Chapter 151 Two For One

Chapter 151 Two For One
❀ Maeve ❀

I launched myself off Nikolai’s thighs like it was a bed of hot coal, standing to face Bastian.

Bastian’s ice-blue eyes were impossibly pale, glinting with menace. His fists opened and closed, fingers flexing wickedly curved claws.

My throat tightened. I knew just where he’d love to sink those claws.

“Bastian… please…”

His gaze snapped to me, the emotion there flickering from rage to hurt, then disappointment… and back to rage.

The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on me.

My wolf mate had tolerated Nikolai ever since Nikolai abducted me from IronWolf. All through the weeks he’d been imprisoned and burned, nightly.

He’d never waned in his search, striding fearlessly into Graves’ facility for me.

Only to catch me grinding his worst enemy—who he’d been tolerating, mind you… in his territory.

Nikolai took his sweet time rising from my bed. As he stood, he casually adjusted his erection in his pants, brows lifted as if to say, ‘bad timing, wolf.’

Bastian did not take that lightly.

His lips pulled back from his fangs, muscles swelling as his beast began to rise.

“No!” I held my hand out. “Please, Bastian, let’s just talk. Please. I’m sorry… we shouldn’t have done this here.”

Bastian looked like he’d been struck. “Here? You shouldn’t have done that at all!” he bellowed.

He stalked toward me, heading for Nikolai, who suddenly pushed me out of the way to face Bastian.

They would injure one another, and there’d be no hope of reconciling them.

I launched myself back between them, hands stretched, pushing against both their chests. I barely resisted the urge to cop a feel. 

Nikolai was smirking. Bastian looked about ready to blow. And the only thing standing in the way was me.

“Apologize!” I snapped at Nikolai, my heart racing.

I didn’t know how, but I had to stop this.

My head pounded as I berated myself. Stupid. Stupid. For taunting Bastian so.

“Apologize?” Nikolai scoffed, eyes glowing red. “We’re men, Milaya. We settle things with blood.”

“Not right now. Stop it and apologize, Nikolai. I mean it. Remember, you lied to me! You betrayed me by hurting someone I love, so apologize.”

Bastian had grabbed my wrist, meaning to physically remove me from his way. I stood my ground, matching his Lycan strength with pure panic.

I turned to glare at Nikolai.

He lifted his chin, gaze stark. “I do apologize, wolf, if our nightly sessions were less than ideal.”

Bastian roared, “You dare disrespect me—I’ll have your head, leech.”

I needed a distraction, and fast. Bastian was going to fling me to the side and go for the jugular.

“Please… Bastian… I have the curse.”

Bastian paused. What I saw in his expression broke me.

As he glanced first at Nikolai, then at me, a harrowing realization gripped my chest.

Bastian hadn’t stayed away out of mere anger. He’d been disappointed in what I’d turned out to be.

My vision blurred.

“I’d always had it, but Graves’ torture awakened it in my blood. I wanted to kill him so badly,” my voice turned watery with tears, “I wanted to end him for what he did to me, but all I got for it was the curse.”

Bastian was silent, his jaw bulging at the sides from how hard he clenched it.

He wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was firmly on Nikolai, heavy with hate.

I’d been too optimistic.

Bastian’s hatred for vampires was too ingrained. If he loathed vampires so much, how could I exempt myself, knowing how damning my position was?

I was the queen of the creatures he harbored such strong feelings for.

My head pounded. 

I dropped my hands, mourning what we could’ve been.

Bastian would always look at me with that same revulsion.

“Maeve…” he grated.

At the same time I said, “Bastian…”

But he paused, now watching me instead of Nikolai.

I decided to be the one to end this, no matter how badly it hurt.

“I can’t be what you need, Bastian. I’m neither wolf nor vampire, but an amalgamation of both. A creature that shouldn’t exist. My mother left me a throne and a curse. Graves broke me open and hung me out to dry,” I said firmly.

I sucked in a shuddering breath. “You deserve someone you can be proud of. Someone who wouldn’t make you choose between her broken pieces, or your pack—”

“Shut up,” Bastian sneered. “Choose.”

I blinked. “W-what?”

“Choose, Maeve. You’re obviously confused. But you’re my female. Mine.” His body vibrated with strained restraint. “I won’t force your hand by hanging the leech by his entrails. It will be your conscious decision.”

I gaped.

Bastian wanted me? Despite what I was? Despite how I’d hurt him?

A cold sweat broke out over my skin, because I knew I was going to hurt him even more.

“Brace yourself,” Nikolai quipped from behind me.

I spun to hiss at him, “Shut up, Nikolai.”

The mischievous fiend only bowed his head. “Your Highness.”

And with that act, I realized what Nikolai had done.

He’d thrown my power out there. Reminded me I wasn’t some weakling who could be bullied out of her choice.

A weakling who would surrender what she wanted in a burst of self-sabotage.

Had I really been willing to forsake Bastian? Out of fear?

That wouldn’t do.

I slowly stepped up to Bastian, my head tilted up to meet those smoldering blues.

Placing both palms on his chest, I soflty asked, “Would you do anything to ensure my happiness, Bastian?”

“Anything but indulge this folly,” his eyes flashed. “I will not share you, Maeve. I’d die first.”

“That can be arranged,” came Nikolai again.

Instinct lurched Bastian forward, but I held him back, wrapping my arms tightly around his torso.

“This just proves you’re not her mate, bloodsucker. You wouldn’t be so accepting of this if you were truly her fated mate!”

“I’m just more open minded,” Nikolai retorted, condescending.

Bastian jerked my chin upward, his gaze desperate, crazed. “I’ve decided I’ll kill the alpha. That amulet cannot continue to exist as long as it adversely affects you, kitten. I will do whatever is necessary for our future. This is how you know I’m right for you.”

My heart melted at his fervent words.

“How touching.”

My vision pulsed red. “Gods help me, Nikolai, if you say another word, I’ll kill you myself.”

Silence. Then a lazy scraping sound, as though Nikolai toyed with an object behind me.

I sighed, dreading what I was about to do.

The goddess had bestowed me two virile, beautiful men. One with love like a storm, all-consuming. Territorial. 

The other, passion incarnate. Engulfing me with every touch. 

How could I ever choose?

I sank my fingers into Bastian’s firm muscles, his shirt molded perfectly to every swell and groove of his body.

Rising on the tips of my toes, I pressed my lips to his.

He was motionless at first, but his heart pounded.

Then came the heat.

He snatched at my nape with his big hand, the other gripping my hip to press me against him.

His tongue slid hot and insistent against mine, seeking, caressing.

My skin flushed with wonder, my body singing in agreement.

When we finally pulled apart, his expression was victorious, eyes glinting with a singular purpose. And I knew he’d assumed this kiss was a choice.

Oh, Maeve. You stupid idiot.

I parted my lips to remedy the situation, to inform him of my true desires.

“Bastian, I—“

A wail echoed through the fortress, the very stone thrumming with anguish.

Bastian’s attention snapped in that direction, every muscle tense. Then he bolted out of the room, my wrist still captured in his.

My blood froze, every nerve screaming that something was wrong. 

Very terribly wrong.