Chapter 44 Begin
Chapter 44: Scarlett
Emotions suddenly overwhelmed me and my body began to tremble as waves of pain washed over me.
Why was he laughing with her when he stopped doing that with me?
Besides, what was she even doing here? Was she not just a whore he had for a moment? Why were they sitting together?
"Scarlett!" Asher's stern voice suddenly cut through my thoughts.
I blinked in shock and stepped out of my spot. "Asher, I—"
"Stop right there!" He growled, his face morphing into rage. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be recovering?"
My stomach twisted as a wave of confusion hit me. Was he concerned for me? Or was he just angry that I disrupted his time with the whore?
"I asked you a question, Scarlett. Do not make me repeat myself!" His sharp voice tore through my thoughts again.
"No— I mean, I just—" The words became jumbled in my head as I struggled to come up with a reply.
Asher's brows furrowed and he dropped the glass of wine he had in his hand before slowly getting off the chair. Then he began approaching me in slow calculated steps.
My heart started drumming in confusion, fear and other emotions I couldn't even define as he got closer.
"I just— I wanted to thank you!" I blurted out just as he got in front of me. "Fiona informed me that you were— if it weren't for you, I might not have made it..."
"Okay. So?" He hissed.
His reply was like a blow to my gut as my eyes shot at him. "Asher, I am— grateful."
"I heard that the first time but it isn't the reply you know I want..." He growled, taking another step forward.
My cheeks started burning with heat as it became impossible to breath without our bodies touching. I was practically breathing him in.
"I— I don't..." I stuttered, yet he kept coming.
The air suddenly grew too thick, messing with my brain and throwing me in a state I could barely put a finger on. Because on one end, I was scared of him but somehow, he also excited me.
"Why did you really leave the room in such a dress, Scarlett... Were you coming to thank me as you claim or you were chasing after your lovers?" His hands suddenly grabbed my arms as his words tore my heart.
"What?" I let out in a shaky voice.
But his darkened eyes took its time to ravage the small silk dress I had inside before he pushed me roughly away.
"Aren't you tired of the games, Scarlett!?" He growled and my head started shaking in panic.
"No— no, Asher. What are you saying?"
"I want you to tell me the fucking truth, Scarlett!?" He yelled, his eyes burning with an emotion I could only describe as insanity. "Why are you roaming the palace dressed like this? Why were you standing by that door watching me?"
Tears brimmed in my eyes at the pain and confusion that washed over me. I could not even understand what he was saying anymore.
"Were you waiting for me to leave so you could sneak your way into another man's fucking bed?! Huh?!" He spat out and my wolf growled.
"No!" I countered back with sudden courage. "I left the room looking for you! I wore this stupid dress for you! I came down here dressed like this because I was hoping to find my mate! You!"
The spark of insanity that had settled in his eyes suddenly disappeared and for a brief second, I saw something soft settle instead. But it was gone as soon as it came.
"You are delusional!" He hissed, turning away from me. "I have told you before but it seems you need me to spell it out to you—"
His voice suddenly took a dark veil and I knew I couldn't possibly like what was coming next.
"—I want nothing to do with you Scarlett. In fact," he sat in the chair and pointed to the whore by his side. "Meet Angel. She will be warming my bed from now on..."
I felt something shatter within me at his words and I refused to believe it.
"Come Angel, make me happy..." He ordered, his eyes never leaving mine.
The girl in question dropped the food she was busy munching on and came to kneel between his legs.
My heart fell to my stomach as the scene unfolded right before my eyes.
"You may leave, Scarlett!" He growled, his voice husky and needy.
—Needy for someone else.
A ringing of pain tore through my insides. My tears were at the brink of spilling but somehow, I held it all in until I had managed to drag my body back to the room. Then I broke down.
What was this dear goddess? What was happening? Why was he so many things all at once? And what did he mean by he no longer wanted me?
"Scarlett?" Bee's voice suddenly tore through the room.
I snapped my head to the direction and hurried to wipe my tears as I forced a smile. "Hey... When— when did you get here?"
He was standing by the window, his eyes studying the expression on my face. "You don't look good. Did something happen?"
I contemplated waving my pain aside and pretending to be strong but I failed. The moment he got closer, I broke into sobs. "Oh, Bee... It's all over. I have lost him Asher... I have failed my people. I have failed you..."
"No, don't say that—" He took a hold of my hands and raised my face to look at him. "Please, tell me what happened?"
"Oh Bee... Asher has gone to get some other woman..." I explained to him everything that happened in between my cry, expecting him to see the failure I saw but he didn't.
He smiled and squeezed my hands tighter, earning a frown from me. "Bee, you don't think this is a problem?"
"No, I think this is another proof that the king can't resist you. So he has gone to get someone to distract him from you— which technically is impossible." He chirped happily but I still didn't see the silver lining in that.
"Bee, this isn't just some random whore. He is saying that she will be warming his bed now. You do know what that means, don't you?"
"I know, but I also know that this lady doesn't stand a chance with you." His left hand slowly reached to wipe my tears and he smiled. "You just have to fight for what belongs to you."
"How?" I blurted out in frustration. "How am I supposed to do that when Asher doesn't even want to see me?"
Bee's green eyes began to glow as he held my hand tighter. "It's simple. You will just have to take the girl out of the picture."
My brows furrowed instantly. "How— I can't kill her. You are not— you want me to kill her?"
"No! Of course not!" Bee laughed. "You are not taking her out in that sense... What I meant is that, you will have to get her in your corner. Once she understands the politics going on and what she stands to gain, she will back down."
"So, I just have to speak to her?" I mumbled and Bee nodded.
"Yes, make her your friend and that's it."
"But what if she doesn't want to be in my corner?" I countered.
"Ah, Scarlett," Bee breathed, pushing away the stray strands of hair from my face. "You need to stop thinking like a princess sometimes... If the girl—"
"Angel," I put in for him. "Her name is Angel."
"Great. If Angel doesn't want to get in your corner, then you will get close to her and learn her mission or where she came from. Every bit of information will be important to our cause."
My brows remained furrowed as I went over what he said but still found it too jumbled to understand.
"But approaching her directly will be suspicious— and if she already suspects me, she wouldn't be friends with me—" I added.
"—In fact, after what just happened in the reception hall, I don't think she will trust me at all. She heard everything Asher said."
"Okay, calm down," Bee whispered as his brows also furrowed. "Let's go over this calmly."
"I think if she is smart she will be on her guard," I said, folding my arms across my chest.
"First let us not underestimate her. Let's assume that she is smart and she heard the conversation between you and the king..." Bee said as he began to pace.
I watched him move back and forth, impatiently waiting until he suddenly stopped.
"I think you should go with the honest approach first. She is a whore, power and money are things that should sway her. Let's begin with that."