Chapter 31 Party Preparations
Later I retreated to the balcony, the sea breeze offering a brief respite as I watched the orange horizon that the set sun had cast over the water, but I couldn’t find beauty in it. All I could think about was Fred.
I still wondered about what happened to him and my heart still ached. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore below seemed to soothe me from this suffocating reality.
Why? Why did he and I have to be mates? Even though that now the bond we shared was stronger than ever deep down I would always hate him. But I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in the bond that felt like a cage. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with my enemy.
I envied the seagulls flying in the distance, their wings free to carry them wherever the wind would take them. Unlike me.
Darius’s claim on me weighed heavier than any physical chains could. I had fought him, resisted in every way I knew how, but nothing seemed to matter. The bond between us, forged by the cruel fates of the goddess, was unbreakable, even if I wished every second of the day that it didn’t exist. I wiped away the stray tear that slipped down my cheek. Crying wouldn’t change anything. I had to find a way somehow. But like he once said there was nowhere on this earth where he couldn’t find me for as long as our bond existed the only way out would be for him to reject me and that is out of the picture.
The door clicked opened and I heard footsteps behind me, heavy and deliberate. Darius why was he back again?. His presence is always commanding, impossible to ignore even when I desperately wanted to. I didn’t turn to look at him.
He stopped behind me, lingering in silence. Perhaps he expected me to acknowledge him, but I refused. I would not give him that satisfaction. Instead, I focused on the waves, letting their endless rhythm drown out the tension that now filled the air between us.
Finally, he spoke, his voice cutting through the fragile calm. "I’ll be sending people over soon to help you get ready for the party."
“I thought I already said I was not interested in attending”, I snarled.
“Faruk said it’s a great opportunity for some important people to meet you and see that you’re no threat ”, he said.
His tone was casual, almost dismissive, as if he was talking about something as insignificant as choosing what to eat for dinner. As if my attendance at this party was a given, not a choice. Anger bubbled up inside me, sharp and hot. How could he continue to act like he owned me, like I was some accessory he could parade around at his whim?
I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in to the surge of emotions. Before he could walk away, I found myself speaking, my voice edged with bitterness. "I don’t want to attend your damn party, what I want is to forget I ever met you and just go back to my life”.
He froze mid-step, his back still turned to me. The silence that followed felt suffocating, like the calm before a storm. When he finally responded, his voice was low and filled with warning. "I’ve already claimed you, little hybrid. You belong to me now. You might as well start getting used to it. As the Aloha king’s mate your presence is expected"
The words stung, sharp and unyielding. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, trying to stop the wave of helplessness that threatened to drown me. I have a right to choose, it’s the bond otherwise even if Darius was the last man on earth I’d rather die.
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the bitter retort that rose in my throat. There was no point in arguing with him. He wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t care. But there was something I had to know, something that had been gnawing at me since that night. "What did you do with Fred ?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Darius’s back stiffened slightly, but he didn’t turn around. For a long moment, he said nothing, and I feared the worst. I needed to know if Fred was okay. Finally, Darius spoke, his voice cold and indifferent. "Be a good girl and attend the party by my side, and maybe I’ll tell you what happened to your little friend."
He didn’t wait for a response before he walked out, the door closing behind him with a finality that sent a shiver down my spine.
The room felt colder, emptier after he left. I sank onto the floor my back leaning onto the cold balcony wall, listening to the sea, letting the endless waves try to wash away the sense of hopelessness that clung to me. But no matter how hard I tried to push it away, it remained, a heavy weight on my chest. My thoughts drifted back to Fred his face, his voice, as we ran from those hybrid mutants.
I stayed like that for what felt like hours, lost in thought, lost in memories of a life that seemed so far away now. My mind wandered to my father, to the moments we had shared before everything had fallen apart. I remembered the swing he had built for me under the old willow tree behind the house. I used to sit on that swing for hours, begging him to push me higher and higher, until it felt like I was flying. Those were simpler times, before the darkness crept into our lives, before Darius, before everything.
"I'm so sorry, Daddy," I whispered to the wind, the weight of the past crushing down on me.
A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I didn’t answer, didn’t move. The door creaked open, and a group of people entered the room, their presence a stark contrast to the silence I had wrapped around myself like a shield. They were professionals, I could tell from the way they moved,I stared at them for a moment and deduced that they were the people Darius spoke of the stylists, makeup artists, and assistants, all here to prepare me for the dinner party. My stomach churned at the thought.
One of the women approached me cautiously, her smile polite but rehearsed. "Miss, we’re here to help you get ready for the Senator’s dinner party. It won’t take long."
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. Here I was, being dolled up like some kind of trophy, when in reality, I felt like anything but. I wasn’t a mate to be cherished or shown off. I was a prisoner, trapped in a life I didn’t choose, bound to a man I didn’t love.
