Chapter Thirty–Three
Ven POV
Our talk came two days later
Although Kadden had returned to his chambers following his talk with Layla, I hadn’t exactly been open to conversation. I was bristling in anger at the thought that even now, after everything he treated me like a piece of property. I had honestly thought that his opinion had changed and, at the very least been more accepting
The day before the dinner he had talked to me like I was a normal person, than a commodity. Then his rejection at the thought of me referring to him by title. rather than his name. Then the dinner invitation. Listening to him as he outlined his reasons, his intentions of confessing the truth. I thought he’d changed his tune. Kadden might not be too thrilled about the bond between us, but these were signs of his acceptance of our mating.
I was wrong-
By the time he’d entered the chambers I was lying on one side of the bed, my back presented to him. I would’ve loved to escape to my own bedroom, but he’d had the door repaired in recent days. A door that was proven to have been locked by him, assuring that I couldn’t get out of the room. Having come to the realization I was stuck there for the time being, I’d lay on the far side of the bed. Of course, I pretended to be asleep when he came in, not up to talking about whatever he wanted to
Id been stuck since
The next morning I was relieved when the guard hadn’t attempted to stop me, having gone through my bedroom door. Only to be brought to a grinding halt by the complete transformation the room had undergone. Literally. Every piece of furniture I’d used was completely transferred out of the room, overnight. In its place were various different pieces of exercise equipment, rubber mats, and even a water machine in the corner. The arrogant asshole had turned my personal bedroom into his own private little gym while I was unaware.
“What the hell is this? I’d demanded.
“A gym,” he offered.
I wasn’t amused. My arms crossed over my chest, oblivious to the way his gaze scanned my upthrust breasts. Tm aware of what it is not
now. Do you care to explain why you turned my bedroom into your gym? Where do you expect me to sleep now?” I was fully expecting him to inform me he’d planned on moving me down the hall or maybe the servant quarters. His words floored me.
“Where you’ve been sleeping.” Kadden showed no guilt at the decision he’d come to, nonplussed by the anger on my face. “Where you belong. From this point forward you will sleep in the alpha quarters.”“
That was the end of the discussion, Kadden stalked off down the hall as he delivered that piece of news, never giving me the chance to respond. I saw his seriousness when I realized the changes that’d taken place while I was unaware. The secondary closet once filled to the brim with Sarah’s belongings was emptied, replaced with my few garments. The vanity dresser was changed out for the one I’d been using and my nightstand was next
To the bed
When it became obvious that he wouldn’t relent, that night I had only come into the room when I was too tired to stay up. Ignoring the man on his side of the bed I had fallen face first in bed, asleep before my head hit the pillow. The one time I became alert enough to notice him pulling the blanket over me. I smacked away the hand. I didn’t want his concern. I was too angry. My actions only served in gaining a snicker from the man, as he persisted in placing the blanket around me. I flipped him oft
The next night I became determined to show him the same aloofness, but found it impossible to do so. I’d barely settled down into bed when he sauntered out of the bathroom, following a shower. That night he’d chosen to forego the complete antire, as he wore louse–fitting silk bottoms. Staring at that magnificent broad chest of his, tattoos covering his arms and most of his chest. If I’d been a domestic dog then my tongue would’ve been hanging out the side of my mouth, tail wagging. The sight of him like that caused arousal to surge to life inside of me, craving to have his body And the arrogant bastard knew it.
“Like what you see?” he’d tausted.
“No.” 1 hamımphed.
“Lar,” he chided me. Kadden damn well knew the reaction I was having to his body and was more than willing to exploit it.
“Bastard,” I snarled.
This morning I had escaped to the yard to work in the rose garden, if only to get away from him. He’d chosen to take it upon himself to remind me of what was between us, lust that couldn’t be denied. I’d been getting ready when he’d come out with a towel draped around his waist, not even trying to be sneaky. It seemed that for whatever reasons he’d chosen to taunt me with his body, as if wanting to force me into action. Damn him, I
“You’re not happy here,” his voice car.
Not Kadden’s either. I showed no surprise to Kyne standing on the outskirts of the garden, having sensed luis approach. “What does it matter if I’m │happy! He’s my mase, Kyne, whether we wanted it or not.”
