Page 39 of Kidnapped Forced Mate

Kairo nods tersely, her eyes changing color and glowing as she sends him a mind link. When her eyes take on their normal shade of green, she nods. “I know where he is.”

She proceeds to the door, and I follow her without bothering to put anything on my feet. I march barefoot down the hallway behind her, following her into the elevator, where she tries to apologize.

“Save it,” I say sternly, lifting a dismissive hand. “I don’t want to hear any more lies from you dragons.”

Kairo purses her lips and turns her face away bashfully. The last bit of my empathy fizzles away. She had no bad intentions toward me, but her brother did. So I save my anger, the rage building up inside me as she leads me to a door on the second floor.

“Don’t come in,” I warn her, hanging onto the last thread of sanity I have left. “This isn’t gonna be as pretty as you think I am.”

“I’m deeply sorry, Olivia.”

“Don’t be,” I glance over my shoulder, one hand on the door handle. “You’ve done me a favor by telling me the truth.” I turn back to the door, glaring at it angrily. “You’ve done more for me than he has.”

I take a deep breath, straightening my shoulders and my resolve to face the deceitful dragon shifter. The door flies open, and I find Stryder amongst a group of five males at the bar. He turns to me with a smile that wrenches my gut.

“Olivia, we were just–”

I storm forward, ignoring the way his face falls when he catches the look of pure disgust on my face. Wielding all the strength and training I’d done over the years into my hand, I slap him across the cheek.

This time, I’m the one who paints his flesh with a shade of bright red in the shape of my hand. His hand flies up to his cheek, his eyes widening with horror.

“Oli–”

“You fucking lying piece of shit!” I roar while the room erupts all around me, a chair falling to the ground when the others hurry off their seats. I couldn’t care less about the audience right now. His public humiliation is what he deserves.

“Olivia…” he breathes, attempting to reach for my hand, but I quickly step back, repulsed by him.

“Don’t. Touch. Me,” I warn, huffing through my nose. “You manipulated me into falling for you! You seduced me to get what you wanted out of me!” I spit bitterly. “How dare you?!”

“I can explain–”

“No!” I exclaim, hating myself for feeling so much anger that tears begin to cloud my vision. I’ve never felt so used in my life, that my emotions are getting the best of me. My anger is so uncontrollable that seeing his face is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. “I don’t care about what you have to say! You had enough time to tell me that the only reason I’m here is to be your personal baby-making machine!”

“That’s not–”

“Stop!” I yell at the top of my lungs, shutting my eyes when the sight of him becomes too unbearable. I cup my hands over my ears and shake my head. “I hate you, Stryder! I fucking hate you!”

My chest feels so heavy, I think I’m about to have a heart attack. I hear him sighing, and all I say is, “You’re gonna take me back home right now.”

“Okay,” he says softly, and I hear shuffling of feet as the room empties. When I open my eyes again, the tears pour out.

A pair of soft hands settle on my shoulders, but I know they're not Stryder’s. I can tell from how much smaller they are, and I hate that I know exactly how his touch feels. Still, the warmth from Kairo’s hands is welcoming, her gentle voice soothing as I turn and feel her embrace me.

“You are sure about leaving?” she asks in a whisper.

I nod, stepping back and staying strong, fighting the urge to sob.

“Then let me help you gather your things,” she offers, to which I nod again. I’m just grateful that it isn’t Stryder who stayed behind to offer me comfort.

Now, I must prepare to be carried in his arms one last time.

Chapter 17 - Stryder

My cheek still stings long after I’ve left the study. The humiliation in front of my brothers also smarts, but not as much as being blatantly rejected by Olivia.

With my heart racing, I leave the castle in search of the fresh air outside. But even that does little to ease my condition.

I’m about to lose someone important to me.

---