Chapter 92 The art of despising him
Elric's POV
I walk down the stone corridor, my steps steady as voices drift from around the corner. The voices of two men– one a guard and the other a warrior– travels clearly with the morning breeze.
“Did you hear her last night?” the warrior asks, sounding excited. “The little servant. Commander Ruel really ruined her. Her helpless moans echoed all the way to my room.”
The guard laughs under his breath. “Ruined is putting it lightly. Shit, when I went closer, it sounded more like he was trying to break the bed and her at the same time. Never thought our cold commander had it in him to lose control like that.”
“He must have been starved,” the warrior says and shrugs.
“He took her like a starved mate. Or an alpha who was in rut.”
I shake my head once, turning the opposite direction. Their voices seize and I know they've only now noticed my presence.
Still, they have no idea how right they are.
I guess all he needed was a bit of jealousy. Does this mean he's marked her? I've still not gotten a chance to speak with him and I can't help but feel it's deliberate.
Like he's trying to avoid my questions for as long as he can. It's silly how he forgot he was to close the ceremony with a joyful howl. I'd done it instead. Because my friend was uh… busy.
So much for the proud speech about never claiming Ira. The bond does not care about your pride. It captures your heart and mind until your only sanity hangs on your surrender to the goddess' will.
I know this truth too well. My only mercy is that the prick who haunts my own thoughts lives far away from me. What a disaster it would be to lose my mind because of him. Not because he is a man. Because he is him.
Those soft cheeks that shouldn't belong to such a hard-hearted fool, bright green eyes that look right through every defense I try to build, red plump lips I have caught myself staring at more times than I will ever admit.
I hate how perfectly those features sit on his face. I hate even more that I notice them all the fucking time. Even in my damn sleep.
A sharp curse slips from my mouth and for one dangerous second the corridor ahead blurs then suddenly it almost looks like he's standing right there.
I can swear I literally see him right in front of me, staring at me with those judging green eyes locked on mine.
Fuck. I've gotten worse. I not only see the prick in my dreams but also while I'm awake?!
“Sergeant Elric,” a cool voice snaps. “It is only proper that upon sight you salute an officer of higher rank. Or do you need discipline?”
My stomach drops.
I blink, hard enough to wake from whatever spell this is. The moment my vision clears, I'm not only met with the reality of him being right in front of me but of him standing with nine other park guards behind him.
Shit.
Omar stands at the head of nine men. All watching me with various levels of boredom and amusement. Omar’s green eyes narrow slightly in that familiar way.
I force my arm up in a salute, my glare burning straight through the gesture. I know he sees every ounce of unwillingness in it.
If he does see through the act, he doesn't show it and simply tilts his head with a smirk.
“What…” I start but he cuts me off sharply.
“Where is Commander Ruel?” he asks, stepping closer.
And dear goddess, how unnecessarily aware his proximity makes me.
I clench my jaw so hard it almost resulting a migraine. “This way, Sir.” I say, refraining from saying more.
He strides past me without another glance. The other guards follow in perfect formation while I fall in behind them.
My mind immediately supplies terrible, satisfying ways to teach the twink a lesson. Pin him against a wall just so he knows I can. Make him understand what happens when he speaks over me.
He walks so confidently. Small but mighty. How he was able to climb the ranks with such physic, I'll never know.
My gaze drops, catching the sway of his hips. Hell no!
But I still don't take my gaze away.
Has his ass always been that big?
Omar looks back. I jerk my eyes upward, H
heat crawling up my neck.
Lengthening my stride I march forward, leading them towards Ruel’s study.
Why are they here without the alpha king? The king never sends his personal guard on minute errands. Something bigger must be behind this visit.
Another setup? Who knows, the idiot behind me is willing to do anything for power.
My stomach tightens at the possibilities. I hate not knowing.
I stop once we get to the door and knock, following protocol and giving my childhood friend his honor.
“Commander Ruel,” I call through the door, knowing this act alone will alert him of the kind of visitor with me. “It’s Sergeant Elric,” I add just to give him enough time to hide whatever needs to be hidden. “The alpha king’s personal guard has arrived.” I inform before slowly pushing open the door.
Ruel's already standing behind his empty desk. I shake my head, just knowing everything is on the floor around him.
He lifts his right arm in a warm, precise salute the moment he sees Omar. At the same instant Omar returns the gesture with equal sharpness.
Omar turns his head slightly toward the men behind him. “Wait here,” he orders calmly.
So full of yourself.
The guards step back into the hall without a word and I keep my hand on the door, holding it wide.
Omar then moves forward, he passes me so closely that the heat rolling off his body brushes my skin like a living thing, coiling around me greedily.
My lips part slightly to aid breathing as his cedar and citrus scent floods my lungs.
For one stupid second I find myself leaning in. I want to press my chest to his back and feel that warmth sink all the way into my bones.
He steps away fast. The sudden distance leaves me cold again. But it's another proof that I am not the only one suffering from this pull.
But why would the moon goddess do this to us? We have hated each other since we were boys. I have spent years perfecting the art of despising him. So why does it have to be Omar? Why does the bond choose the one person I would rather kill than claim?
I close the door behind me, my face pulled in a frown, my heart down.