Chapter 12 Punishment
Chapter 12: Asher
Axel's dog kept giving me strange looks throughout the damned meeting.
The fool was already suspecting me and all that was left was for Scarlett to confirm it to him— which she was wise not to. And which was also for their good.
I was stronger than them. Starting a fight was only going to end badly for them but it was also going to ruin my plans, so I hoped she would stay quiet. For both our sakes.
To maintain the facade and gain her feeble trust again, I held her right hand and pretended to care about the speech her foolish brother was making.
"...we will have to develop a tighter security. Things like this shouldn't be happening in this building!" His eyes met with mine and he nodded. "Much more when we have important guests. What if it had been my sister they were after or her mate?"
I took that as my cue. I brought Scarlett's hand to my lips and straightened my shoulders. I placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand and met his gaze again.
"You don't have to worry about that. No rogue will dare attack my love because they will be met with fierce force! Scarlett is my life, and her protection is what I live for," I said with a strong voice that was masked with fake affection for their feeble princess.
The room, filled with foolish worshipers of the Talon family, nodded in agreement to my statement.
—All except Nathan, their dog.
He frowned and opened his mouth; "King Asher, our forces are very low at the moment, I was wondering if you may lend us a few men to help curb these attacks while our new recruits are in training," he let out, his eyes never leaving mine.
Was almost like he was testing my loyalty. The fool.
I knew this was a test. He was probing to know where I stood. After all, he did see me outside my chambers at late hours. If he was smarter, he could have outrightly accused me, but he was a dog, and those creatures were always foolishly loyal.
"Of course," I agreed, letting out a wide smile of fake concern. "I shall deploy two hundred men for this cause."
I placed my hand to my chest and turned to Axel. "This land is home to me. I shall join hands with you to make sure that it is protected." The room erupted in applause as they all found my speech beautiful.
Maybe Scarlett and their family dog thought my speech was fake, but they were wrong.
This land truly and rightfully belonged to me. My pledge to protect it was real and I would do all it took to push out the pests so that the rightful owner would occupy it.
Axel took up control of the crowd again as he cleared his throat, ultimately breaking me out of my thoughts.
"We have all heard my dear friend and brother, King Asher. It is left to us to do our part,” he said, bowing foolishly to his people. “Thank you, the meeting is concluded."
Another round of applause filled the room as everyone got to their feet and one after the other, they trickled out, leaving only the Talons and their loyal family dogs. Greg and his boy.
"Asher," Axel called coming to our side of the room. "Nathan informed me that you will be leaving today, is that true?"
"No, Brother, I wanted to—"
"Scarlett!" Violet cut her off as soon as she started whatever pathetic thing she was about to spill. "Your brother is speaking to your mate. Let them talk. Come with me..."
"Oh Violet, it's fine." I smiled. Again, a fake one. "We are one. Of course, she can answer for me. She is my better half, right?"
But Violet shook her head and turned squarely to Scarlett. "No, she shouldn't behave like that. It's considered rude. Is this why you are having problems with your people?"
Though there was a smile on Violet's face to make the question sound less difficult to swallow for the rest of the family in the room, my heart overflowed with anger. Because her question told me one thing and one thing only.
—Scarlett has found a way to communicate with her people behind my back!
My eyes shot back at Scarlett silently questioning her opinion on the matter, but she avoided my stare like the plague.
"I am sorry." She mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear and then she took Violet's hand. "Please let's leave them to talk peacefully then."
As the words left her mouth, my left brow raised from their position in disgust. Did she think I was a fool?
She had already broken the rules and spoken to someone about the things happening back home, letting her go with Violet would mean, she would spill even more nonsense and my plan had major risks of getting ruined.
I couldn’t let her leave.
As she made to move, I grabbed her wrist and held her back.
"Violet," I breathed, flashing her my brightest smile, "You don’t have to reprimand my mate like that. Back home, I allow her to do whatever she wants because that's the way I like her... To be her free butterfly self."
My eyes traveled back to Scarlett's alarmed ones, and they glinted, the reflection mirroring her fear-filled ones.
"I admire you, Asher. You are truly the perfect match for my sister," Axel exclaimed as he watched us with a smile dancing on his face.
The fool.
"But you shouldn't let her get her way around too much. Always take charge." He added and my fake smile brightened.
"No, it's fine. I really don't mind," I shrugged, pulling Scarlett close to my chest —for better fieldwork, I even placed a kiss on her forehead.
Violet shook her head with amusement and nodded. “Okay, I’ll let it go then…”
As if to prove that he could show the same amount of love as I was, Axel pulled Violet closer to his chest too and he smiled. “So, what’s the plan?”
"On the issue of leaving, if Scarlett wants to stay, then so be it. We shall spend a few more days."
Axel frowned and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I hate to be selfish, but Scarlett could always have her vacations here whenever she wants to. But on this matter, I really need you to go home so you can send back the men as soon as possible."
"Axelo, really I can always put a call through to Luciano and the men would be on their way." I retorted with fake seriousness.
But he smiled and pulled his hand to his sister's chin, while still talking to me. "I know you can do that Asher, but I do not want my sister to get it in her head that she could make decisions without permission..."
"Brother—"
Axel's eyes darkened and I wished there was a glass of wine somewhere nearby so I could really enjoy the show.
—The siblings were about to fight!
Axel forced a smile and took two steps closer. He whispered something into Scarlett that made her freeze.
—Beautiful!
"I guess that is settled then," Axel announced, returning to his position. "You shall leave right now. This way, Asher can follow up with the movements of the men he is lending us, firsthand."
At this point, I nodded, smiling victoriously. I didn't even have to do anything, and I got what I wanted.
I gave a deep bow. "If you insist then we have no choice but to obey." I tightened my hold on Scarlett and smirked. "We shall be on our way then."
The family walked us to the parking lot. And while Scarlett looked like she would cry, I was the perfect gentleman. I opened the door for her and even helped with her seatbelt before returning my focus to her foolish brother.
“Axelo, I think you really hurt her feelings in there,” I whispered, “She really wanted to stay. But I guess that would be next time,” I finished with an exaggerated smile.
His eyes twinkled and he gave me an abrupt nod. “You know how women can be,” he hissed, moving a hand through his hair. “Just explain to her when she calms down. This is for our safety and our people. Vacations and enjoyments can come when the realm is at peace.”
“Of course. You are perfectly right.”
He patted my back, and I let him touch me— it was all for the greater good.
After all the painstaking goodbyes, we were finally on the road, heading home. But I maintained my fake smile till we were far into the dried woods.
Then my true emotions emerged. The rage I felt from Scarlett trying to rat me out to Violet and the rest of her people returned. I turned a hot glare at her form and before I could stop myself, my hands grabbed her neck.
“I warned you not to tell anyone Scarlett… but apparently, it seems to me that you didn’t listen…”
“Asher— Ash—” her hands went over mine and she struggled to pull my strong hands away.
But I wasn’t planning on killing her— at least not yet.
I pulled away from her and returned to my side of the vehicle.
“Don’t worry, you punishment awaits you in the house.”