Chapter 111: Cursed
Zen could have cursed himself as he pretended to be asleep. How could he have made such a slip? He had let his guard down, and that was something he never allowed himself to do.
He blamed the fight he’d just had with his brothers. Lance’s words were still ringing in his head and he’d felt his head was about to explode. And just when he’d thought he might go crazy, her scent had calmed him down. It was why he had ended up blurting out about her wolf.
And now that he was feeling calmer again, listening to her slightly elevated heartbeat, he smiled, thinking of his immediate problem. How was he supposed to explain his stubbornness about going against Ramona to Lance when he was not even allowed to speak of the real reason behind it?
His jaw tightened as he silently cursed his father for making him swear that promise-the one that chained his tongue and bound his truth. Never reveal his power. Never speak of it to anyone.
He had accepted it at the time, had understood his father’s reasoning. After all he had already seen the consequences of what had happened the first time his power had appeared. So, letting other know would make him too vulnerable.
And it would paint a target on their backs. But in this moment, what choice did he have? How else could he explain why he was against Ramona, why he opposed her so fiercely, without sounding reckless or irrational?
If only he could confide in them. If only he could tell his brothers the truth-that he saw things others could not. That flashes of the future came to him without warning, dragging him down paths he had not chosen. But he could not. To tell them would be to risk them. To place them in danger because of him.
The first time he had seen the future, and talked about it, Kael had been taken. Kidnapped, because Zen had not yet understood the cost of sharing his visions. That mistake had carved itself into his bones. It was a lesson he would never forget.
And so he carried the weight alone. But now, in a moment of weakness, he’d almost forgotten that this burden was his alone to carry.
The first night he’d met her... he’d already seen her decision to bleed herself to enslave herself to them... It was why he had taken the time to know her as he’d had an idea.
So, while he got to know her, he had specifically searched for information about the slave bonding. He could have stopped it... That was the real power. He could change the future...
But he dared not mess with it too much. So, he’d let her continue.. And it had been the right choice. Kael might not know it or accept it, but a slave bond was good for now, until he found a way to avert the disaster that would come from forming a mating bond Ramona.
As for Lance, Zen would come up with a solution for that as well.
Zen sighed and rubbed his nose against Emira, letting her scent calm him and yet, he could not stop the flash of that one moment that had changed everything...
He had been the happiest when they had discovered that Ramona was their fated mate. After all, he’d always liked her. And she’d been beautiful. He remembered she’d been hesitant about accepting the three of them but she had promised she’d try to get along with them and fall for them.
And he had thought that is what was happening when they’d been courting. And he would have continued to believe that, had it not been for that flash.
Kael, on his knees, blood dripping down his arms and staining the stone floor beneath him. His breathing was ragged, every exhale flecked with crimson as his chest rose and fell. Yet his remained locked on Ramona.
For a moment Zen had thought he’d stumbled upon some sort of role play between them but the next minute, he’d heard Kael voice breaking, full of longing and torment. Something he had never heard or expected from him. "Ramona...I’ve waited and waited for you to accept me as your mate. I gave you chance after chance. I did everything you wanted. I’ve even let Lance and Zen believe that I hurt you. Everything. But even now... Even now, you cannot bear to accept my touch... Ramona... my wolf does not understand your coldness and wants to be near it’s mate.... can you try...
Ramona had cut off his words with a harsh scoff, "Don’t try to threaten me with your wolf going feral, Kael or its needs, Kael! Do not make yourself a martyr in front of me. You knew what this was when you accepted the bond. I told you from the beginning-I can only be with Lance and Zen. That has not changed. It will never change. You did this to yourself."
"Ramona! Can you not just this once..."
"Enough! Kael, if you’re so worried about your wolf going feral, then choose someone else to be with. I will bear the hurt! But if you cannot do even that, then kill yourself for all I care! In fact, I would suggest doing just that. Kill yourself so that I can be free of you!"
Zen raced to Ramona in horror as he tried to stop her... but it proved to be useless as no one could hear him or see him.
"Fine, Ramona. You think I am cruel don’t you. Then I will show you my cruelty. I, Kael Stormhold, reject my mate bond with Ramona Vye. Let our souls be separated forever and never meet again, in this life or next. Even if it means that I am scattered to nothingness.."
The final words echoed with a chilling end as Zen watched his brother crumple to the floor...and their mate, stand there, looking on coldly...
Zen’s eyes snapped open at that point...