Chapter 212 fucking Other Girls

Chapter 212 fucking Other Girls
I froze at first, my body stiffening under the unexpected pressure of his lips. My hands flew to his chest, pushing against him even as rain continued to pour down around us. But Ethan didn't let go of my face, his fingers threading through my wet hair.

"Ember," he whispered against my lips, his breath warm despite the cold rain. "I'm not afraid of death!"

Before I could protest, before I could think about all the reasons this was wrong, he kissed me again. This time deeper, more insistent.

The warmth of his hands made me let go of my stubbornness and let him suck my upper lip and push his lower lip into my mouth. I was melting under the soft seduction of his lips.

I don’t remember when was the last time I tasted something so good. Being a weredragon, I didn’t feel that much pull towards my mates unless I wanted to, and he didn’t feel so strongly about pursuing me. So we were only there because we truly wanted to, and not because some mate bond was compelling us.

“Mumm!” he moaned on my lips, tilting his head and causing the skin to rub even more tightly. His tongue tried looking for an entrance, but that’s when I felt someone’s hard to grasp against my arm.

"What are you doing?"

Lydia grunted when forcefully pulling me away from her son, who instantly held my other hand and dragged me back towards him.

"Mom!" he called out, his voice defensive.

"Don't you remember what happened to your brother because of her?" Lydia's voice dropped to a harsh whisper, clearly not wanting others to overhear. "Do you want to end up like Dominic too?"

I felt ice form in my stomach at the mention of Dominic's name. The memory of his death flashed through my mind—the search, the uncertainty, the crushing weight of blame.

"I'm not afraid to pursue my mate," Ethan said quietly to his mother, his grip on my hand tightening. "You understand that, don't you?"

Lydia's lips parted in shock, then she covered her mouth with her hand. "She's also—your mate?"

"She's all of our mate, okay?" Ethan's voice rose, protective and fierce. "Now listen to me—I'm not a child, and I'm not going to be in danger. So if you really love me, if you respect me, then stop targeting her."

Lydia was still trying to process this revelation. "How can she be—"

But I couldn't listen anymore. Dominic's death crashed through my memory like a tidal wave, and I pulled my hand free from Ethan's grasp.

"Ember!" Ethan turned to me, his eyes desperate. "You don't have to listen to anyone. I'm with you, and no one—"

"She's right," I said, stepping back from him. The rain felt colder now, seeping through my clothes and into my bones.

Lydia looked at me with a mixture of suspicion and something that might have been pity. "If you care about him, stay away from him."

I met Ethan's eyes, seeing the hurt and confusion there. I'm so sorry.

"She's right," I repeated, my voice stronger now. "I don't even have any interest in you." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. "Actually, I only gave in because I wanted Noah to see us together, to feel the flames of jealousy."

Ethan rolled his eyes at me.

I know he'll never believe my lies, but at least his mother will believe that we won't be meeting behind her back anymore.

I turned and ran toward the mansion, leaving them both standing in the rain.

The warmth of the house hit me like a wall as I burst through the front doors, water dripping from my hair and clothes. In the main living room, I found Amelia deep in conversation with Lord Blackwood about the meal arrangements. Noah and Victoria were there too, along with Alexander who had just returned from wherever he'd been.

Alexander looked terrible—his hair was disheveled, his eyes restless and haunted. That girl's voice reminder made me not want to look at him.

"She's sick!" I announced to Lord Blackwood, answering the question I assumed he was about to ask about my missing companion.

Lord Blackwood raised an eyebrow at my direct approach. "I hope that's not a problem," I added quickly.

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than comfortable. "Ember," he said with false sweetness, "how is your mother doing?"

These lords and Alpha Kings only need a few minutes to forget someone they once loved who they're now mocking.

"She's much better now," I replied coldly, "because she doesn't have to follow someone's commands to please them anymore."

"You sound very bitter," Lord Blackwood observed.

"You should be too. You lost your son, or maybe you just don't care."

The room went dead silent. Lord Blackwood's face darkened, and he slammed his fist on the table, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot.

"She's just joking," Amelia said quickly, rushing to grab my arm. Her grip was tight, urgent. "Why don't you wait for me outside?"

We all know what happens when Lord Blackwood's dignity and pride are challenged.

I nodded, letting Amelia guide me toward the door. I needed air anyway—the tension in that room was suffocating.

The gardens were quieter, the rain having stopped to leave everything glistening and fresh. I was walking along the stone path when I heard footsteps behind me.

"What the hell was that about?" Alexander's voice was aggressive, demanding. "Why are you picking fights with him, getting yourself in trouble?"

I turned to face him, meeting his intense stare directly. "Because I don't give a damn!"

His expression softened slightly, the confrontational edge leaving his voice. "Don't draw his attention to yourself."

"It's none of your business," I shot back.

Thinking about how easily he forgot his brother, and how instead of helping me find his body, he went around hooking up with other girls.

"This is my business," Alexander said, his voice wounded. "I care about you!"

I let out a bitter laugh. "Really? So that's why you were fooling around with other women instead of helping me when I was searching for Dominic's body?"

Alexander's face went completely white, shock written across every feature.