Guardian Of The Betas Heir

20 - Are you insane?

Elenor

I look at myself in the bathroom mirror, my reflection staring back at me with a look of utter bewilderment. My eyes search my own, looking for answers that seem to evade my grasp. My hair, once a cascade of gold, now hangs lifelessly around my face, its usual vibrancy stolen by the recent events at Knight Castle. My cheeks are pale, my full lips drawn into a tight line of contemplation.

The soft patter of rain outside the window paints a serene picture, but inside this room, my mind is anything but calm. My thoughts are a tumultuous storm, swirling with doubt and fear. Marcus has found me, invading my mind, my sanctuary. The very idea of his presence sends chills down my spine, a cold grip squeezing my heart.

I can’t get my head around how this happened. Not once since I got to America has Marcus been able to find me. I stupidly believed I was safe from him after all this time. But I was never really safe, I know that now.

Gently, I touch my forehead as I grab the basin with my other hand, feeling the coolness of the porcelain sink beneath my hand. I feel sick, and my stomach is churning. I can’t shake the fear inside of me. No one will ever understand how terrified I am of Marcus. He was the man my stepfather sold Edmund and me to, and he was the man who tortured me in ways that don’t bear thinking about.

From the moment I was locked in that stinking cell at the institution, I was a plaything for Marcus. He would use my brother against me to keep me in line. I would take anything as long as he and the others left Edmund alone. Of course, I couldn’t always protect my brother, but I did the best I could.

Fuc.k it all! I knew I should have stayed in Dragon Country. Marcus couldn’t get to me there because the whole city is under the protection of the mighty God Leviathan. Not even powerful Demons like Marcus can get past the barriers put in place by a God.

I should have stayed, but I had been drawn away by a sense of belonging, a need to be with my little Sylva, and I will never regret that. But now, I question that choice, wondering if I have doomed myself and the baby I love as my own.

Gods know what Thane will say about this. The Lycan King allowed me to leave the castle with Michael, but I have to see him tomorrow to talk about where we go from here.

Having Michael comfort me was nice. He has strong arms. Not that I’m sexuall.y attracted to him or anything, but I needed someone to hold me right then. My brothers weren’t there, so Michael held me.

How am I meant to get out of this mess?

With a sigh that seems to carry the weight of the world, I turn away from the mirror. The sound of tiny, even breaths pulls me from my introspection. I can hear Sylva breathing through her sleep in the adjoining room. I may have lost my Dragon, but I still have supreme hearing. It makes me smile that I can hear Sylva. She makes me so happy. All I want is to stay here with the baby I love as my own. But I am so scared I would be putting her in danger.

Gods, I don’t know what to do!

I kept a smile on my face when Michael and I brought Sylva home. I didn’t want her to be afraid because no child should ever be scared. I chatted with Sylva while we ate dinner and smiled while reading her a story at bedtime.

I left Michael to tuck Sylva in, but not before he told me we needed to talk. I am so scared that he’ll ask me to leave. I wouldn’t blame him if he did. Sylva has to come first in Michael’s life, and I would never suggest otherwise. But I have nowhere to go.

I would try and follow my brothers, but I don’t know where they are. Yes, a Demon will find their kin using their powers, but I don’t have any of those. Marcus took everything from me with those tests he performed. I may as well be human!

I can’t even go back to Dragon Country because, no doubt, the King is angry with me. I don’t fancy being locked up again. That place is dark and dank, and… I just want my dad!

‘Where are you, Daddy?’ I call out in my mind, but I know he can’t hear me. The static where our link used to be hasn’t dulled.

I miss my father so much, and even more now, Marcus knows where I am. That bastard of a man could come here and snatch me at any time. I just pray the Lycan King has connections that would help keep Marcus away.

But, of course, he does. Michael is related to Leviathan, Triton is his brother-in-law, and Gods only know how many other Gods and Goddesses these people know. I don’t know much about the Lycans and their mates because I’m not one of them, and until now, I’d only ever met one Lycan before, and that was in England.

I can’t hide in the bathroom forever. I need to face Michael. If he does want me to leave, then I will have no choice but to go.

Leaving the quiet sanctuary of the bathroom, I pad softly into the living room. The sight of Michael, his human form stoic and strong, standing with his back to the door makes me pause. He’s so toned that I can see the muscles in his back through his tight shirt. Damn. Fuc.k, I’m losing my mind!

