Chapter 25

In the end, I was deceiving myself. Both of us regretted it or better said, I mostly did. And as usual, she landed me in prison. This time for a week but here I was in my room again, a free man. I wondered why she released me again, probably for us to repeat our love hate cycle. But I wouldn't lie, I sincerely wished there was another way to root myself deep into her heart. More than ever, I wanted to see my mother again, perhaps her spirit could guide me through but unfortunately, even the limbo state failed to favor me.

I stood before my mirror, admiring the crescent and half sun mark on my neck. The mark of mates was usually a faint bite mark but ours was different. Ours was unique even though I didn't know why. Yet Green was still hellbent on making it disappear. I heaved a light sigh as I sauntered out of my bathroom. I reviewed the luxurious room wondering what I should do today. Perhaps a little break from my mate would make this impending worry disappear.

“Perhaps I should draw," I mumbled to myself; it at least gave me joy in a way. But then my doors flung open as Green sauntered in head high in her medieval green gown. Her hair was long, straight, and donning a shade of black this time.

“You seem to be idle." That was what she chose for her good morning.

“Morning." I chirped back in an uninterested tone.

“Should I be scared you're here?" I queried as I relaxed to the edge of my bed.

“I'm here for the potion,” she quoted sternly. I felt a burning sensation ache faintly in my chest. At the same time, I wished there was another way to convince her but the look in her eyes said it all. I nodded before moving to the left side drawer. I pulled it slowly in hopes that a part of her would stop me but then again, it was only a wish. One that could never come true.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment before grabbing the potion.

“Here." I handed it over. She collected it almost immediately with a tiny smile. "Just rub the liquid on the mark once every day, it won't show temporarily."

“Good,” she chirped.

“Green," I called as she almost turned away.

“Are you going to patronize me again because it's not going to work."

The corner of my lips lifted into a sad smile.

“Let me just touch it, just this time."

She held my gaze, trying to decipher my thoughts.

“Just this time,” she whispered and then I closed the gap between us. My right hand slowly reached for her neck, I put loose strands of her hair behind her ear revealing her mark more. I smiled as my thumb gently grazed her mark. The feeling was divine, soothing to core that I didn't want to stop. Our eyes bonded and in those gray irises, I knew she loved it.

My left hand curled around her waist on instincts, our heads gradually dived towards each other till our lips locked. This time I didn't want to dominate, I only wanted to express just how much I love her. How much I wished for that mark to stay that way.

Our kiss instantly took a sharp turn, overturned with lust and passion. Once again, I knew where this was going to land me. After the sex then she would blame me and lock me up in prison as usual. I wanted to stop but my body said otherwise. And so, even though I knew what the aftermath would be, I continued with the flow.

***

I was back at it again, back in his arms, back in his warmth, back in his bed. I only came to retrieve my potion but then things didn't go as planned. He always managed to break my resolve, to make me fall so helplessly for him. Every time we were like this, the strong feeling of love was always there. But this time, he wasn't happy, he was saddened, broken.

He always claimed I was a blessing in his life, that I was the most beautiful thing he ever had but I've only brought him suffering and pain. This wasn’t how we should be, and I wouldn't deny that it was getting hard pretending to hate him. But loving him would only truncate my dreams, my principles that I've clung to for centuries. Then again what did I love more, Zeus or my dreams?

“I better get going." His voice tousled my thoughts. My neck tilted to my right as he planned to alight off the bed.

“Where?" I asked with a slight frown. He sat up with a dampened countenance.

“The dungeon of course. After all you're going to send me there few minutes from now anyways,” he replied and made to move. I held his arm, stopping him from making his move. His eyes squinted as if he were trying to decipher what scaled my mind.

“This time, I want you to stay with me." I mumbled but he still hesitated.

“Are you sure?"

I nodded like a child.

“Just this time." I whispered and he smiled before relaxing again. His arm curled over my waist again, his warm breaths graced my cheeks, his eyes gleamed of that joy and hope I always loved.

“Lady Green!"

A guard pitched before the door.

“Stephen is here."

The smile on my face vanished instantly.

“What is that bastard doing here?" I growled.

“I'll join him in five!" I yelled to the door.

“Yes, my lady."

I briskly pulled from Zeus's embrace and up to his wardrobe.

“What's wrong? Who's Stephen?" Zeus asked but I continued scaling through his wardrobe impatiently till I found an oversize ash t-shirt and a pair of blue shorts.

