Page 51 of The Dark Rising
My hands fist on my lap, and I bare my teeth at him. “You’re insane. Just because we are Heirs doesn’t mean I am yours, nor are you mine. It doesn’t work like that, it is not like that, it doesn’tmeanthat.”
“No, little wolf,” he says, a tendril of his power floating toward me, stroking my cheekbone. “It means so much more than that.”
Nineteen
Rhea
Iplaywiththeberries on my plate, not all that hungry, especially with the glare on the side of my face.
“Eat,” Darius grunts, but I scowl and lean back in the chair that I’m in near the fire.
“I’m not hungry,” I growl, pushing the plate away. “Are we done here for now? I want to see my pack.”
“You can see them later.” Darius bites into a piece of meat, his eyes holding mine as he chews.
“No,” I say slowly, “I want to see them now.” He shakes his head, ignoring me. “Darius,” I growl, and he smirks, leaning back in the chair and taking a drink. I grit my teeth, my eyes like fire, but he doesn’t burn, not even a little singe.
I get up, pushing my chair back and walk toward the door. I hear his chuckle behind me as I grasp the doorknob and twist. Only, it doesn’t open. I try again, grunting at the effort before I turn toward the asshole sitting smugly in his seat.
“Why is the door locked?” I ask slowly, my body vibrating with tension. He shrugs.Shrugs.I look back toward the door in panic. I want to call Josh down the link, but I’ve been blocking his attempts, not ready to talk to him, but now…
“You are not going anywhere until you have had some rest,” Darius says, and my eyes move to him as he stands and walks toward the bathroom.
“That’s bullshit,” I shout, following him. “I’m rested, I’m not a child.” He ignores me, instead turning the taps on to fill the copper bathtub, water instantly spewing from the spouts, and I have to hand it to the humans, they make some resourceful things. “Darius,” I growl when he ignores me.
“Strip, get in the bath.” He busies himself with dipping his fingers into the water, adjusting the taps’ flow as I just stare at him.
“Fuck no,” I sputter. My eyes going back and forth from the tub to him. “Absolutely not.”
“You don’t want a warm bath?” He puts his hands on his hips, brows pinched together like he doesn’t understand.
I do want a bath, just not with him here. “Leave and I’ll get in the bath.”
“I’ve seen you naked, Rhea, don’t act like a blushing virgin now.”
I fist my hands at my sides. “Yes, Darius, you have seen me naked, haven’t you?” I bite back. “And not just in my heat.” The reminder does the trick, and his eyes harden. “Now get out. I’ll bathe and then I’ll leave to see my pack.”
He doesn’t answer, just stares at me for a moment, his body tense before he leaves and slams the door shut behind him. I scoff and take off the clothes Belldame gave me, glancing at the door in case he comes back.
He doesn’t.
Why is he running me a bath anyway?
I eye the water, wondering if it will turn into lava at any moment before I shake myself off. It’s a bath, Rhea.
I turn off the spouts when it’s full, then dip my toe in the warm water, feeling its perfect temperature before I climb in. I sigh as I sit down, letting its warmth soak into my skin as I lean back, not fully relaxed but letting the water soothe my aching muscles. Cupping water into my hands, I bring it up to my face, washing away all the sweat and strain of the last few days.
And it has been days since I passed out, and then I refused to speak to Darius, refused to eat or drink. Stupid on my part, I did no favors to anyone, especially myself for doing that.
I just wanted to be left alone for a time, to gather my strength and thoughts. To shove all the shit down that I’m feeling so I can fortify myself again.
All I did was weaken myself and now I’m stuck in Darius’s bedroom that he wont let me out of until he says so. Why my enemy, sort of ally, wants me near him is a mystery when all I want is to claw his eyes out. Though I suspect it’s our connection that is the reason.
He must hate it, loathe it. Serves him right to have to do things he doesn’t want to do. It makes me feel fuzzy inside that he feels the need to do so, when his mind is so against it.
Asshole.
Closing my eyes, I breath deeply, running my fingers through the water and eventually, after a little while, my shoulders loosen and my aches and small pains seem to fade away.
