Seraya's POV
"The master has sent for you." Mira said the next morning and I tried not to roll my eyes.
"I'll be there in a minute." I told her. I was feeling much more refreshed this morning, dressed in a new pair of jeans and a wrap top. I grabbed the nail polish and did my nails before I went downstairs. He was waiting as I intended.
"I don't like to be kept waiting." He growled while I pretended not to ogle his cultured look. He was dressed in tailored black pants and a pressed white button-down, the sleeves folded to expose thick corded forearms. It was even easier to hate him because he looked so good.
"Repeat that again, perhaps I'll give a fuck the second time." I drawled and his eyes hardened. Last night was fresh in my mind and so was the sting of his casual dismissal.
"What is the reason for this sudden juvenile behavior?" He said and I laughed humorlessly.
"Last night is the reason. We had an agreement, Drazien. If I am your mate, I will not tolerate such disrespect from you again." I ground out, my voice rising.
"What disrespect?" He asked, sounding genuinely confused.
"Who was the female last night? Why was she here?" I asked and his demeanor became cold again.
"That is none of your business." He replied.
"A female was here in the dead of night and it is not my business?!" Now I may be yelling. Did he really not see anything wrong with that?
"Have you forgotten yourself?" He asked, crossing the room in a blink and wrapping his fingers around my throat. He scowled down at me and I glared right back. "We are mates in name only. We do not have to maintain the pretense when it is just you and I and you will never tell me who and who not to bring into my home again."
I hooked my arms between his grip and broke free.
"I heard you loud and clear, Mr. Thorne. Are we finished here?"
"No, we're going out." He said and stalked for the door, expecting me to follow like a dog at his heels. I had a half a mind to stalk back upstairs but I knew it wasn't above him to physically cart me with him. A Lamborghini fenomeno but already waiting outside but I was feeling too irritated to gawk at the wheeled masterpiece.
"Does this place have a name?" I asked, slipping into the passenger's seat.
"We're attending an event tonight, you'll need a dress." He replied.
"There are many upstairs that I've not worn." I pointed out.
"They won't do." He replied curtly.
I shut my mouth and focused my attention on the streets instead, not like it helped any. Sharing this tiny space with him was extremely uncomfortable. It was like trying not to be aware of a huge elephant in the room. I hated the way it seemed like I was breathing him in with every breath I took, the way all I saw was him even as I stared out the window. My world was slowly becoming eclipsed by him and I felt desperate for a way to keep my sanity.
"I need a phone." I told him.
"What for?"
My brows tilted dramatically. "It's none of your business what I do with it either." I pointed out.
"Not if I'm buying it." He replied and I felt my hands tighten into fists.
"You listen here, Mr. The-Entire-World-revolves-around-me. The world doesn't. There are people in my life that I must communicate with and it's either you give me a damn phone and everything else I ask, or I will run away in the middle of the damn night and then you can go explaining to your family and the damn world why your mate was running from you."
His hands tightened at the wheel and the car suddenly came to a stop.
"What-" I started.
He suddenly reached across the seat and gripped my nape, forcing me to look at him. Now why the hell was 'he' pissed?
"You'll never threaten me with running again." He growled, his voice low and deadly.
"And what if I do?" I raised my chin defiantly.
"Silly girl." He murmured. "I will hunt you down. There is nowhere in the world where you can hide from me."
I felt my body shiver violently in response and I bit my lip in frustration. Why does he go saying something like this and then switching around the next second as if I mean less than dirt to him? Why does he delight in confusing me so?
The movement caught his attention and the tension in the car ratcheted up several notches. Flames licked the depths of his coal black eyes. My breath was held and I wasn't sure if I wanted him to kiss me or if I wanted to punch him in the face.
"Drazien…" I whispered, tormented. I was done begging for crumbs from men but I nearly begged him to kiss me.
He released me suddenly and the cool AC breeze knocked some sense back into me. I reeled, my cheeks heating up. Why was it that no matter how angry I was at him, the moment he touched me, my senses flew out the window?
"You'll get your phone." He said, starting the car.
At least l won, I told myself.
~~~
'Deidra' was a high end luxury brand, afforded only by the top point-one percent wealthy. I've only ever seen the rather expensive Deidra knockoffs before today and never once did I think I would ever be walking into the real establishment. Not even Cairh or Anya could afford their originals.
