Chapter 57

“What’s the meaning of this?!” I shout as Edwin practically pushes me into a private room in the castle.

Shutting the door behind him, I watch in horror as he locks it. “Stop shouting,” he growled. “Do you really want to cause a scene and embarrass yourself and Ansel?”

“I could just link him,” I retort. “I’m sure he’ll be pleased that you’ve cornered me.”

“Go right ahead,” he challenged back, coolly. “Call him so he can come running and cause the scene himself. Makes no difference to me. If anything, his barbaric behavior towards me at such a prestigious event may work in my favor.” He grabbed my arm again. “You know what? I say we move forward with that plan instead.”

“What is it that you want?” I asked, snatching my arm away.

He smirked. “Thought so. You’re such a predictable little thing, which is why I’m only going to have to tell you this once. Stop meddling in affairs that aren’t yours.”

“I have done nothing.”

“Yet, but you will.” He leered at me. “If you conceive my brother an heir, that all but takes me out the running for Alpha, and I won’t allow that. I have too many things in store for Blue Moon and you two are getting in the way.” Edwin backed me against the wall, hard. He placed his hand by the side of my head and tilted his at me. “Leave and this time don’t return.”

I shake my head. “I’m not leaving Ansel or Blue Moon again. Not for you or anyone.”

“Not even for your father?”

My eyes widen and he gives me an awful grin. “I have eyes and ears everywhere. Do you really want to risk your father’s life for a man who spent five years hating you? Don’t be fooled by the façade he puts on in front of you and everyone. His hatred for you hasn’t disappeared. He just hides it well.” He leaned closer. “Heed my words. Leave or I promise you, your father’s blood will stain his cell forever.”

“My father has nothing to do with this.”

“And it will continue that way if you do as I say.”

I shake my head. “Do you think me leaving would be that simple? Even if I somehow managed it, Ansel would come looking for me.”

“He didn’t look for you last time, did he?” he asked, and I flinched. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re replaceable for him. Didn’t you realize that when you returned and saw another woman had taken your place? A princess at that whom he was set to marry.” Edwin raised his hand and slammed his fist near my head, making me jump. “Wake up, Karin, and face the facts! Save yourself the pain and embarrassment of being tossed out on your ass when he no longer needs you anymore.”

“Are you finished?” I asked, and he raised his eyebrow.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” I reply, sharply. “Are you finished spouting all of your nonsense?” Ada paces, her anger growing, and I can hear a low raspy growl from inside my core. My eyes shift in color, and I speak in a voice that doesn’t sound like my own. “You know, growing up, I always wanted a sibling, but seeing you and Ansel together”—I place my hand on my chest and exhale—“I’m so happy that I wasn’t given one. Tell me, how low must it feel to be so envious of the little brother that best you at everything?” I scoff at the anger on his face. “You’re pathetic. You know you can’t best your brother fairly, so you have to threaten me and my father to cheat and get ahead. I honestly would have never thought you would stoop so low, but I guess by any means necessary, right?”

The lines of Edwin’s face harden to stone. Reaching out, he grabs me hard by the throat. I struggle to get away from him, but it only makes him squeeze tighter. He seethes at me.

“You unruly little thing,” he says through clenched teeth.

“L-let me go,” I choked out, but he shakes his head.

“No, you’re not going anywhere.” I can feel the heat from his body as he presses it against me. “I would have thought my brother would be smart enough to have tamed you.” He exhaled sharply through his nose. “He lets you run wild, but I-I would have broken you by now. Maybe I should.”

Edwin loosened his grip, allowing me to breathe. The world seems to silence as my body goes rigid. Ada stands to attention, and I feel her push powerfully against me. I know I should link to Ansel for help, but something dark inside me is growing, something that wants to burn the world around me to ashes. “I thought I was street trash,” I say, firmly.

He grinned. “You are, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t have a bit of fun with you at the expense of my brother. I could right now, or later when you least expect it.” Edwin sniffed my hair and shuddered. “I could tame you and, unlike my brother, it would only take me one time to get it right. How destroyed would he be knowing something of me grows inside of you? To know I’ve touched what’s his, and you’d belong to me forever. He wouldn’t want you after that, and even if he did, he would never remove the smell of me from you.” Craning my neck, he peered at Ansel’s mark behind my ear. The muscles in his jaw tightened. He loosened his grip on my neck more. “To have you wasted on my brother is a shame,” he said.

“Another thing you want, but Ansel has, huh?” The rage in Ada courses through me. “Release me now or you’ll be sorry,” I say.

“In case you haven’t gathered, I’m not afraid of my brother.”

“Yes, you are. Everyone knows it. You reek of your fear of him. It’s attached to you very core.”

He gritted his teeth. “I’m afraid of no one! Call him if you wish. I will show you how truly weak your mate is.”

Looking at him squarely, my entire body shakes. “No.” Refusing to drop my gaze, I stare at him, and my claws extend. “Let.me.go.now…Edwin.” His eyes widen and his hand wavers and he slowly backed away.

Time resumed, and Ada’s anger subsided, though she remained on guard.

“How dare you threaten me,” he says, looking at my claws.

I retract them. Had I really almost attacked royalty? My mind raced a mile a minute, but at the forefront was the moment of fear on Edwin’s face.

He was afraid…of me.

It was as if I was watching myself as the scene unfolded. It was me, but it wasn’t me at the same time.

What’s happening to me?

Edwin glares at me, and my heart hammered in my ears. “You will regret this.”

“There are many things in my life that I regret, but this isn’t one of them.” Gathering myself, I darted for the door. “Stay away from me, and stay away from my father,” I say as I slam the door and use my reflection in a vase to check for bruising.

Thank goodness.

I think as I compose myself to face Ansel.