[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.And he still wanted it hotter.But that kind of heat would have melted the pipes.He fumbled for the soap but only found the shampoo and emptied the entire thing over his head.Orin scrubbed it into his skin, trying to remove the stench of the day.Only, soap wasn’t going to remove this kind of foulness and he knew it.Deshi was right.He was an asshole.An arrogant, self-centered asshole to be exact.Orin leaned back and let the water slap him across the cheeks, twisted his head one way then the next.The roar of water rattled his skull so hard and loud he couldn’t hear himself breathe.The Jersey City Prince was right about something else too.Orin was willing to throw Haley under the bus to get Rehbek’ah out of his life, but wouldn’t let her tend to him.Putting her in danger was unforgivable and yet he still didn’t know what else to do.Haley didn’t deserve this, Orin knew that, but the fear of Belonging made it impossible for him to tell her to go home.Even with all his internal control, when it came right down to it he was helpless against Females.They all were.Way too many Kin were like Deshi and failed to realize it.Orin scrubbed himself until his skin ached.The worst of the damage the Athens PD did to him was gone.His right knee was still swollen and there was a nasty black bruise across the top of his foot, but eventually it would fade.If he’d let Haley feed him he would have been completely healed.Not to mention, he would feel better.His breath came out in a shudder and water poured over him but did nothing to wash away the guilt.As much as Orin wanted to let Haley feed him, he couldn’t live with her knowing what he really was.It was just safer.At least that’s what he told himself.Maybe one day he’d actually believe it.Orin was about to start another scrub down when the bathroom door flew open and the curtain was snatched off the rod.Deshi was as white as the marble.He said, “Haley’s in trouble.”Orin slapped the water off, grabbed a towel and threw it around himself.He followed Deshi to the other bedroom where Haley sat on the edge of the bed, with her head down and her right hand wrapped in a towel.“What the hell happened?” As Orin crossed the room, he caught the glitter of glass all over the bathroom floor.“Deshi?” He looked at the Prince who was frozen in the door way.Orin stopped in front of Haley and knelt down.The white shirt she had on was soaked in green ichor and there was a streak on her face like she’d brushed her hand across her cheek without thinking.Her eyes were closed, her lips parted, and her breath went in and out so fast her bottom lip trembled.Orin lifted a hand to brush the hair back from her eyes but stopped as his instincts rang five alarm bells.On a quick intake of air, Haley froze and her eyes peeled wide.“Hello, Orin.” A smile spread over her face.It was her mouth, her eyes, but what Orin saw was Medan.His hearts jackhammered against his ribs and he stumbled back.“Christ!”Medan rolled her eyes.“Please, Orin.Do not insult me.”“Haley?” He said her name because he hoped she was still in there.A frightened mask wavered across the cruel expression.“I can’t make her leave.”“That’s because she needs to feed.” Haley’s eyes and the Queen’s gaze moved over Orin’s body, hitting every nasty scar and black bruise visible.“You shouldn’t have denied her, Orin.The offer of a Female to share her blood.” She clicked her tongue.“I am so disappointed.”He growled.“You know why I did it.”Haley’s dark brown gaze bled to gold.“I do not care about your fears, Orin.I do not care about your feelings for Haley, Deshi, or any of the fucking Chetrah who walk on the face of this earth.What I care about is the survival of my own.Rehbek’ah is a direct threat to that.Her stupidity could cost us all dearly.“In two days she will mature into a Queen and the remaining three stages of her RHage will rise.After that, stopping her will mean the destruction of this town and everyone in it.Athens will be nothing but a burned out crater.” And the tone of Medan’s voice said she was prepared to make it happen.Orin’s legs folded.“What do you want?”“What do I want?” He voice went high and took on a sing song lilt which could only mean very bad things.“Why, Orin, you’re the one who asked Haley to help you.” And when she said help, it felt like a blade to stab and twist with.Yeah, he’d asked Haley to help and he’d even been willing to let her.But staring at Haley now and knowing he was looking at Medan, Orin was struck by his own horrible memories of the African Queen and being controlled like this.Forced to do things he didn’t want to do.God of Man, what was he thinking?You weren’t thinking.That’s the problem.“This was a mistake.” He blinked several times and scrubbed his face with his hands.“I’m sorry.I don’t want to do this.I’ll figure out another way.”“You speak as if I am giving you a choice.” The Queen’s tone dropped twenty degrees.“Rehbek’ah’s stupidity cannot go unchecked.While you may like to imagine Haley is here because you asked her to be, she is here because I need her to protect you.The Queen of Athens wants to own you.”“Yeah, I gathered that.”“Which cannot be allowed.”And Orin was so on board with that idea it wasn’t funny, until Medan smiled
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]