Page 21 of The Call of Crimson
The anger from earlier still simmers just below the surface. The alcohol helps numb the pain, but it just makes me want to feel something else. All I’ve felt for days is pain, grief, anger, and guilt.
“If you’ll excuse me. I think I need to turn in before I do something reckless.” I stand, swaying slightly as I feel the alcohol’s full effects.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Elijah calls.
“That doesn’t give me many limitations, E.”
“Then, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Ophelia chimes in.
“That I can work with,” I say with a chuckle, saluting them both as I exit the library.
Stumbling towards my chambers, I realize Elijah had made the drinks much stronger than I originally thought. I have surpassed tipsy and gone straight to drunk.
“You okay, darling?” Ayden’s baritone voice drawls, sending shivers up my spine. I hadn’t noticed him exiting his chambers until I stood just a few feet from him.
The anger bubbles close to the surface, and I decide I’m not playing nice tonight. “Not in the least, Prince.” Before I can stop myself, I’m closing the distance between us and shoving myself into his space. “But that tends to happen when you lose both your parents in a matter of weeks and find out you’re engaged and everyone knew, but kept it from you.”
“Still angry, I see.” He smirks at me, pushing off the wall and slowly backing me against the opposite side of the hall. “Good, I like my fianceé with a little fire in her veins.”
He leans an arm against the wall, effectively caging me in. “Yeah, well, I’d like my fiancé to be someone I actually know.”
“Someone who isn’t full of secrets,” I add. His woodsy citrus scent overwhelms my senses, and I catch myself wondering, once again, how I was so blind to not notice how similar it is to Aurelius’ before now.
“Oh yeah? Someone like my brother?” Ayden challenges, a twinkle in his eye. “I may have secrets, love, but I do nothing without reason. As for wanting to know your fiancé—give me the time of day and I’ll let you get to know every part of me.” He smirks, knowing his twisted words have hit their mark.
The barely audible sound of a door creaking open catches my attention, then I feel it—feelhim. Aurelius is watching this display, and my anger spikes. I remember I’m mad at both these males, and I want them to hurt like I’m hurting.
“No, not him,” I snarl, curling my fist into his shirt, and pulling his lips into mine. Our kiss is all teeth and tongues, and I pour every emotion I’m feeling into it.
His hand threads through my hair, deepening the kiss, as he pulls my leg up and nestles himself against my core. Fingers trail the bare flesh of my thigh, leaving me desperate to feel more.
Aurelius’ patience snaps, and I hear the door swing wide open. I throw up a wall of shadows, holding him in his chambers. Flipping him off, I wrap my hand around Ayden’s neck, trying to deepen the kiss.
Much to my disappointment, Ayden breaks away, leaving me breathing heavily as I search his eyes for answers.
“How much have you had to drink, Breyla?”
“Enough to know I want this and not regret it tomorrow.”
“She’s drunk,” Aurelius snarls.
“Thank you,Breyla,” Ayden says sarcastically to Aurelius, before turning his gaze back to me. He drops my leg, straightening my disheveled dress and stepping back. “As muchas I would love to repay my brother for his earlier kindness and fuck you in front of him—that won’t be happening tonight.”
“I told you I want this,” I repeat.
“Right. You wantthis—not me. You want to drown your pain with a warm body? Fine, but that won’t be me. Especially not when you’re doing this to hurt him and not because you genuinely wantme.When that changes, you know where to find me,My Queen.”
Ayden places a soft kiss on my forehead and steps back to his side of the hallway. “Goodnight, darling,” he says, disappearing into his room, the lock clicking shut behind him.
Aurelius manages to break through the wall of shadow surrounding his room and storms towards me.
“Leave me alone, Aurelius,” I say defeatedly, turning towards my door.
“You know I can’t do that, Princess,” he says lowly as he grabs me by the waist, pulling my back to his front. His other hand wraps around my throat. The grip is possessive, but he doesn’t apply any pressure.
“Listen closely, little demon. I know you’re hurting, that you’re mad at me right now. But mark my words, I will earn my way back into your bed and your heart.” I stiffen at his words, but he continues, “And when I do, I will remember this little display. You’ll regret playing with fire.”
His words are a promise, but one I didn’t need. I had already played with fire and been burned. The pain of his flame was a constant companion at this point.
