Page 34 of Riding A Cock-Horse
“Because it's the right thing to do?” she postulates.
“No, because I am your mate,” Nestor corrects.
At this, Belle arches back and decks him in the junk again.
“For the last time, I'm not your mate!”
The journey back from Loch Ness to Alastair's house is a solemn one where Belle and Nestor are split apart. At the rate he’s going with the Yank, the man won't have to worry about ever reproducing because she'll have castrated him on her own.
Not that I can blame her.
I would be furious if somebody bonded to me in such an underhanded manner. I can tell by Sian's face how worried she is about the others and for Belle. I worry about Belle, too, but she's strong—she won't take any shit from anyone. But the others… I worry for them. Arthur and Theo are so tenderhearted. Jack hides his pain behind a facade of jokes, and Jude is so solemn and serious. Belle brought out the best in him—out of all of them.
The beautiful woman managed to bring them all out of their shells. Unfortunately, I can see them all retreating back into them now that Nestor has claimed her—but I understand why Alastair did it. Nobody here is going to stand up to a Tertiary—let alone the Loch Ness Monster. He's a powerful man that you don't want tonothave on your side. At the end of the day, the Laird cares less for Arthur's feelings than he does for the safety of his entire clan—and turning the Loch Ness Monster against your entire family isn’t the wisest thing to do—not to mention the war where we could definitely use some Tersh strength.
But it's all so bloody unfair.
I want to scream.
For Belle, who never asked for any of this to happen to her.
For the boys, who just want to have a relationship and be normal.
And for Sian and me, against the cruel unfairness of a world we live in.
When we make it back to the Laird's house, the Elders are still there, waiting. They bow down to Nestor, already knowing who and what he is without being told. Then again, they're older than dirt and outdate Nestor. The Tertiary regally nods back. I can tell the man doesn't spend much time in human form, but he definitely knows that he’s at the top of the food chain around here. Dageus's mum runs around muttering about preparing the master bedroom for him. Belle slams her hands on her hips when she hears.
“Why are you giving him your bedroom?!”
Dageus’ mum stutters to a stop.
“He is newly bonded… you are newly… I-I-I thought you would both enjoy the larger chamber,” the harried woman stammers.
“You know, to consummate your bond—” one of the Elders begins, but Belle just arches a savage brow.
“If one more person talks to me about mating this fuck—”
Nestor quickly strides away from her, placing a hand over his crown jewels.
“Please stop mutilating me, lass,” he interjects in a pleading tone. “I’m the last of my line. Well, if you don't include my grandfather, but do you really want to mate with him?!”
“I don't want to mate with any of you! You never asked!”
“Lies!” the Tersh roars. “I can smell you—and you want to mate with me.”
“Ha! Has it even occurred to you that I always smell horny?!” Belle bellows.
At this Nestor blinks.
“Yeah,” she sneers spitefully, “you're nothing special. I smell this way for little old ladies who walk by me on the street!”
At this declaration, Dageus’ mum pales.
“I'll just go check on the room,” she whispers, slipping away hastily.
“I didn't mean you! I'm not horny for you!” Belle yells out, making us all laugh.
“Will somebody please go tell her we don't want your bedroom and that Idon’twant to boink her,” she begs to no one in particular.