I stood, forcing myself to move despite the weight of everything pressing down on me if I behaved he would tell me about Fred . Fred he got into all this mess because of me. I followed them into the center of the room, where they began their work, transforming me into someone I didn’t recognize. They styled my hair, applied makeup with precision, and dressed me in an elegant gown that fit perfectly but felt like a costume. As they worked, I kept my mind distant, refusing to acknowledge what was happening. I couldn’t let myself feel anything, not right now. It was the only way to survive from now on.
When they finally finished, I stood before the mirror, staring at the reflection of a stranger. The woman in the mirror looked flawless,polished, refined, like she belonged in the world of luxury and power. But I couldn’t feel any pride or satisfaction. This wasn’t me. This was someone else entirely, it felt like I was a person Darius was trying to mold to fit his world.
I stood before the mirror, staring at a reflection I hardly recognized. The woman staring back at me was dressed in a backless, black gown . The neckline plunged low, revealing more than I was comfortable with, while the fabric clung to my every curve, leaving little to the imagination. It was a dress designed to demand attention, to captivate and seduce. My hair was pulled into a sleek bun, tight enough that it almost hurt, not a strand out of place. My eyes were dark, smoky, the makeup artist having contoured every feature into something sharp and fierce. I didn’t look like myself.
The team packed up their things and left the room, leaving me alone once again. I stood there for a long time, staring at the reflection.
I walked to the balcony, the cool breeze a welcome relief against my skin. The ocean stretched out before me, vast and unchanging, a constant in a world that seemed determined to shift beneath my feet.
Was he okay? Was he suffering? Did he hate me for leaving him behind?
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here, not now. I had cried enough. I needed answers, not more tears. Darius held all the cards, and I had to find a way to get him to tell me the truth.
The door creaked open, and Darius stepped into the room. His eyes immediately went to me, taking in the dress, the way I stood on the balcony, looking out at the horizon as if I could escape through sheer willpower.
His footsteps were heavy as he crossed the room toward me, stopping just behind me. I could feel his presence, could sense the way his gaze lingered on me. It made the hairs on my skin stand. Damn bond.
"You look beautiful," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction. “You’re so beautiful”,
I stayed silent, refusing to give him any response. Instead, I continued to look out at the sea, wishing I could just disappear into the waves.
"The party has already began,let’s go people are waiting to meet you" Darius’s voice was calm, as if he had no doubt I would obey.
"I don’t want to attend," I said again, but this time, my voice was hollow, drained of fight.
He didn’t respond. Instead, his hand reached out, grazing my shoulder. His touch, even though light, sent a shiver through me, and I recoiled, I almost purred, I hated him but I liked his touch,I liked the felling of his skin rubbing next to mine. I felt my core heat up. I liked the feeling of him inside of me.
"Do I make you horny little hybrid?" His voice was low, his moist warm breath fanning my neck as he placed a kiss onto my exposed shoulder . "I bet you're wet right now. I can have you right here on the balcony as you watch the sea and make sure everyone downstairs enjoying the party hears us”,
“You disgust me”, I said and walked away with my cheeks flushing red.
I walked toward the door, my fingers trembling as I reached for the handle. Memories of our mating and our time in the cabana flooded my mind.
He caught up to me in seconds, I felt the heat of his body before i heard his words. His tall frame looming over me as his hand brushed my elbow, pulling me to a stop. His grip was firm but not rough.
His hands slid to my hips as he drew me closer, rubbing his hardened cock just above my ass.
“It’s taking all my will power not to rip this dress off you and take you right here”, he breathed against the back of my neck sending shivers down my spine as his fingers dig deeper into my hips.
"Damn you’re beautiful," he said softly, the low timbre of his voice sending a shiver down my spine. My lust prevailed over my hate and I hated it. He leaned closer, placing a kiss on my exposed shoulder, his lips cool against my skin. I stiffened at the touch but didn’t pull away.
“I’m dying to be inside of you once more,feel you’re insides wrapping around me like a glove”,he growled.
His words wrapped around me like chains.
My cheeks flushed red from embarrassment and excitement.
But before I could say anything, I felt something cold and heavy slide around my wrist. I glanced down, and there it was,a diamond bracelet, shimmering under the soft lights of the bedroom.The diamonds were flawless, sparkling with an intensity that felt almost blinding.
Even if he dressed me in diamonds, even if he showered me with wealth and gifts, none of it mattered. He could never buy my forgiveness. He could never erase what he had done.
I didn’t say a word as he led me down the hallway, his hand resting on the small of my back, guiding me down the stairs . My mind was spinning, my thoughts consumed by one thing, Fred. I had no idea where he was, no idea if he was even okay . The last time I saw him, he had been on the ground. The memory made my chest tighten, my breath caught in my throat. I needed to know what had happened to him. I needed to know if he was fine. I looked at Darius and wondered if he was capable of killing Fred and the image of my father’s bloodied body came to my mind.
Darius had promised me answers, but only if I behaved. So that is what I was going to do.