EIGHT - Fighting Desires

Cordelia Blackwell

I didn't argue with Alpha Cadell when he urged me out of his dungeon. I didn't complain when his hand was firmly placed on the small of my back, nor did I stop him when he led me to a bedroom with a huge king size bed. 

When someone puts my name and the word death in one complete sentence, I freak out. 

My eyes weren't focused as my mind insisted on conjuring memories of darkness, dirt, and me clawing to get out of a tiny box. I still remember the feeling of sheer terror as I screamed at the top of my lungs to get out. 

The feeling of a soft touch coming from a calloused hand pulled me out of that dark memory lane. I was brought back to the present with the sight of Alpha Cadell kneeling before me and holding my face as if I was a china doll.

My eyes remained on his, I felt something strange working its way up from inside me, and my magic sizzled under my skin. His eyes darted slowly towards my lips before looking up again. 

Tension cackled in the air, and my heart raced in my chest with an unfamiliar rhythm. “About what she said…” He started in a soft whisper, casting his eyes down and leaning his forehead on mine. 

“I don’t think you’re going to kill me.” 

Cain Cadell had nothing to inspire trust, yet I found myself believing his words so much. It didn’t make sense, but this man wouldn’t hurt me. 

His eyes caught mine again, looking more alert and focused, “I would never, I could never.” He defended aggressively. “But this isn’t it…” He trailed off, and he was back to looking hesitant. 

His hot breath fanned my face, and I immediately knew this was wrong, I can’t do this, and I can’t let him do this. We were so close, I could see the small details of his skin, the beginning of wrinkles around his eyes. 

At this moment, he wasn’t just the cruel Alpha Cadell who kills people for sport. He was simply a man, one that I desperately wanted to kiss. 

I’m not sure how I managed to snatch myself out of this moment, but I managed to pull away from his hand. Once I managed to put some space between us, I could think clearly again. 

It’s like his breath fogged my brain into paralysis. 

“I better go check on the potion.” I gabbled while hastily standing up and attempting to take off from this room. 

I barely opened the door, about to dash out of there, when it was closed with a loud thud by the hand he extended above me. I froze while facing the door, my heart thudding in my ears, and I didn’t think I could breath. 

The heat of his shirtless chest was on my back, lighting my body up, and depriving my mind of its intellectuality. “What are you doing?” I heaved out in a small whisper.

“What does it look like I'm doing?” He breathed down my ear, slightly fanning my neck. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t feel this.” 

His hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush to his body, and I could feel almost every muscle there. I managed a shaky breath, “I don’t want to be one of your conquests.” 

“You’d be my only conquest.” He whispered again, but this time I felt the tip of his wit tongue tracing a trail from my ear and down my neck. 

There was something like a promise in his words. 

My blood ran hot, and I felt heat rising to my face. I was breathing heavily, and my eyes closed for only a fraction of a second, enjoying the way he sucked on the skin of my neck.

One of his hands remained firmly on my waist, unmoving but tight in its hold. While the other was on my shoulder, drifting down to my chest and dangerously close to my breast.

“Alpha Cadell, John is awake.” 

Daniel’s voice broke me out of whatever spell I was under. It echoed from outside the room, and barely gave me enough strength to push Alpha Cadell away, opening the door and dashing out, bumping into Daniel’s shoulder on my way. 

I strode out of the hallway trying to calm down my heart and praying that my core would stop clenching with the thought of what could have happened.

I wanted him to touch me, to kiss me, and to do a bunch of other things that no lady should even consider with a stranger.

I went for the kitchen, a glass of cold water would hopefully cool the burning desire for him. When I checked on the potion, I found that it was ready. So, I poured some in a glass, and headed to the basement door.

I tried to open it, but it was locked. Then I was startled by his voice once more, “You can’t just stroll in there.”

