Chapter 166
April POV
I shouldn’t be here, I know I shouldn’t. But my parents are traveling to another pack, so I shouldn’t get caught out. Even if people notice I’m gone, they won’t know where I am. They will assume I’m somewhere in the pack.
The guards will confirm I never left, so they will search high and low in the pack. Then when I get back, I’ll lie about where I am.
Eryx continues to carry me, although it’s not needed.
“I can walk,” I remind him.
He hums and nods. “I know, I’m well aware you’re capable of walking, but the spell is easier done if there’s only one spot I need to keep hidden.”
Leaning down, he kisses my temple.
“We’re past the guards,” I say.
“Yes, but I have to get to my room without anyone seeing. So, I need to hold the spell up longer,” he explains.
Rolling my eyes, I lift up slightly and kiss his neck. “Any excuse to keep hold of me,” I say.
“Behave,” he warns.
Behave? He says that a lot. Behave like it’s not been months of us meeting in secret. Kissing his neck, my fingers teasing at the buttons on his shirt.
“I sai-” His words stop and he presses his back to the wall. I glance to the side to see his dad walking toward us. My hands tighten on him, and I’m so sure he sees us, only he walks straight past.
Eryx sighs and then moves even quicker. “That was too fucking close. I might have hidden us from sight, but he could have heard.”
He steps into a room and closes the door. Placing me on the bed, he focuses on the door, and after a moment of silence, he relaxes.
“What did you do?” I ask.
“Put a spell on so no one will hear us from outside.”
Smiling, I stand and pull him closer. “Good idea.”
“Not for that reason. So if my father walks past, he won’t hear two voices and demand to be let in.”
Sighing, I sit back on the bed. “I’m not asking you to claim me, Eryx.”
Chuckling, he nods. “Do you have any idea how much trouble I would be in for mating with you, not claiming, just mating?”
“Who would know?” I ask.
“My mother for one, then Helena has this weird thing where she senses things. My father caught your scent on me before, so he will as well.”
Moving, I lie back on the bed. “To me, if we mated, if you claimed me, then nothing can be done. My parents can’t use me as a tool to form alliances with other packs, because they will be forced to align with this one.”
He walks to me and leans over. His lips hover close to mine, and I reach forward, kissing him.
“Or, your parents could declare war on this pack. Then what?” he asks.
“Then my parents die,” I say.
“Don’t, Eryx. Your parents are saints. You have no idea what it feels like to be seen as an object that can be used as a bargaining chip to win a war or to build a stronger pack. Any day now I could be forced to marry someone and be claimed by them. Then what?” I ask.
Sighing, he peers down at me. “I don’t know, at least not in the sense you speak of. I do know how you feel, though, because I slipped. I got too far into my mother’s mind, and she was used as an object. Sold purely for the cash and to help win a war.”
My eyes widen. “To who?” I ask.
“My father. Twisted, but turned out he was her mate as well, but that didn’t mean things were perfect for her. So I get it. I get why you want to find ways
out.”
He doesn’t get it. “Answer me this, Eryx. If when I return home, I’m instantly forced to marry someone and them claim me, what then? I won’t be seeing you again.”
The anger flashes in his eyes quickly. “That won’t happen.”
Laughing, I stare at him. “I’m nineteen soon. It’s happening, Eryx, even if you don’t wish to believe it.”
Sighing, I kiss his cheek. “Let’s just deal with it if it happens, right?” I suggest.
“It won’t. My dad knows about you now, so in a few weeks we should be able to sort it.”
Nodding, I wrap my arms around him. I don’t have the courage or the heart to tell him that it’s planned. That tomorrow night, I will be married to someone. His arms wrap around me, and I let him hold me.
“I’ll try to speed things up with my dad, even if it means playing nice and maybe letting him treat me like a child for certain things.” He cups my face and kisses me gently. “I don’t want to cause a war, April, but for you I would. For you, I would give up my family.”
“I don’t want that,” I say quickly.
“I know, but it doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t still do it for you.”
Settling into his hold, I close my eyes. I know that I should tell him we’re out of time. That these visits were perfect but are coming to an end.
I know who I’m set to marry and be claimed by. Roland Corwick. He’s a rogue, but he wants a female who can give him strong children, and I will be that female whether I want to be or not.
Keeping my eyes closed, I give myself the time to pretend that isn’t about to become a reality. I let myself dream of this time with Eryx and that we will be together. It doesn’t last long, though. The truth slides in again, and all I can see is me, stuck in the rogue territory, and I know I’m being sold to Roland. But I won’t stay his.
I know rogues. They use females as nothing but incubators. I’ll be used for breeding, by a lot of men.
The feel of Eryx’s lips pressing against mine has me relaxing, my hands tangling into his hair. Tonight is the last time I will see him, and my only chance to say goodbye.
