“Come, my child. Your betrothed is waiting for you.” She gently pulled me forward.
I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my breathing.
When finally, the door opened, the first person I saw was Kent, who, for a moment, seemed as lost as I was. His gaze lowered to my revealing gown and returned to my face. His dark umber eyes barely concealed the storm raging behind his artificial calmness. A slight pink tint colored his cheeksand I could hardly look away. He was so agonizingly beautiful at this very moment, that everything I did, everything I planned to do, suddenly felt so incredibly wrong. My heart plummeted in my chest, and my heart broke all over again, shattered into the smallest of pieces.
With difficulty, I averted my eyes. Corliss took my hand and placed it on her forearm.
She prattled and preached about the benefits of our union all the way to the main hall, and further toward one of the smaller, more private rooms.
When we entered, I paused taking in the wide table, decorated with fresh peonies in an elegant vase centered between crystal glasses, over a crisp, white tablecloth. Candle light flickered gently off to the side and reflected off the edge of the glasses sending tiny, colorful flickers all over the walls.
Lord Rutherford, standing by the window with his hands behind his back, turned and froze, the corners of his mouth lifted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
TYNAN
Istood for a moment longer, staring at the door that closed in front of me. Alina was inside with the head of the white clan, the man who dared to claim her right in front of me. The urge that I felt when he stepped over to her, daring to place his fucking hand on her shoulder, still had not left me. The desire, the insistent pull to bathe in his still warm blood and show her, and the rest of the world, that he was not her mate. I was.
The way she looked, the way she moved her rigid back and stiffened shoulders told me everything I needed to know. She liked it as much as I did, and yet she has not put up a fight.
She appeared to be accepting her situation, and itinfuriated me beyond anything. She knew that she was betraying everything that was important, betraying me, and betraying herself, in order to give others what they wanted. I could understand the desire to fit in and survive, but I could not respect it. Deep down, I hated the way she gave me up, just like many others had before.
Long before I arrived here, I had this naïve idea that a single look between us would fix everything. But that never happened, and even her undeniable pull toward me did not make the bond take hold. I had never been around those who were mated. All I had seen were the negative effects – my mother slowly losing her humanity, and Sage, clearly tortured by it.
I exhaled through gritted teeth, and touched the hilt of my blade. I could end this. I could kick the door open and fight that bastard who dared take my place. I could force her to come with me. But no, I wanted her to choose me – to be mine because she wanted me.
Was it stupidity or pride?
I could not tell.
Deep in thought, I almost missed the old hag who just closed the door behind her, and stood waiting for something with a smug look on her face. I clenched my fists so hard that pain shot up my arms.
My body required a fast, explosive movement. My skin burned, my hands flexed and with every minute that passed, I became more unhinged, unstable, insane. Servants had just finished bringing the last course, everythingseemed quiet inside of the room, but my head was about to explode.
Suddenly, the door opened and Rutherford appeared in the corridor. He paused for a moment expressionless, staring at the wall directly in front of him.
“Well?” Corliss searched his face.
“It’s all set,” he said.
“I congratulate you, milord.” Corliss took his arm and both of them moved along the hall, talking quietly to each other, before disappearing behind the corner.
My head snapped back to the door, as if it was a living creature. With one violent, aggressive shove, I pushed the door open and it hit the wall with a dull thump. I stepped through the doorway, knowing the momentum would have it swinging back, and stilled as the door closed behind me.
Alina was sitting at the table, her hand was on the stem of a long crystal glass. When she saw me, her fingers trembled, and her eyes widened. I could still see the sadness and restlessness in every feature, but there was something else. A quiet determination was growing deep within her.
Hardly controlling myself, I moved to her and placed both of my hands on the tablecloth, leaning closer. Between us were only the vase of flowers, two sets of plates, and silverware. She just looked at me, as if determined to wait it out, as if nothing that was happening around her mattered. It infuriated me even more.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
She shook her head slightly and averted her eyes.
“Are you . . . talking about the engagement?”
“Yes.”
“I’m doing what the others want. Isn’t it obvious?” She bit her lip, looking away.