I turned towards him and he had the most arrogant, infuriating, self-satisfied grin on his face. “Well, the potion is ready, you can take it to her.” I handed him the glass and kept my gaze anywhere but his face. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” He asked, coming to stand in front of me. 

“My job is done; Mr. and Mrs. Burke are going to be okay, Jeanette will go to hell, and all is well in the world.” I said lightly, still avoiding his gaze. 

He looked at me pointedly, “Wait here, don’t go anywhere.” He ordered me, then opened the door and went into the basement. 

I stood there, unblinking for a couple of seconds, before deciding that I didn’t need to listen to him. Most probably I wouldn’t need to see his face ever again. I just needed to get out. 

Every bone in my body froze, something grounded me to where I stood. It wasn't a physical force holding me there, as much as the feeling of my magic. 

Because my magic didn't want us to go. 

I saw Morgana. The sight of her was like seeing an angel after losing your faith.  "Something is wrong with me!" I exclaimed in a panicked whisper. 

"What do you mean?" She rushed towards me with concerned eyes. 

My eyes scanned the place left and right, and when I knew there was no one, I grabbed Morgana's hand and pulled her out of the mansion, fighting with myself, with my magic, and with Morgana. 

"Can you just tell me what on earth is wrong with you?" Her impatient tone didn't deter me. I opened the car's door and got inside. 

"Alpha Cadell…" I shook my head unsure what I should say. Morgana got in the car, closing the door after her. 

"Did he do something?" She asked with a hand on my shoulder, careful and tentative. 

"No, it's like…" I looked at her with desrate eyes, "You ever felt like someone was grounding you to a place, like they're your gravity? It's like there's this pull towards them and you don't understand it, but you feel like the weakest tug could push you into their arms." 

"Oh, wow, uhm… I didn't expect that." 

I let out a frustrated sigh, and held the steering wheel tighter in my hands as I began driving back to the mansion. 

"So, Alpha Cadell makes you feel that way?" Morgana asked after a few minutes of silence. 

I nodded my head with a frown on my face, "It's frustrating. I mean I've had crushes before, right? Liked a couple of guys, been sexually attracted to a couple more. But this… it feels different." I turned sharply towards her, "Even my fucking magic reacts to him, Morgana. I'm so screwed."

"Damn straight you are." She muttered, and I didn't think I was meant to hear that part. "Let's go home and call it a night, we'll think about it tomorrow." 

She said that, but the first rays of daylight were already making an appearance in the night's sky. 

I let out a long and very heavy sigh, before pulling up before the Blackwell Mansion. Once we got inside, Maria received us at the door. 

"That must have been one long masquerade." Her pale blue eyes looked me up and down before she raised a red eyebrow at my appearance. 

"Don't give me that look." I groaned, walking inside and taking off my heels, "You have no idea what happened today." 

Maria Gonzalez is more than just a housekeeper, as she likes to call herself. Maria has been in my life since I was born, she took care of me when Fiona decided I wasn't worthy of her time. 

She protected me when Fiona decided I was to be punished, and let me tell you using magic to punish a child is never good, quite painful too. 

After we finished telling her about what happened, Maria looked at Morgana, "And you think your sister is back? Do you really believe she would do this?" 

"I believe we should call the Council." I suggested while massaging my sore feet. 

"Calling the Council is like giving them your head on a silver platter." Maria added calmly, "Marcus has been waiting for any chance to end your life; you represent everything he, as the Council leader, stands against." 

"Perhaps I can try to find Fiona, after all I'm her blood." Morgana added in a begrudging tone. 

It sounded like the best option we had at the time, but when I went to bed, I couldn't help but feel restless. 

Despite all hell seemingly breaking loose, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I groaned loudly, and forced myself to slip into sleep. 

The next time I opened my eyes, I saw him, right next to me. On my bed and in my own room, Alpha Cadell laid next to me on his side, facing me and trapping me between his arms. 

"Good morning, darling." His mischievous smirk and the look on his eyes had me stumped. 

I must be dreaming.