218- Jealousy Before the Council of Ashes
POV Aldren Valmorin:
“You almost convinced me you despise the traitor.” I stepped toward her, drawing closer to her scent, which pulled me in like a magnet.
“Kehin isn’t my type, Aldren…” I shook my head, mocking.
“And yet you were going to fuck him.” The mere thought made hatred spread like molten embers through my veins. My beast and I shared the revulsion of imagining the two of them wanting to be together.
“No. Not even if he were the last man on Earth.” She was firm.
“And why? Just because he’s not your type? Bitches in heat don’t care about that.”
Elowen dared to touch my face, letting a playful smile bloom.
“Apparently, I’m a bitch with a lot of self-control, because even in heat I didn’t want someone who isn’t my type.” Her thumb brushed over my trimmed beard, caressing my face.
I grabbed her waist and pulled her to me, slamming her body against mine.
My saliva weighed like lead in my mouth, and I clung to every shred of composure not to pounce on those full lips, which exerted a luxurious, lustful magnetism over me.
I wasn’t feeling that infernal desire alone—not even close.
Elowen trembled and panted every time I drew near. If I touched her center, I’d find a pussy ready to be fucked.
“Funny. Your shitty self-control doesn’t exist when it comes to me.”
“What can I do? You’re exactly my type…” she whispered, sultry.
Wretched woman.
“You’re not going to the party, bitch,” I snarled, brutally squeezing the flesh of her hip, making her gasp.
“Are you going with Nala?” she asked, tainting her sweet voice with anger.
I denied it.
“I got sick of her. I have better plans. Maybe I’ll even open a contest: ‘A Partner for the Alpha.’ What do you think? You can apply, even though it’s almost impossible you’d win.”
“Asshole!”
Elowen lifted her leg and would have kicked me in the balls, but my reflexes were far superior to hers.
I caught her raised knee, and she lost her balance on her heels.
I was the one who had provoked her, and I tried to believe that was the only reason I didn’t let her fall to the floor—when, in truth, I suspected I’d already hurt her more than she deserved.
“Did you know I can break that pretty little knee in the blink of an eye?” Fighting her own surge of rage, she closed her eyes and filled her lungs with air. “Are you jealous, bitch?”
My question made her open her eyes again.
“And what if I am?”
“Learn to hide it. I hate jealous females,” I growled the hypocrisy, releasing that enchanting piece of lust.
I left the bathroom quickly, desperate to rid myself of that scent, my pupils drowned in a stormy sea.
Staying near her without getting hard and losing my mind was an impossible mission.
No. I already had too many problems to solve.
I raced to Noctheria like a raging wind, but regretted it the instant I entered the territory. Smelling of ashes and old paper, the elders awaited me outside the castle, clad in black robes.
I was usually greeted with smiles, but this time the two pairs of seeing eyes gleamed with disappointment. The eyeless one curled his wrinkled lips in reproach.
The truth was that, after many decades, I saw myself lacking the honorable bearing to stand before them, after allowing things to spiral out of control as they had.
Despite recognizing that I didn’t bear all the blame for sharing a body with a beast that felt empathy for a prisoner, or for having raised snakes beneath my own nose, the responsibility was still mine.
Responsible for having been blinded by Kehin’s loyalty when he saved me from death, and for choosing the wrong successor. Responsible for losing control with Elowen, with Teneris, with Nala…
I gave everything I had, and it wasn’t enough. I failed to keep Valmorin free of traitors. The weight of having disappointed myself and them made my teeth grind.
“Why such a delay?” asked the eyeless one. I remained silent; there was no excuse to give. “Come in, son. Let us speak while the others haven’t arrived.”
As if walking across a bridge of fragile sticks, I followed them into the secondary council chamber.
Unlike the one where we usually met with the other alphas, where chairs were dedicated specifically to each of us, this room held only stacks of books atop a large table.
I stopped before one of the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the untilled fields surrounding Noctheria. Avoiding their eyes, I recalled the training I had received in that place. Little did I know what would happen to me later.
“Have you decided about Kehin? We’d like to know whether your only plan was to send him to prison without giving us any explanation, and then request a visit for the grandmother.” I recognized the voice of the earless one, who would hear my answer regardless, because the three of them were joined by a kind of telepathy.
“You’re right. That was my only plan.” I cleared my throat.
“But I spoke with Korlina and decided to grant the wolf a dignified death once the grandmother makes her passage.”
“You felt sorry to keep him imprisoned for life.” The two who spoke answered in unison, but only the eyeless one continued:
“Kehin told us he’s imprisoned because you fell in love with his predestined mate.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“It’s a lie. The prisoner is radiant far away from him.”