Page 16 of Rock Hard

“You’re not going to get him or that child,” she hisses, her dark eyes flashing with malice. “I’m his mate. I’m the one thatwill carry his offspring. Not some simpering little female who doesn’t deserve one look, one thought,” she spits out through her teeth.

“One dark, twisted night. One small second. That’s all you got and all you will get. You don’t deserve to even breathe the same air as we. So now you will lose that breath, lose the memory of his love. You are banished to the nether regions where I’ve been dwelling and I will take your place.”

My mouth opens and a gust of breath flows out, green and glowing. Her eyes flash with triumph and with a tremendous effort I look down and my hands lift. I can see the floor through my own skin and I feel tears in my eyes. I reach out and try to touch my belly but my hands slip through.

“No,” I whimper breathlessly. “Granite…”. My voice is barely louder than the air moving around us.

But her eyes flash again. “Not even Granite can save you, human.”

I shrink inwards, the pain and loneliness and love washing over me like a dark tidal wave dragging at my heels. I can’t see anything anymore. It’s all a dark void and I struggle to stay here. To stay in this moment. In this world.

But all I see is space around me. Empty space as empty as my soul without Granite.

Without my mate.

CHAPTER 12

Granite

Screaming echoes in my head. Screams and tears clog my throat and I draw in a deep breath, Angela’s scent still in the air around me.

I drag that air in and there’s something darker here. A scent that I remember well.

I can barely see through the veil of the stone shield that I wear. But I see enough. Menen.

Her smiling, triumphant face as she comes up to me. I want to cringe back when her hand slips out and caresses my granite shell.

“I told you, Granite. That one is not good enough for you. Nobody else will ever be good enough for you. Just me. I’m your mate,” she hisses, the sibilant tone of her voice grating on my ears. I’ve spent so long out in that darkness waiting for an opportunity to make my way back here, back into your arms. Now I’ve got that chance. And this time, I’m going to make sure that we’re together forever.” Her smile is cold and frightening and fear clutches my heart when I can’t see Angela anywhere.

“I’m yours, Granite Zephyr. Now and forever. She won’t cause us anymore trouble.”

I struggle to pull myself out of my prison and back to my love, my mate.

Especially when Menen touches me again and I can smell Angela’s scent on her. That’s not right. She should never be allowed near Angela.

This is all wrong.

Help me, Granite! I need you!

Her sweet voice. It’s all around me. All that I can see and hear. It’s all her. I need her.

I need my mate. And nothing. Not even this bitch of a witch is ever going to keep me from getting to my mate when she needs me.

With a roar that shakes the walls of the room, I crack open the shell that I’m encased in, I rip it open and my fingers grasp the air. I pull one arm across and shred the stone covering on me, finally gasping as my body and head emerge from the silent tomb.

“Where is my mate?”I roar, leaping towards Menen, my big fingers stretching for her throat.

She backpedals, horror twisting her features. “What are you doing? You can’t be free! You’re mine! Iownyou!” She turns to run but I catch her and haul her backwards and into the nearest wall.

“I want my mate, witch! I will have her now or I swear to all that’s holy, I will kill you with my bare hands right this second,” I snarl.

Her sneer almost makes me lose my head. “If you do that, you’ll never find your little princess.”

“I don’t need you. It would make it easier, I agree. But one way or another, I will find Angela and then come hell or high water, I will marry her and have children with her. Because she’s mine. We’re fated. Nothing and no one can stand between two fated mates.” I stalk up to her. “And if you try, you better makedamn sure that I’m dead, witch. Because otherwise, you will be by the time I’m done with you. And I’ll make it as fucking painful as possible. Just because.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” she huffs and backs away with a flourish of her hand. Green fire streaks out and licks at my bare skin. “Stay back, Granite! I will hurt you if your manners don’t improve.”

A bright flash of white lights up the corner of the room and Menen screams as another witch saunters through the breach.

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