“Green,” he called again.

“Stephen, is my stepbrother." I retorted before donning the cloth sharply. I turned to his shocked countenance, but I cared less. I was rather focused on letting my irritation not get the better part of me.

“Your stepbrother? You never told me you had one,” he mumbled as he arose too with the sheets wrapped around his waist.

“Well, my father was not exactly faithful." I toned sarcastically before wearing his flip flops.

“Green,” he called but I had already made for his door.

“Green hold on! Wait!" He yelled but I continued my brisk pace across the hallway leading to my throne room. Stephen was certainly nothing like our father, he was just a sweet and innocent brother from another blood. And that was exactly my problem with him. Rather than embrace him as my only family left, I saw him as one of my father's many atrocities.

The guards pushed the twin doors open for me and there he was. Posed like an honorable man before my throne. And surprisingly, Martha stood inches beside him.

My breath stormed out, and my eyes glowered at his innocent face as I halted abruptly, studying him. His black hair was neatly styled as always, and his honey irises still had that hope my mother used to have but he was still shorter than me like I remembered.

“Been a while big sister." Stephen grinned, faint joy blooming in his tone. But I was only irked further.

“First of, haven't I asked you never to call me that." I icily quoted as I trailed towards my throne seat.

“Secondly, didn't I ask you never to step your feet into this clan ever?" I relaxed to my seat while the door quietly opened for Zeus to join us. He donned a blue shirt and a red pair of shorts. All eyes fell on him, but he didn't bother as he stood few meters away from us.

“I wouldn't be here if it wasn't urgent,” he said politely.

“And if it isn't?" I retorted.

“Then you will please let me go unharmed,” he replied, and I scoffed.

“Let's hear your nonsense then." I uttered while my eyes briefly studied Martha's countenance. I could sense nothing but fear, but I couldn't depict from what exactly.

“I came here for my mate,” he simply said with his smile still intact. My heart skipped a bit, but I quickly shook off the element of surprise.

“Interesting. So, who is the unlucky lady then?" I said, my eyes reviewing the female guards around us. But I was wrong, I gasped as Martha intertwined her palm with Stephen.

My heart broke as mixed feelings flushed at me in an instant. I was angry, sad, depressed and somewhat happy at the same time. But my anger was gradually dominating. I could hear the inaudible chatter of the guards; I could see Zeus's awed look and then my eyes finally bonded with hers.

Her blue eyes beheld tiny tears, expressing fear and joy at the same time. Dumbfounded was an understatement for me. Martha of all people knew the rules. Men were to be treated like slaves! But the way they clung unto each other reminded me of Rila and her mate. I needed no magician to show me the extent of their love.

This wasn't a dream! It was real. Every bit of it. It all came down to me, I now understood why she had grown soft for Zeus, why she wanted me to accept him, why she had already been so withdrawn.

My palm gripped the handle as my anger dosed. Spreading uncontrollably in me. I was going to lose her; my best friend was going to leave me.

“Why?" I questioned in a deep tone trying to hide my pain which I failed at horribly.

“Why didn't you ever tell me?" My tongue took control, I wasn't even aware of the right questions to ask.

“Why do you want to leave me? At a crucial time like this." Words toured out again.

“Why are you even telling me this? Why couldn't you just run away to a place I would never find you? Why?!" I screamed trying hard not to let a single tear grace my eyes.

“I almost died Green,” she answered, and I knew exactly who she was referring too. Zeus.

“I don't want to die Green. I know I shouldn't be doing this to you. Not at a time we're at war but then I realized, what if I died?

Died fighting alongside you? Died without enjoying the love of a mate."

My lips parted but the right words just couldn't escape.

“I still want to fight by your side Green, but Stephen came here, we came here as a friend, and as a family for you to bless us."

My anger kept raging but what could I do, for the first time I was going to bend my rules. I couldn't bring myself to kill my only family left and my best friend. Whether I liked it or not, I loved them both dearly.

I arose, but I couldn't feel strength in my legs. And somehow, they managed to keep me fit.

“Go." I voiced. "The both of you. I won't bless this bond neither should I see your faces ever again. Because the day I do," I pursed my lips.

“I'll kill you both."

In oblivion, I wobbled out of the room. Broken and helpless. Love had once again stolen someone precious from me.