Hiya, my lovely readers. Ever so sorry for the long wait. I lost my editor and was in limbo for a while. Thanks to a lovely fairy called Arielu who introduced me to the wonderful Max. You're both stars. Thank you Max for the wonderful editing.
I hope you all enjoy. Please do remember to leave me a feedback. Cheers!
.. MW..
Nicole paced around the bedroom. Isolation was, for most part, tedious. She paced, cursed, read a book, and packed some of her clothing even though they hadn't seen it fit to inform her beforehand of this trip. But protesting was useless; her wits would be her best weapon.
She inhaled slowly, calming herself down before letting it out in a quick gust, a cross between a scuff and a sigh. All those two beasts cared about was controlling and dominating her. If she did as they saw fit, they were satisfied. She had challenged them. As reward, she was locked away, forgotten. Her tormentors had sent Alana with food for her, but they had not come to see her.
Sighing, she turned to the door, wondering how things would have been different if she'd managed her escape. No way to know now, the locked door made sure she wasn't going anywhere. Nicole gritted her teeth. Her rights, taken and defiled by gargoyles, and she could do nothing. She remained locked away, waiting for the so called masters to free her!
Nicole hated this helplessness. If only she were a man. She would not have to endure the humiliation of being a prisoner; still, she wouldn't have found herself in this position would she? God, sometimes being a woman sucked! Men were free to do as they pleased.
Bastards!
The familiar resentment welled up inside her. Why had God forsaken her? She cried.
Angrily she grabbed her chemise that was hanging off her dressing chair and put it on, before making her way into her bathroom. She pushed her hair off her forehead, before splashing some water on her face. Once she was finished, Nicole made her way back out to her bedroom. She got into bed. As she laid her head on the pillow she murmured to herself, "bloody gargoyles."
Kieran sat in his study feeling even surlier than usual, which was saying a lot, considering his mood had been brooding at the best part of the day. The capture and imprisoning of Neal had taken longer than they'd expected. Their earlier intention of going to see Nicole and working things out had fallen by the wayside in the press of dozens of problems and decisions that had required their attention almost from the moment they'd left her side.
His patience wore thin tonight as Kieran tried to imagine the way forward. Going to his mate and soothing her hurt feelings might provide a short respite, but when it came to Nicole, he usually was weak and became irrationally possessive. Eyon was no better. Nicole needed to be patient, but how could they endure a life if she didn't trust them?
Kieran's lips tightened as he thought of the earlier conversation with Eyon. He had suggested they go to their mate and tell her the truth.
"What!" Eyon growled at him. "Are ye fucking mad?"
Kieran gave him a look of disgust. "If I were, I'd go tell her right now. No questions."
"Ye have such a way with words, then ye go break her heart." Eyon started to walk off but stopped and sat heavily on a chair.
"Damn it, Eyon! She needs to know." Kieran argued. "And if I know Moira, Nicole will know a whole lot more. We'll be worrying more of losing her than ever. She has a right..."
"Nay!" Eyon cut him off. "Christ blood, Kieran! I dinna want to deal with this. Now is not the time."
The two locked eyes, but Eyon stood his ground. "We're not telling her. We're not repeating history here. Not today and not any other day if I have my say. And believe me; I'm going to have a few words with Moira about keeping her mouth in check."
After a moment of silence, Kieran moved closer to his cousin. "We've avoided the subject for far too long. What we're becoming is like the Elders, our fathers, controlling and righteous. But dinna ye see? We're nothing like them."
"Shut up, Kieran. Ye were too young to know everything." Eyon abruptly got up and stalked back and forth.
Kieran sighed, "I am but two years yer junior."
Eyon snorted. "For starters, we've been open about our feelings for Nicole from the beginning. I think she's made her feelings obvious too. Christ blood Kieran, ye saw how upset she was about Aryan! Imagine how she'll react on hearing about what happened to the women and also Neal's wife. This doesn't have to end badly for anyone."
Sitting down, Kieran expelled his breath in a rush of frustrated alarms. It killed him to admit it. He knew Eyon made sense.
"Dinna say I did not warn ye," Eyon threw out before he exited the study. "Ye'll make a dire mistake."
Kieran tightened his lips, feeling irked that Eyon managed to thaw his decision. Seconds later, he wondered if maybe Eyon was right. The relationship had started on the wrong foot. He had taken her, leaving her little choice in the matter. Kieran remembered how hurt Nicole had been not being told about Aryan. Secrets had a way of coming out when one least expected it.
"Damnation!" he yelled, slamming his fist into his thigh like a child. He hated the ruse, hated his father, the Elders, and Eyon for putting him in the position to have to lie, and he hated himself for going along with it. He knew that it was a necessary evil, but that was cold comfort. Going to their villa in Italy and spending quality time with Nicole may be a way forward to find some happiness - but what kind of happiness? One in a bed of lies and secrets.
Kieran got up and on his way towards the door stopped and stared at his reflection in the lull length mirror near the door. He started at his reflection with contempt. "
What kind of man have I become?
"
he asked his reflection. Blue eyes stared back at him seemingly have lost their glow. They looked cold and empty to Kieran.
"Ye dinna deserve her," he whispered vehemently to himself. With a sigh, he walked out and headed towards the stairs.
Kieran put his hand to the large brass handle on their bedroom door. Opening the door to their room, he could see Nicole sleeping on their large bed. She looked so lovely lying so peacefully on her back, her head turned to the side, unruly dark hair framing her soft features. One hand was laid under her gently rising full breasts, the nipples visible through the skimpy material of the nightdress she wore, and the other was thrown level with her head, palm side up. Kieran looked down on her, as a desire for his mate strongly rose within him. He resisted the overwhelming temptation to walk over, stroke her cheek and run his fingers through the unruly hair surrounding her face. He closed his eyes momentarily, seeing her wonderful body, knowing how much he wanted her at that point. Cursing his lustful thoughts way, he moved back out of the room.