"Drazien!" The excited squeal came from no other than Deidra herself as she basically launched herself at him but skidded to a stop when she saw me. I stared, she was practically a celebrity. "So the rumors are true. I never thought the day would come that you would shackle yourself to a mate." She said, amused.
"Watch it." He replied but his voice held no ire. "Meet Seraya, my mate. Seraya, Deidra is my long time friend."
I smiled and extended a hand. "Nice to meet you." I said.
She hesitated, staring at my hand for an awkward second before she grasped it, giving a high fake laugh. "The pleasure is all mine."
All of my starry fangirl eyes died down and I would bet all of my inheritance that they were more than friends. Who had more of a rake reputation between he and Corvyn at this point?
"My trusted attendants will guide you to your reservation." She said and a male attendant hurried forward.
"Perhaps we can talk later." She told Drazien, grabbing his arm. I stared at that hand, overcome with the sudden urge to yank it off and beat her with it.
"Perhaps." Drazien replied and my mood soured.
"Perhaps." I mocked under my breath and he sent me a questioning look. I shrugged.
The pieces on display however were worth the trouble, every one of them exquisite, dripping with precious stones. They made up for their creator's vulgarity.
We were led to a private area and Drazien grabbed a seat and a magazine.
"Go with them." He said and the attendants led me to a large dressing area where three gowns waited.
"Please take off your clothes." The female attendant said.
I instantly fell in love with the first dress. Made of delicate black silk charmeuse and inlaid with gold, the dress was armless and backless, floating around me like a dream.
"It is beautiful." I gushed and the attendants beamed.
"It fit like it was made specifically for you, my lady." The male beamed. "Come, let's see what Mr. Thorne thinks of it."
I was suddenly nervous, my stilettoed feet clicking too loudly as I made my way out. He looked up immediately I appeared and he stilled, his eyes slowly devouring me from head to toe.
"What do you think?" I asked, turning around so he glimpsed the daring back. His harshly indrawn breath was all the gratification I needed.
"We'll take it." He said, his voice going several octaves lower.
"Not so fast, Tiger. I must try all three dresses."
His eyes found me the moment I stepped out again and though he looked relaxed and carefree to an untrained eye, I spent a good amount of the last few days watching him and I saw the way his hands tightened on the armrest. His facade of not giving a fuck was developing cracks and I was enjoying every bit of tearing it down.
I smiled to myself as the third dress was fitted on me. Drazien was not the only one that was wicked. I had an imagination of the male begging me on his knees, of me dismissing him the way he has done to me in the past.
"It's done." The attendants said and stepped back and I turned to the mirror. Something whistled through the air and it was sheer instinct that made me dive to the ground. People cried out, the mirror shattered noisily and I hit the ground hard, wincing in pain. I looked up in shock to find an arrow punched into the mirror and through the wall, right where I'd been standing.
The attendants flew into a commotion and Drazien appeared at the door. He crossed the room to me in a blink.
"Seraya! Are you okay?" I'd never heard that note in his voice before, a little panicked, almost like he cared if I lived or died. As if. He probably cared more about having to start this facade all over again with another person.
"I'm fine." I said, allowing him to help me up. My head was still ringing, my heart pounding as I struggled to catch up with what just happened. Was I really attacked? I stared at the message pinned to the wall by the arrow that missed my head and Drazien crossed to the room and yanked it out. I already read it though.
'Reject the bitch, or her blood will be on your hands.' A message to Drazien, presumably talking about me. He crushed the message in his fist and I felt an ominous shiver race down my spine, the cold air ghosting over my bare shoulder suddenly feeling ominous.
"Drazien, who could have sent that?" I whispered.
"It doesn't matter, I will kill them." He growled and stalked to the window, scanning the direction it came from. I felt lightheaded. I'd been a target before. Hell, I was a walking please-fuck-with-me target but never before had I actually felt like my life was at stake like I did now.
"Seraya!" Drazien was suddenly in front of me and he was studying me intently. "I called you twice. You don't look too good."
"Pardon, an arrow just nearly took my life. My legs are literally shaking." Before the words were out of my mouth, he swept in into his arms.
"The evening is cancelled. You need to rest." He gritted out.
"No." I said emphatically, causing him to pause. "Whoever did that wants us to hide and be afraid." In fact, I was beginning to get angry. "We're going to the dinner."
He stared at me like he was only just seeing me, like he might be proud of me and I would never admit it aloud but that made me feel good.