Chapter 17
Lina's POV
"But I'll let you use me." Louis continued.
I blinked in disbelief. Did he just say that?
"…You will?" I asked stupidly.
Louis's lips twitched, like he was fighting the urge to smile, which somehow made this ten times worse. I was already embarrassed enough.
"Yes," he said. "But not like that."
I glanced down at where my hand was still hovering awkwardly over his chest, my fingers curled awkwardly.
"Oh," I muttered, quickly pulling my hand back. "Right. Of course. I wasn't... I mean—"
I stopped myself before I embarrassed myself even further.
This was officially the most embarrassing moment of my life.
He stepped back, giving me space, his expression softening just a little. "You looked like you were about to seduce me against your will."
"She was "
"I was," I said before thinking. Then immediately groaned. "I mean—no—wait—"
Carla, if you ever speak in my head again, I will personally silence you forever.
A low chuckle escaped him before he could stop it.
Oh goodness. He was laughing.
My face burned. "Please don't laugh."
"I'm sorry," he said, still smiling. "It's just… you're terrible at pretending."
"That bad?" I asked weakly.
"Painfully obvious."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I don't do this. Using people, manipulating them. I'm not built for it."
"And yet here you are," he said gently. "But I'm grateful you came clean." He added softly. His tone made me feel something weird in my stomach. Butterflies? Hell no, I might be having diarrhea.
I met his gaze again. The teasing was gone now, replaced with something more serious..
"I'm not offering myself," he said. "Not like that. I won't force you into anything you don't want. But I will protect you."
"Why?" I asked quietly. "If you know I don't love you."
"Because I do," he replied without hesitation.
The simplicity of it stole the air from my lungs, I mean literally.
"And because," he continued, "if the world is going to chew you up anyway, I'd rather stand between you and it."
My throat tightened. I hated how much his words affected me. In the past, I had never really gotten to know how, he was just too different from his twin brother, I never knew he could be this... romantic?
"There will be conditions," he added.
Of course there would be.
I straightened. "Such as?"
"You stay close to me, publicly." he said. "People need to see it, that's the only way they'll say away, when they know you have my protection."
My stomach dropped, that wasn't what I expected. "They'll assume—"
"Let them," he interrupted calmly. "Their assumptions are my shield."
"And your engagement?" I asked.
His jaw tightened briefly. "That's my problem."
I nodded slowly.
"And in private?" I asked. "What happens then?"
His gaze softened. "Nothing you don't want."
Did he mean that? Was there actually anyone that generous? Hell na, I still had to be careful.
"Okay," I whispered.
He exhaled like he'd been holding his breath this whole time. "Then we have a deal."
I took a step back, suddenly very aware of how emotionally exposed I felt. "I should go."
"Yes," he said. "Before you try to seduce me again."
I groaned. "Please forget that ever happened."
"I doubt I can actually forget that." he said with a slight grin.
I turned toward the door, then hesitated."Louis?"
"Yes?"
"…Thank you." I whispered quietly, then rushed out without waiting for his response.
"I'm glad you took my advice. You really need to listen to me more you know." Carla spoke, her tone filled with satisfaction.
"Don't flatter yourself. It just happened, I wasn't thinking straight." I replied quickly. I don't know what suddenly came over me...was it realization of what I'd just gotten myself into? Maybe.
I took hurried steps out of Louis quarters, not wanting to accidentally encounter the alpha or his mate. I'm sure he was still raging mad at what I did to his Kain.
I'd barely made it out when I almost bumped into someone. I apologized without looking up to see who it was, but their scent told me everything I needed to know.
I pretended not to see him, rushing to pass but he caught my arm just in time. "Lina?"
I stilled, finally turning to meet his gaze. We hadn't seen since the last time he ordered the guards to flog me.
"Your highness." I forced a smile, bowing politely.
"That's the direction to my brother's quarters. Are you coming from there?" He asked, his expression hardening.
My fist cleanched, my nails digging into my palm. Kain was really starting to piss me off. I can't even understand what I'd loved about him in the first place.
"If I remember correctly, I don't owe you an explanation on my movements and location." I replied quietly.
"You owe me everything," he growled, gripping my arm tighter and pulling me closer to him..
The sudden pressure on my arm sent a sharp sting through my shoulder.
"Let go," I said quietly, not wanting to lose my temper. Everything he did just seemed to trigger me in a bad way.
He didn't let go, his grip tightened instead, fingers digging into my skin. I hissed from the pain, but he didn't seem to care.
"What's your relationship with my brother? You're my mate Lina, in case you forgot." His tone was possessive, angry. I could tell this wasn't about us being mates, he just hated it when his ego was ruined.
A small smile creepy up my cheeks as my lips curled slightly, just enough to annoy him. "Louis is my mate too."
His eyes widened in disbelief, his grip on my arm loosening just a bit. "What did you just say? Your what?"
"He's my mate kain, you're nothing special okay, I don't want you... he's the one I want. You don't have to act so childish about it."
"So, he's the one that marked you?" He asked.
I swallowed, "yes." I breathed. The words had barely left my lips, he moved before I could react.
His hand yanked me forward. Pain shot through my arm as I lost my balance. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Then his fangs pierced my neck.
It hurt. A sharp, burning pain that made me gasp. My body went stiff, my hands coming up on instinct, pushing uselessly against him.
"Kain—stop," I tried to say, but my voice came out broken.
I didn't understand what he was doing. I only knew this wasn't instinct or care. It was anger. It was control.
My chest felt tight. My thoughts scattered. I couldn't think past the pain and the fear creeping in.
Carla's voice cut through my head, tense and urgent. Lina, this is dangerous. I, I'm losing strength.
I knew that already. I could die.