As we discuss our last several days, I catch Delilah and my brother exchanging glances and smiles. I need to make sure I put a stop to whatever is going on between them. Delilah is mine, and I won’t be giving her up. I know without a doubt, when the day comes and we receive our fated mate marks, ours will be a match.
∞∞∞
I just finished sprinkling a mixture of herbs over the parchment to seal in the spell I infused into it, when my left forearm starts to burn. I hold my arm before my face to see where I could have spilled something to cause the burning, when an image begins to show within my skin. My fated mate mark appears right before my eyes! The day has finally come!
I need to find Delilah! We can finally be together now that our marks have appeared. She’s been hesitant toward any kind of relationship other than friendship, saying she wants to wait for her fated mate. She claimed she didn’t want either of us to be hurt if it turned out we weren’t paired. I knew she didn’t have anything to worry about, but for my sweet love, I was willing to wait. Now today is the end of us having to wait! It’s finally the day I get to claim the love of my life!
I run as quickly as I can to her chambers, pushing servants out of my way as I maneuver the hallways. When I reach her room, I’m out of breath. It doesn’t matter though, there will be time later for breathing. My knuckles rap at the door and I impatiently wait for her to answer. After a time, I conclude she isn’t inside.
Next, I sprint for my mother’s chambers. Moments after I pound on her door, Delilah’s mother pulls it open. “I need to speak to Delilah,” I tell her in a rush.
Her brows furrow with my bluntness, and when she replies, her voice doesn’t hide her displeasure with me. “She isn’t here, Silas. Wha—” I run off before she can finish speaking. Whatever she had to say is of no concern to me.
I head for her favorite meadow. It’s hidden deep in the woods and we’re the only ones who ever go there. Branches whip me in the face as I try to get there as fast as possible. The sting of the scratches means nothing compared to my desire to reach her.
When I’m almost through the woods leading to the meadow, I pause to make myself appear more presentable. I only want to look my best for the woman I love. My fingers run through my hair and I pull leaves and twigs out. Using my shirt, I clean my face of sweat and small flakes of bark. Rearranging my clothes, I’m finally presentable and stalk through the trees.
Delilah’s giggle is the first sign of her I get. Peering around the meadow, I don’t find her though. I step out into the waving waist-high grass and hear the giggle again, then the sound of her moaning. Following the noise, I finally spot her laying in the grass. Her skirts are hitched up and her bare legs are on display, but I’m unable to enjoy the view.
On top of her is my brother, his pants are pushed down and I see the muscles in his ass flexing as he ruts into her. She screams out, which has to be in distress, and my vision blacks out for a moment. More rage than I’ve ever felt consumes me, my body shakes as it courses through my blood.
A ferocious roar leaves me before I charge for him. He barely has time to glance up before my shoulder is on his side with my arms wrapping around him as my movement sends us flying to the ground. We struggle in the grass, but I come out on top. My fists swing and I relish every crack of his bones under them.
Delilah screams over and over and I know I’ll have to comfort her later. She must be so terrified having been forced to bear my brother's abhorrent advances. I’ll make her proud to be my mate, and ensure my brother pays for his crime. He struggles below me, throwing his fists just as strongly as I do. My head whips to the side as he catches my jaw, but I just double my efforts.
My swinging arm suddenly finds resistance, and I snarl, turning to find who dares interrupt my vengeance. Delilah holds my elbow firmly. There’s panic written all over her face, tears streaming down her face. My heart clenches with the sight and I can’t put off comforting her any longer.
Jumping to my feet, I sweep her into my arms. “I’m ok, sweetheart. No need to fret on my account,” I soothe her.
She struggles in my hold and her fists pound on my chest. “Why would you interrupt such an important moment? Your jealousy knows no bounds, Silas! Leave my mate alone, leave both of us alone! I hate you!” she screams at me.
I stumble back, shocked. How has my brother tricked her so completely? “I am your mate, Delilah! Check the mark for yourself,” I command her, shoving my arm in her face.
She glances down and looks up with rage. “I don’t know how you faked mine and David’s mark, but this is low, even for you. How could you hate your twin so much?”
True anger mars her features and I stride toward her. With each step I take, she steps back, trying to keep space between us. She’s no match for me though, and I grip her shoulders in a firm hold, making sure she can’t escape me. “Why won’t you just believe the truth? You love me, as I love you. Just admit it,” I demand her to realize the truth, shaking her with my anger.
Confusion crosses her gaze right before I’m violently tossed to the side with a sharp gust of wind. David and Delilah rush into each other’s arms, and he checks her over for injuries. My jaw clenches as I push myself from the dirt, rushing to regain what’s mine.
David pushes my mate behind him, preventing her from coming back to me. Protectiveness overwhelms me as I rush to separate him from her. I charge forward and smash into a wall of magic. Stumbling back, I regain my footing before pounding my fists on the unseen obstacle. David’s brow furrows with his concentration of holding the protection as I work to wield what little use of my magic I can against his defenses.
Delilah peeks out from behind David and steps to the side when she sees I’m trapped behind his magic.Thank goodness, now she can help me get past his efforts.She holds up her hands and says, “Silas, please stop. What good would fighting this do? The Fates have decided the course of things.”
How could my sweet love say such a thing? Give up on her? Never! “Delilah, you are my mate. How could you believe I’d ever stop?”
“Stop spewing lies, Silas! David and I were picking wildflowers when our marks appeared. He is my mate, not you.” Tears stream down her face, dripping from her jaw.
“You love me, Delilah. I don’t know how he was able to magic a mark matching ours, but I’m your mate. Please, enough of this foolishness,” I plead with her.
Her hands clutch her chest as if she is being caused pain. “I do love you, Silas, but I love David too. The fates have decided I’m to be with him. Can’t you just accept it and be happy for us?”
“Accept it?” I spit out with disgust.
“Silas.” She sighs with exasperation. “I love you, but you aren’t the same boy I fell for. You’ve grown mean and resentful. You hold anger inside and it scares me. There used to be a lightness within you, but now I only see darkness.” She rubs at her chest with one hand and wipes her tears with the other.
Somehow my brother has stolen her love for me. I can’t let this stand. Pulling a vile from my pocket, I smash it against the magic that prevents me from reaching them. The hard clay breaks apart, cutting my hand open. The spell inside is more powerful than I expected and it eats away at the magic with more ferocity than I expected.
I don’t waste a moment and lunge for my brother again before he can find another way to stop me. Delilah will see reason once I extinguish the magical hold he has over her. This is the only way to regain her love. She’ll wrap her arms around me and we can finally share our kiss as she thanks me for freeing her from his clutches.
