Nineteen

**KAIDOS**

I rarely got upset and the few times I did it always ended disastrously. I was so close to losing it, but I had to control myself, so I wouldn't scare Rory. I'm certain she's already been through enough scares in one day. 

My hands caressed her thighs as the sight of the dried blood on it almost drove me crazy. From the moment I saw Aurora, I knew she was a virgin. 

Seeing this dried blood on her thighs made me think of only one thing – someone had assaulted my woman!

“What happened to you, Rory?” I asked her through gritted teeth. 

I was willing to give my thoughts the benefit of the doubt. It was highly possible that she hadn't been assaulted, and maybe she was injured, but deep down I knew I was right. 

When Rory couldn't answer me I knew I was right. She looked away and tried to stand up from the bed. 

“It’s nothing. I need to shower,” she lied, avoiding my eyes. 

It suddenly clicked in my head. She was embarrassed because someone had defiled her. I saw red. *Who dared to lay a finger on her? I would dismember that person!*

“Who?” I asked her. 

She stopped moving and frowned, “Who, what?”

“Don’t lie to me, Rory, tell me who,” I said, gritting my teeth in anger. 

“I don't know what you're talking about, Kaidos. I need to shower,” she answered instead. 

“Goddamnit, Rory, tell me who assaulted you!” I snapped, startling her. 

She jerked on the bed as she scrambled to move away from me. 

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I was starting to lose my cool, and now I was scaring her. 

“I’m sorry, love, I didn't mean it,” I apologized. 

I hated the fact that I hadn't seen this coming. What was the essence of having foresight if I can't see the future and protect my loved ones? 

“I didn't mean to scare you, Rory,” I apologized again, “Just tell me who did this to you. Why are you so scared? You know I can protect you.” 

“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice breaking at the end. 

“I meant what I said, Rory. You're my woman and I will always protect you. So please tell me who dared touch you against your wishes,” I coaxed her. 

She suddenly covered her face with her hands and started crying profusely. I watched her for a while before I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. 

I patted her back, whispering sweet words into her ear. Telling her how much she meant to me and how I wouldn't let anyone harm her. I apologized to her for not being there, and it seemed to make her cry harder. 

Finally, she stopped crying and I wiped her tears. I waited for her to calm down before I spoke again. 

“I can protect you from anyone, Rory, just say a name,” I urged. 

She didn't speak, rather she fidgeted with her fingers. That's when it suddenly occurred to me that the only one who equaled me in power was my brother. 

“Did Thane do this to you?” I asked her in a slow and deliberate voice.

I saw the look of shock that flashed in her eyes before it disappeared, and she looked away in shame without saying a word. 

“That bastard!” I hissed under my breath. 

*How dare Thane defile my woman! He knew how much she meant to me, so why her? Of all the humans in court he chooses to rape her! He won’t get away with this.* 

“That fucking bastard!” I snarled, rage coursing through my body. 

I stood up and Rory grabbed my arm, “Where are you going?”

“To get my pound of flesh,” I answered. 

Rory shook her head, “No, please just let it be.”

I chuckled darkly, “Rest, love.”

Then I stormed out of her room and headed to Thane’s room, my heart filled with anger. I barged into his room and saw him wearing loose pants. 

“Whoa, hold up, tiger. What’s wrong?” he asked when he saw the look on my face. 

I glared at him, “How could you betray me like this?”

Thane frowned, “I don't understand, brother, I would never betray you.”

I scoffed, we’ve had each other’s backs for years. Never did I think it would come to this. With the rage coursing through my veins, I grabbed Thane and slammed him across the wall. 

He crashed into the wall, breaking the mirror in the process. A few shards of the glass stuck to his skin and then fell to the ground. He stood up unharmed, but his eyes narrowed into slits at the sudden attack. 

“What’s this all about?” he asked me, dusting off the remaining glass pieces from his body. 

“Also you've made a mess, either clean it up or call your slave pet to come clean it up,” he added, fueling my rage. 

“She’s not a pet, her name is Rory!” I yelled, tackling him to the ground. 

Thane pushed me away, “What the fuck is your problem?” 

“You’re my problem!” I snapped, “Why did you rape her? You know how much I care about her and you raped her! You hurt her, you fucking bastard!!”

Thane’s frown suddenly disappeared as he broke out into laughter. He laughs so hard that I stand staring at him like a fool.

“What’s so funny?” I snarled. 

“She told you I raped her?” he asked, still laughing. 

I glared at him, “Isn’t that what you did?”

“No, Brother. She walked in on me naked, and she didn't even look away. That little slut was so fucking wet and practically begging me to fuck her,” Thane answered. 

I shook my head, backing away, “That’s not true.”

Thane laughed, “Why would I lie to you, brother? She's just a little whore who enjoyed every bit of it.”

I shook my head, my eyes blazing with anger, “No! Take it back right now.”

“You should have heard her moans, brother, it was heaven. Your little slut wanted me so badly. If you don't believe me, you're welcome to see for yourself in my memories,” Thane smirked. 

My mouth hung open in shock as my back hit the wall, disappointment and sadness written all over my face. 

“No… it can't be…” I mumbled. 

*How could it be that the one woman I wanted so badly wanted my brother instead?*