'd seen him cordial before, but now, it was almost too human. It unnerved me, but I obeyed, moving closer to the kitchen island where he stood.
“What happened out there?” I asked, my voice soft.
Cormac’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
His focus remained on the food as he added, “I just wasn’t my best self.”
“Because of the elixir, right?” I pressed.
“Maybe.”
I frowned. “It’s because of the elixir, and you know it.”
He didn’t respond, choosing instead to set a plate of sushi in front of me.
I looked down at it, the colorful rolls neatly arranged on the plate. They looked good, and I figured, why not? I picked one up and took a bite.
My eyes widened. “This is amazing.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Cormac watching me. When I glanced at him, he quickly turned away, hiding what I thought might’ve been a grin as he tossed the trash in the bin.
He let me eat in peace, and I ended up finishing the entire plate.
When I was done, I stood up, unsure of what to do next. I turned to him and asked, “Why did you ask me to come?”
Cormac looked at me for a long moment, then bent down and picked up the TV remote. “Ever heard of Netflix?”
I frowned. “What?”
He smirked faintly. “How about a show called One Piece?”
I furrowed my brows, completely thrown off by the sudden change in topic.
Cormac gestured to the couch. “Sit down, and I’ll tell you why I asked you to come.”
Reluctantly, I listened, settling onto the plush cushions. Cormac sat beside me, turning on the TV and scrolling through the streaming app. He clicked on 'One Piece', and soon, the screen filled with vibrant, animated characters.
We sat in silence, watching the show. I tried to focus, but my thoughts kept drifting.
After a while, I turned to Cormac, ready to ask again why he’d called me here.
Again.
But the words caught in my throat when I looked at him.
His head was tilted back against the couch, his eyes closed. Messy black hair scattered against the pillows and his temples, his breathing slow and even.
I stared at him, my frustration melting into something softer.
And just like that, the answer to my question didn’t seem so important anymore.
Cormac was asleep.