“He could’ve rejected you,” he offered the solution to the predicament Ed found myself in, to solve the issue of our problem. “Or if you were su against it you could’ve rejected him.”
Climbing up from where Inel in the grass, I moved to the bench I had brought out to the garden. Sitting down on the edge of the wooden planks. my thought was a whirlwined at the topic. “It’s not as easy as that. Even if we wanted to and I can assure you he did, by the time we realized it was too
Chapter Thirty–Three
“Meaning“” he pressed
“Yont‘ Kädden bellowed
Jumping to my feet when I heard ham calling my name, undoubtedly having noticed my chosen comp Aware of his impleasant feelings where Kyne was concerned. I slowly backed away from han. “It doesn’t matter. What is done is done. The Luci remains he’s my mate.”
“Leave him” be challenged me
I vehemently shook my head. “I can’t do that. If I was to leave it would leave his wolf weakened and it’d only be a matter of time before he died. As bad as things are right now, he’s a good man.”
Kyne grashed his teeth. “Don’t pretend this to be anything more than what it really is. Von You’ve been carrying a torch for that man since you were thirteen years old. And now that you ve been mated to him it’s given you freedom to be with the man you’ve always
s wanted”
“Maybe.” Thedged.
“YON!” His voice was louder, closer
thought we’d
With orders for Kyne to leave it alone, spun around on my heels and headed back to the house. I wasn’t afraid of angering him at the th been talking, but the pain he could inflict on Kyne. Knowing full well what Kadden could be like when it came to destroying the enemies in his wake. And right now Kyne was most definitely the enemy. An enemy that was trying to take away the mate that he suddenly seemed intent on keeping.
By the time I reached the opening of the door, Kadden was standing in it, having come to fetch me. Hooking an oddly possessive arm around my waist, as if to remind Kyne who I belonged to. Then in the next moment, I was ushered inside of the manor, and the door slammed shut, blocking his entrance; Showing none of the aversion he was prone to Kadden led me deeper into the house, having a set course of direction.
Right to his office.
“Sit down” he said. “We need to talk”
Deciding that I wouldn’t argue with him as I’d become prone to do. I settled down on the leather couch. Itwisted around in my seat to face the man. who sat down at the opposite end of the couch. “Whardo you want to talk about this tinie?”
Kadden failed to meet my gaze. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you on the terms of our bond, but elected to give you a few days to cool down. Now that you seem to be in a more receptive mood, Heelt’s safe for us to have this talk”
“I didn’t trick you, I launched into an explanation betorr he could speak determined for him to face the truth. “Or con you or seduce you or whatever cbe you might be thanking. Honest to the goddess. I was just as shocked and have no idea what happened”
“I know,” he admitted
My head snapped up “You do
Hands steepled together where they crossed his knees, Kadden slowly bobbed his head in response. “In the beginning, I was angry thinking you’d
forced ine into a choice that I never wanted. This last m
Ed taken the time to observe you, to see what could be the truth. Dumond explained everything”
“How do you know my wolfs name?” I was
stunned.
A smile quirked the corners of his mouth. “Because somehow our wolves can communicare. More along the lines, your wolf can, Rhavage just responds back to her. I don’t know how to explain, but somehow even unshifted the two of them can converse. She’s even talked to me. She told me everything. I now realize you’re as much a victim by what happened”
“You’re not angry.” Istammered.
Kadden leaned across the distance that separated us, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind my ear. “No,” he admitted to me. “The only reason I was so angry was thinking that you’d forced my hand, the one person I’m supposed to inst. I lashed out thinking you’d betrayed me the first night we met, but I now see how wrong I was Tmstill no more rager for a mate, but I don’t blame you.”
and pain slipping
g away. “What is if you want, Kaden! You have a
A breath shuddered out of me in the face of his confession, a little of my own anger a mate you dont want You don’t want me but won’t let me leave?”
“Toeed a child” be admitted
I wasn’t expecting this. “Come again!”
“I need a cub,” Kalden repeated the same words, proof that I hadn’t been mistaken in what I thought he said. “Orginally I planned on releasing you when my son took the throne, to allow you to live it your life how you saw fit. Unfortunately, my son is no longer a candidate for the throne, so the Remnants want ine to produce an heir. If I don’t I will be replaced, by my father in law’s brother.”
