Chapter 73 Chapter 73
Violet
I opened my mouth to retaliate but I couldn’t think of a solid comeback so I closed it again.
I shrugged. “Because this is not my home or family. I’d rather be working at my new desk.”
“Then let me offer you the Emerald project. I will win it at any cost and then you are free to work on it all day.”
Now was the time he finally chose to dangle that in front of me like a prize?
“No thanks. I am done with you and your family. I don’t need your pity.”
“I am not pitying you, Violet. This will help both your pack and me.”
“Oh so now it also helps you in some way?”
“Yes”
I couldn’t believe he was throwing those same words I had used while begging him to help me. Back then, he had casually shrugged and said he would think about it.
And he never mentioned it again, only for him to spring it up on me when I had already found a new job which I truly loved.
Not that I was going to tell him that.
My phone rang and I noticed it was a call from Mom. Elijah saw it too as I put it on silent mode.
“I gave you more than five minutes. Now leave.”
He looked at me quizzically.
“Just like that?”
“I don't owe you any explanation” I said, silencing the call when the phone rang a second time.
“Ahh so you blame me for keeping secrets and you do the same? I bet your mother doesn’t know that you are here with me. She hates me, right?”
I grind my molars so hard I feared I would take one out. Maybe I should have taken out one of his teeth instead.
“I am not here with you and you have no business trying to moral police me.”
I tried to shove him away but then he grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me around to sandwich me between himself and the wall.
“I am not trying to lecture you, Violet. I just…” He began but I was so done with him and his secrets that I raised my knee to drive it in his stomach.
That took him by surprise and he loosened his hold as I struggled with him, slapping, punching and kicking at him.
I just didn’t care if my strikes were landing perfectly or not, I wanted to hit him, to hurt him for everything he had done so far, for pushing me away and then pulling me back towards him whenever he wanted.
“Stop it, Violet!” He urged but I dug my nails in his sleeve and yanked it hard, tearing the fabric.
I didn't stop and dug my nails on any part of him that I could find, yanking viciously until I had torn his shirt, reducing it to shreds.
“Leave me the fuck alone!” I screamed but he finally grabbed me again and shook me very hard, making hair fly all around my face.
“I am not leaving you!!” He shouted and something about his voice made me pause, something that sounded quite raw and feral and…human.
For a second, I stopped moving and stared stupidly at him. The way he said that line…
“Calm down please.” He whispered and let go of me when he saw that I wasn’t struggling anymore.
Panting and shaking, I stepped back, after having hit him countless times, my anger dissipating just a little.
With my hands on my knees, I took a few deep breaths while Eliijah simply stood there, leaning on the door.
And when I looked up at him finally, I noticed that I had torn his shirt, ripped it to pieces, leaving his torso exposed.
What I didn’t expect to see was several scars on his skin, all looking red and scabbed while he stood there for a moment, eyes closed and catching his breath.
I slowly straightened and stepped closer to take a good look. He was badly scratched all over his arms and chest, some of the injuries still blood red.
My hand reached forward to assess the wounds and Elijah’s eyes fluttered open at that slight brush of my forefinger over his exposed skin.
He looked down and immediately straightened his back, opening the door behind him.
“I think you should rest now” He mumbled and tried to pull away but I grabbed his wrist, making him wince due to the move.
“What is this?” I asked, staring at his wrist that looked like it had freshly healed. I recalled how Lady Aurelia had noticed the injuries and how he had avoided answering her question.
“Did…I do that?” I asked with a shaky breath.
He gently raised his hand to cup my face and this time I let him. “Please go to sleep. And promise me you won’t leave without me. Let me make it up to you.”
I shuddered and tears rolled down my cheek.
“I can’t promise that” I answered softly, unsure if I hated him for the lies or hated myself for painting his body red.
“Just one last time, Vi” He said and meant to lean closer but only whispered those words in my ears and then promptly left before he could say or do more.
And stood there staring at the door, wondering why the hell did my heart do a backflip every time he shortened my name?
I lay awake in my bed until late at night, twisting and turning every few seconds because my brain refused to stop thinking, to figure out how the hell fate played such a cruel game with me and how Nate showed up in my new life yet again.
And Elijah…those scars, his silence that felt a lot like betrayal…all of the thoughts crowded my mind, wanting attention and breaking my heart over and over again.
The way he called me Vi.
Sleep refused to come.
I lay on my side staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, listening to the manor breathe around me. Ironcrest never truly went quiet. There was always a distant creak, a whisper of air through old stone corridors, the low hum of something ancient settling and resettling beneath the floors.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Elijah’s scars again, raw and red against his skin and felt the echo of my own hands shaking as I’d touched them.
I pressed my palms into the mattress, trying to ground myself.
It didn’t help.
My chest felt too tight, my thoughts too loud. Anger bled into guilt, guilt into longing, longing into something far more dangerous, into need. I was losing my mind.
I hated myself for it. Hated that even now, after everything, my body still reacted to him as though it recognized something my mind refused to accept.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood.
Maybe a glass of water. Maybe just air. Anything but lying here drowning in my own thoughts.
Hence, I pulled a long coat, wore it and ventured out.