The door opened right as I turned, eyes wide. My shoulders relaxed when my gaze met Aghen’s and he closed the door behind him.
“Oh, it’s you. What are you doing here? Feeling too lonely in your own place?”
He chuckled, the sound unsure and a little awkward as he sat on the bed.
“Huh, I guess, yeah. I came by earlier to talk but you weren’t home yet, so I figured I’d try again now.”
I forced myself to relax. There was no way he knew about Dimitri, right? Amyntas said he could…smellhim on me. What if my brother or father did too? What if the binding promise made his scent even more pronounced?
Yep, I definitely couldn’t see Amyntas anymore. I know I said I hoped he’d be in a blinding rage if he saw it, but that was obviously thebravado in the heat of the moment talking. I wasn’t so brave anymore. I wanted him to leave, and then I wanted to find a way to not go through with the Maiden thing without endangering my family…my brother. The rest of them could die.
“Where were you?” he asked, eyes focused on his hand, fumbling with a piece of string coming out of my bed cover. “You looked…distressed, when you left after dinner.”
“I, uh—yeah. I wanted to be alone and get some air.”
Aghen looked at me then, brows pulled down in a concerned frown.
“Did he…Did Amyntas say something to you?”
Oh, that he did.
I shrugged. “Well, mother will be pleased to know that my bad temper and behavior issues seem to be a turn on for asshole Dragons.”
“What do you mean?” His frown deepened.
“Imeanthat Amyntas said he will not even bother to visit the other selected Maiden. Apparently, I have everything that he wants.”
He reared back, jaw dropping. Hands tightening on my comforter.
“Did you even try to speak to him?” I asked. “Well, it doesn’t even matter, I guess. He’s just—”
“I’ll speak to him again,” he mumbled between clenched teeth, standing up abruptly and making me stumble back until my ass met the edge of the small table against my wall. “The least he can do is give the other Maiden a chance. I won’t let you get dragged into this.”
“Aghen,” I started, reaching for his forearm in an attempt to stop him.
He jerked back, shoulder tensing as he strode to the door. “You’re not going with him.Ever. I’ll find a way out of this whole fucking mess mother started.”
“Aghen, please. Father supports this, you can’t do—”
“Fucking watch me,” he growled, casting me one last look before stepping out.
Great.
Now my brother was going to make an enemy out of my future husband, and he wasn’t even head of the clan yet.
Chapter 17
Carter
“You might want your fuckboy to leave,” the Vampire said, tilting his chin toward me as I still stood half in front of Lola in a protective stance.
“If you think I’m going anywhere, you’re fucked in the head,” I snapped back, unable to hold back the lightning striking on the floor next to him.
His smile widened, revealing sharp canines.This was her brother?Lola sidestepped me, placing herself between us, making a point to take my hand.
Oh mygod, she’s taking my hand. Why am I freaking out? Why does it make me want to fucking purr?
Some tension left my body, but I didn’t let the fucker out of my sight.
