Chapter 78
GWEN??
I clicked my tongue and made up my mind to ignore Merit. As I veered to leave, her next comment stopped me, igniting the fire that I had managed to quench inside of me.
“I see you are still ashamed of your woeful defeat at the arena on Tuesday, huh?”
With speed I reached in front of her, my two hands connecting with her shoulders, sending her back. Unfortunately, she doesn’t fall, it was not as if I did something.
Her lips quirked to the side in a mocking smirk. “You are such a weakling and I keep wondering what my dear King saw in you in the first place. You are not fit to be our Queen.”
The more those words flowed, the more my heart boiled, pouring over. I wanted to hurt Merit so bad the way she was hurting me. I needed to make her pay, yet I didn’t know how to. “Are you happy with yourself now?”
“Huh?”
“You should be the one ashamed of yourself hovering over a man that is already taken. What? Don’t you have a mate somewhere?” She growled, her Lycae eyes flashing at me the same time her fangs protruded, snarling at me. It was my time to smirk. “I see the problem. You haven’t found him, so you think you can snatch my man. You want to have Ashton by all means you couldn’t hide your disdain for me by any means.”
“You started it!”
I tsked. “I started what?”
“You think I don’t know you planned to disgrace me at the games? You claim to be innocent now because I won. I beat you at your own game.”
My mouth was sealed, racking my head for the best response. She was right. That day it was more than fun for me. I wanted to hurt her, but only because she dared to challenge me. I figured out she challenged me as a competition and then coupled with my anger at everything she had done to me I lost control over my common sense.
And now, it wounds more knowing she knew I was guilty as her. Regardless, I will rather eat my eyes than to concur. “I am not like you, Merit.”
“I know, you are nothing like me, weakling!”
My right hand swept up, about to deliver a fine slap, but got suspended in the air as she grabbed it, causing me to stumble. The next thing I was falling back into my wheelchair.
She tilted onward until her forehead was inches away from mine. “Stay there, bitch, that’s where you belong.”
“I’m your Queen, Merit! Guards!”
She rolled her eyes casually, crossing her hands over her chest. “You think they will listen to you? I am their family. The chief of the Deltans in case you have forgotten. If you think they will think twice to strangle you if I command them to, then you are more foolish than I visualized.”
The guards appeared, their eyes skimming between Merit and I.
“Arrest her!” I pointed at Merit.
They didn’t move. There was a hesitant look on their faces as though they were unsure of what to do.
Merit began snickering.
“I said arrest her!”
“What is going on here?” Ashton emerged from the direction of the study, the guards bowing instantly as they saw him. Panic shone in Merit’s eyes and then disappeared as she rushed to meet him. “My King it’s your wife, I saw her and only came to show my sympathy as you instructed but then she attacked me. Calling the guards to arrest me.”
Unbelievable! My mouth fell open. How could she be such a liar and so deceptive? Show her sympathy?
“LIAR!” I cried. “How could you?”
“My King you can ask the guards if I did anything wrong to her.”
“Merit!”
“Enough!” Ashton drummed, moving away from her. “Gwendolyn, you need to be resting in your chambers and as for you, Merit, you can leave.”
“She insulted me, Ashton.” I stood up from the chair coming closer.
Merit gave me a triumphant beam, bowed and left.
I huffed, shared an ugly look with the guards whose heads were still bent and then without looking back, I took the stairs two at a time. I don’t care if the doctor said I need to be careful, I need to rave. I need something to quench this anger inside of me.
I need alcohol.
No sooner have I entered my room and banged the door, Ashton was behind me. I was pacing, my left hand on my waist and the right on my forehead. I stopped in front of the refrigerator and as my hands wrapped around the first bottle, a bigger hand wrapped around mine, and I shivered. I snatched my hand away.
“You need to stop,” He barked, shutting the fridge.
“I need to be alone. I never asked you_”
“But you were with the rogue.”
“Because he makes me happy!”
Ashton growled like I slapped him, his brows furrowing tightly. “He has a mate.”
“So, you know? Then, what’s your point exactly?”
“Gwen…”
“Just leave me alone, Ashton.” I stalked away from him to my window, yanked the curtains away and stared outside. The breeze that blew on my face was soothing, and so was the weather I glimpse.
Just like my soul.
It was definitely raining this evening.
“Why are you so mad?”
“I’m not mad, Ashton.”
“Then, what’s your problem?”
“You know my problem.” I turned from the window. “I can’t believe you will take her side after everything that happened. You told me you were going to punish her.” Why is she roaming the palace freely? I thought.
“And I kept my word.”
“She attacked me just now and boldly told me she was the chief of the Deltan and the guards will not do anything I ask them to.”
“I think you need to calm down.” Is irked more knowing he had to be this soft with me because of her.
“That’s my problem with you, Ashton. Whenever I mention something that lady does to me, you think I have no right to. You ask me to calm down. What does she have over you? I am your Queen and yet the guards do not take my words seriously, you do not respect me.”
“But I do.”
I shook my head. “If you respect me, then ask her to leave the palace.”
“You know that’s not possible.”Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
“Why? Because she’s your mistress?”
“She’s not mistress, little wolf.”
“You asked Tyler to leave, why can’t I ask your mistress to leave?”
” The two cases are different.” He took first step forward and stopped. “Why are we even bringing him into this? He is my sister’s mate.”
I blinked rapidly, swallowing my next words. I will soon realize this very lie might be the dumbest thing I ever said. “I need to rest. I think the doctor was right.”
“You shouldn’t have left the bed.”
“I’m not an invalid.”
He nodded. “The games are going very fine, though it’s different without you.”
My heart flipped. What does he mean? He missed me? If he said that, it would be the best lie told by him because I know there was no way he could have missed me.
“Okay…” I walked to the wardrobe and picked my robe. “You can leave when you are done staying. I will be lingering in there for a long.”
“I can take you to the arena this evening if you want.”
“I have an outing with my friends.”
“My sister and her mate can go out without you playing second fiddle.”
“They are not complaining.”
“C’mon, little wolf, at least meet me somewhere. I’m trying to be good here.” I stopped at the bathroom door, steering my eyes from his dishevelled hair to his creased clothes. Why was he looking that way? Perhaps, there had been meetings and once more Kora didn’t inform me.
There were even visible eye bags like that of Tyler beneath his eyes and his blues seem to have dulled.
“I’m sorry, Ashton. Not today.” With that I entered and slammed the door, leaning against it. This was so hard. I needed his attention but after what happened downstairs, whatever emotions my mate displayed towards me looked like he was forcing it, trying to make me forget his shortcomings.
I have a date to attend with my friends this evening and it’s all I have to look forward to. Maybe when I come back my spirit would be elevated and I will feel like talking to him.
I heard the door open and shut and exhaled, going to turn on the hot water faucet. I soaked inside and poured the remaining lavender oil into the water, sitting back with my head on the tub to relax.
By tomorrow I will be going to the arena. The games would be ending this weekend. I have already missed three days, I can’t miss the remaining. If Merit assumed I would hide away as a result of what she did, I have to prove her wrong.
This thing she did today, those guards would all pay. Ashton needs my attention, then I have to make him earn it. He has to prove to me that his apology was genuine.
Else…
…