Chapter 6

Klaus POV

“She is lying,” I said calmly, eyeing him as he filled his glass for the umpteenth time.

“No, she’s not. You are just angry she chose to save me,” Kade tilted his head and swallowed in one gulp. “All you have to do is play nice, and she could save both of us.”

I scoffed, grabbing the bottle as he reached for it and flung it across the room. 

A stain on the back of his hand caught my gaze. I pulled it up. Blood. “Where have you been? Down there?” 

He glared at me, sinking into the couch beside him. He looked like a child sprawled out with one leg over the armrest, his mouth slightly open, and his hair falling over his face. My lips twitched as he made a face at me.

Kade was intuitive only when it suited him. But most of the time, he just loved to play the joker, like right now. I had the mind to tell him the truth and rain on his parade. But not yet. Not until I find out what she is playing at.

Twice, she’d lied to me already, but Kade was still too high on her portion to listen to reason. I gritted my teeth as a flash of pain passed through my fingers. I got behind my desk and settled down, waiting for what I knew was coming. 

It came crashing hard. I gripped my fingers hard as the pain hit every part of my body, burning up everywhere it touched. I closed my eyes, focusing on the cracking sounds of my knuckles as the wave passed.

A light tap on the door and my eyes snapped open. Ronan poked his head through the small opening. “Is this a good time?”

“As good as it’s ever going to get,” I replied, gesturing him inside the office. “What do you have for me?”

He and Kade exchanged looks before he took the seat facing mine. He had his back turned to Kade, who was making faces at him. Ronan was my Beta and best pal, yet the two of them have never gotten along. Kade was territorial, just like me, but Ronan knew how to deal with both of us. He was a good friend.

Ronan wrinkled his nose. “This place smells of–”

“Moonfang whiskey,” I interjected, grinning at the faces Kade was making. “Kade has been drowning himself. Again.”

Ronan spared him a glance. “He sure looks like he would be needing me after all.”

I let out a loud laugh while Kade glared at Ronan’s back. Ronan grinned from ear to ear. He’d won. It was a running joke between the three of us that Kade was likely to make out with a man when he was drunk. Ronan had offered to be his first.

“He will thank you in the end,” I said, watching Kade until his eyes fluttered shut and his chest heaved in a steady rhythm. I turned to Ronan, certain we were alone. “Tell me.”

He drew closer and lowered his voice. “There’s nothing new. The bugs confirmed she came back to the captives’ quarter and cried before leaving the room with Ginny. Whatever they discussed was outside the room. But they did say they caught the words Dever and mourning bells, but couldn't make out the entire conversation. The gua–” he shook his head. “Never mind.”

I arched a brow. “What?” 

“Nothing. Just something I thought in passing.”

He fidgeted under my gaze. I nodded, filing the conversation to the back of my mind

“I need to know what Ginny knows,” I stated, returning us on track. Are you working on her?”

“I’ve a guard already planted, and bugs surround her day and night. If she so much as coughs, I’ll hear about it.” he grabbed a pen from the holder and tapped it against the table. “Why is she so important?”

I knew who he was talking about. The woman, two floors below me. She wasn’t the first, but there was something different about her. 

When Dever had told me about her powers, I thought he was lying– he was known to be worse than a gambler. But he showed me his scar, and I knew she was the one Papa had always talked about. Yet she has shown no sign of healing powers, just potions. 

“Klaus, we’ve been together since we were children,” Ronan fixed his gaze on the portrait above me. “You know you can trust me. I’ve earned that right.” 

I leaned against my chair, kneading the back of my neck. ‘No one should ever know’ Papa’s voice sounded in my head. I shut my eyes, working my fingers deftly behind my ears. I searched for

 the right words to say without hurting his feelings or lying to him, but everything felt used up.

“This is wrong. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Ronan spoke. I opened my eyes, but he was already out of his seat. “We’ve been through this before, and it always ends up the same way. I’m headed back to the fields–the trade is to take place soon. I’ll keep you updated if anything comes up.”

I nodded, letting my fingers work their way back to my neck. “Any update on the other matter?”

“I doubled the guards at the boundaries separating us from Silverclaw, but it is going to be hard to have our people infiltrate the pack since he is aware of your plans. We would have to buy some of his people. This will take time and resources. I’ll suggest you call a meeting of the commanders immediately.” He finally looked at me. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“Positive.”

“Then I'll play my part,” he said, walking towards the door.

“Ronan,” I called out. He cocked his head in my direction, his hand hovering on the door handle. “Thank you.”

His eyes widened with surprise. I grinned at the exaggerated show of surprise. I couldn't fault him; I was pleasantly surprised too. He was never going to let me leave it down.

“My pleasure, Klaus. My pleasure,” he said, grinning as he pulled the door open.

The silence felt heavier as soon as he left. I stayed in my chair a while longer, fingers rubbing slow circles at the base of my neck, trying to ease the tension coiled there. But it didn’t work. The weight of everything pressed hard against my chest.

I needed release. Or at least a distraction.

Without thinking too much about it, I left my office, my boots echoing on the stone floor as I made my way to her quarters on the topmost floor.

The guard at her door barely glanced at me before stepping aside. He knew better.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

She was draped across the settee, golden hair tumbling over one bare shoulder, a glass of dark liquid in hand. I sniffed the air. Ashfay wine– her favourite. The thin silk she wore clung to every curve. When her eyes met mine, they sparked with amusement and something darker.

“I wondered how long it would take you,” she murmured, voice low and sultry. “You only come to me when you can’t bear to be alone with your thoughts.”

I didn’t answer. I shut the door behind me, turned the lock, and crossed the room in three strides.

Her fingers traced the rim of her glass as I loomed over her. She tilted her head back, offering me that slender throat. I stared at her, savouring her stretched out form. My hands clenched at my sides, fighting the urge to burn the tension out of my body on her skin.

“Klaus…” she breathed, setting the glass aside and rising, so close the heat of her body seared through my clothes. “You look as if the world is eating you alive. Let me help.”

Her hands slid under my shirt, nails grazing the hair around my chest. My pulse pounded hard enough to drown out sense. My jaw tensed. She leaned in, lips nearly brushing my ear. 

I caught her wandering hand and brought it to my lips. She gasped softly, nibbled my earlobe, her tongue leaving wet trails as it moved downwards. With one swift move, I released her wrist and flipped her towards the couch, her back facing me. I flipped the gown, exposing long, soft legs.

“I want to make him suffer for this,” I rasped, tracing the scar that was healing beautifully on her right thigh. 

Her breath hitched as my hand moved higher, grazing the skin between her thighs. “I-I don’t know. I can’t recall if it was a man who attacked me. I was in shock… and everything happened so fast…”

I trailed upwards, my fingers tracing the slick heat hidden between her folds. She moaned softly, the sound sending a fresh wave of desire through me. “What are you saying?”

She arched her back, letting her head fall forward. “I–I didn't hear the door open. When I tried to fight back, the hands felt soft.” She pressed closer, her body grazing my hard length. “Please… Klaus.”

I froze. The meaning behind her words cut through the haze clouding my mind. If she was saying what I thought… someone had been in my quarters. Someone who shouldn’t have been. And there was someone who had been where she wasn’t supposed to.

I tore my hands from her, stepping back, my pulse thundering with fury and need. My gaze snapped to the door.

“Klaus…” she breathed. “Stay.” 

I didn’t look back. There was only on my mind; i was going to hunt down the snake in my den.