Page 27 of The Rat King
“No. I don’t want him,” she said, and she did not stutter. The rejection in the words and in her tone was clear as a bell. Now it was Xavier’s turn to triumph, and I knew he was by the devious twinkle in his eye as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Run along, brother,” Xavier said, openly gloating. He even placed his hand on the small of her back, and she did not flinch. I flinched as a jealous gully burst and flowed unobstructed through me.
I bit down on every word that came forward in my mind. I knew she hadn’t moved for him the way she moved for me. I knew she hadn’t kissed him like she kissed me. Why was she doing this? The witches had finally sent the right woman, and I had four months left. I needed to spend every moonlit second I had in this form with her. I turned my head away from them so I could think for a second and caught my reflection in the mirror. I hadn’t tried to shield her from this side of me that night, but it had been dark. Maybe this was too much. I turned back to them and held my brother’s gaze as my hand worked at my side. Slowly, I softened my features, the scars, with my magic and then turned to her. Maybe if she saw me the way she saw me the first time—
“No need to do that, Nighval,” Xavier said, cutting my thoughts off. “You won’t be leaving with my bride this evening. I think it’s best you leave.”
The way Xavier stood, squared his shoulders, and stepped in front of the witch was intended to impress her, but it only made my hair stand on end. She didn’t seem impressed. Her not fearing him didn’t mean she found him palatable. And honestly, I was surprised she hadn’t tried to run again. We were so doomed.
But if I took her now after she’d made it clear she didn’t wish to have me, she would hate me and worse, it would start a conflict I had no business being in without my magic. Still, I wanted to take her. Every instinct in my body was screaming to take her away from this place. Something wasn’t right.
As if Xavier knew each of my thoughts, he ushered her with an arm behind his body like he was guarding his possession. Like she was a toy I planned to take. It was my exact plan, so I couldn’t blame him.
I stomped over to him and shoved my finger in his chest. “You’re making a mistake. The witch can barely keep from cringing when she looks at you, Xavier.” He winced because there was no denying the truth of it. “She’s confused about her feelings toward me, but she certainly doesn’t want you,” I continued. “Let me take her.”
“I’m not confused, and my name is Avery,” she said. “Stop calling methe witch. I’m hardly even a real witch, anyway.”
I could’ve sworn hurt or disappointment eclipsed the fear scrawled across her lovely features, if only for a moment, like shewantedme to say her name. To know her name. Of course, I knew her name. I might as well have her name tattooed on my right palm. I knew the arrangement of the letters so well.
But I didn’t want to say her name. I didn’t want the feelings of having it come out of my mouth would dredge up. I didn’t want to see her face wrinkle in disapproval as I said it. But it was what she wanted, so I gave it to her.
“Avery,” I said. But she glanced away, with hardly a reaction on her face. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the slice of pain her dismissal shot through me. “I don’t understand.”
“I think it’s pretty clear, Nighval. Now do your magic or walk out of here. I don’t care. Just leave.” He stood firm and pointed at the door. She wasn’t going to budge either, so I gave her a last pleading look. Why was she doing this and what was that expression in her eye? If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think it was turmoil.
“Just go,” she said, so I went.
Since I used the magic to come here, I might as well go to the library to collect another book. I slammed the door as I left. Xavier was wrong for her, and we both knew it. He was being as stubborn as I’ve been all those years. I supposed it served me right, but the man was going to lock us into this curse for the rest of our days. Did it make me an insufferable fool to believe I, after all the years of failure, had a chance now?
As I pulled a stack of books from the shelves, I debated my course of action. If I took her, and I was wrong, I didn’t know if it would be worse for the kingdom or for myself. I paced down the row of books where I had first cornered Avery, letting myself savor the memory, and I knew what I had to do. I wasn’t wrong. I only needed more time.
There was an option on the table, but I never thought it would come to this. I never wanted it to. I thought I could do it on my own, find love and break the curse. I saw with gleaming clarity how wrong I’d been. So, instead of going home, I swallowed my pride and went toher.
Chapter 20
Avery
“Whydidmybrothercome for you, Avery? The man who is exiled because he couldn’t get a single witch to even marry him. But here you are, married to me,” he yelled, thrusting a finger into his chest. “And it is my brother who brings out that fire in your eyes. You reject him, but I can see it. Do you think I didn’t see both of your swollen lips, your flushed faces?”
I raised my hands in front of my chest. “It isn’t like that, Xavier. We talked about this.”
“It is, though. He scares you and you like it. What type of woman did I marry?” Xavier’s face was red as he tossed back a finger of honey colored liquid he’d been drinking as we sat here waiting for Nighval to make an appearance. As the seconds tore on, a part of me secretly wished he’d show. When he’d stepped through the door confirming every one of my husband’s suspicions, my heart seized. The truth was, a part of me wanted to go with him, drawn by some dark curiosity. But my commitments lied here and who knew what the warlock’s intentions were. I found myself stuck in awhich is worse?scenario. I picked the devil I knew.
Xavier stood, poured another drink, and tossed it back as if he were gearing himself up for what was coming next. But it was fine, I was ready for it. I was ready to fully commit to this marriage and atone for what I’d done. Giving into the forbidden pull I had toward the man who stormed from the room in a fit of fury.
As if Xavier could sense my thoughts were not on him, he stepped forward putting himself in my line of sight. “I should have known last time when I saw you with him, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I thought about it, you know.” He lifted a hand to run it across my cheek. His other gripped my wrist and brought it to his pelvis, guiding my open palm to his erection. His hand over mind squeezed. “I think you are beautiful, and I was very pleased with you the first time I saw you, Avery.”
I whimpered as he squeezed harder and used his other hand to pinch my cheeks between his fingers. He leaned forward and placed his lips over my puckered ones and kissed me. When he pulled away, he stared into my eyes. “I won’t make the mistake of choosing to be gentle with you again like I did before. I can be rough, demanding. You like a man who’s in control in the bedroom. We have four months left, and I think I now know what you are looking for.”
“No,” I cried, as he gripped my wrist and pulled me toward the bed. “No, Xavier. That isn’t what I like.”
“I’m not upset, my queen. I aim to please you. To give you the things that you desire. To be the type of man who makes you feel things,” he said, reaching for the hem of my top, jerking it upward.
“Please don’t be rough,” I said, but he lifted the garment over my head and my hands instinctively covered my breasts. He pushed me back onto the bed, crawled over me and took both my hands in his, raising them over my head.
He straddled me and said, “How dare you cover yourself from your king, from your husband. I’ve been patient with you, but time’s up. Are you ready like we talked about?”
“Yes,” I said, and his eyebrows raised. “Just not like that, Xavier. You can have me, but not like that, okay?” I begged, and he lowered his forehead to mine.