I know he senses my presence. His instincts as a hybrid Dragon and Lycan are sharp even when his mind is elsewhere.

He turns to look at me and smiles.

I feel a little self-conscious. I’m in my pyjamas and barefoot. Maybe I shouldn’t have showered and changed in case Michael wants me to go, but I felt dirty after Marcus entered my head.

“Are you okay?” His voice is gentle and filled with genuine concern.

I take a deep breath and step into the room. “No,” I reply, my voice a whisper. I’m not going to lie to the man because a liar is something I am not. “I don't know what to do, Michael. I shouldn’t have left Dragon Country.”

“We can’t change what’s done. But we can talk about it.” He gestures to the couch, inviting me to sit with him.

The tension in the air is palpable as we both sit, the quiet only broken by the muffled sounds of the rain outside.

“Michael, I’m sorry about what happened.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Elenor. You had no control over what happened.”

I nod, grateful that he isn’t screaming at me. Trust me, most of my life was spent with one person or another screaming at me for something.

“Marcus can find me anywhere now.” My voice trembles. “What if he comes here?”

Michael turns on his hip, one arm across the back of the sofa and the other on his knee. “We’ll deal with it together, Elenor.”

I furrow my brow. “You don’t want me to leave?”

“Of course not. I made a promise to your brothers that I would protect you, and I don’t break my promises.”

“But what about the King? He isn’t going to want me here now. I promised no trouble…”

“And you didn’t bring any,” He cuts me off. “Marcus won’t get on to our lands. We have too many Gods on our side for him to break in and take you. I’m sure he knows that which is why he infiltrated your mind instead of just turning up. I’ll speak with Thane tomorrow and tell him you’re going nowhere.” He assures me.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “I’m scared, Michael. That man did vile things to me in that disgusting place.”

“So, he was the one your stepfather sold you to?”

I nod. “Yes,” I whisper.

“I know you’re scared, Elenor, but nothing is going to happen to you. I promise.”

I want to believe him, but so much has gone wrong in my life that I find it hard to believe anyone. It shouldn’t be that way, but trust doesn’t come easy to me.

“Would you accept your mate if your brothers found him?” Michael asks, his voice tentative.

My eyes snap to Michael’s.

He cannot be serious?

I know taking my mate back if he wanted me would be the best thing. Marcus couldn’t touch me then because I would be marked. That was the deal he made when he swore the only way he would let me go was if I found my mate. He only swore that because he never believed I would escape him.

But how could I accept someone who didn’t want me?

A man who didn’t even give me his name?

“No,” I say firmly. “He left me after getting what he wanted, like I was nothing to him. He didn’t want me then, so why would he want me now? Why would I even want him?”

“Because it could save your life.”

The silence that follows is thick with unspoken words and unexplored possibilities. I can feel the weight of Michael’s gaze on me.

I sigh and look him in the eye. “I don’t want a man who would use me because he couldn’t fight the mate bond. If he wanted me, no matter what was happening in his life, he would have given me his name, at the very least. If he couldn’t be with me right then, he could have told me. He chose not to, and I am worth more than that.

“I know accepting him would be the easiest thing, but I don’t want him to have to be with me because someone is forcing him. What kind of life is that for either of us? No one should be forced to be with someone they don’t care for. Surely you understand that?”

He looks at me for long moments before he speaks. “I do understand. There's another way to protect you.”

I shift in my seat. “Tell me.”

“You’re not going to like what I’m about to suggest. But I need you to know it’s the only way, Elenor.”

I narrow my eyes. “What are you getting at, Michael?”

“If you let me, I can mark you.”

My eyes widen, and Michael takes my hand in his. I don’t pull away because I’m too shocked to do anything.

“It’s not what you think, Elenor. It would be a temporary Dragon mark. To the outside world, it would seem that we are mates. But in reality, it will be nothing more than me protecting you until your brothers return.”

“Are you insane?” I whisper because I can’t seem to make my voice any louder.

Michael chuckles. “It has been said more than once.”

“Why would you suggest such a thing?”

Michael rhythmically strokes his thumb over my knuckles. “Because I want to help you, Elenor. You mean everything to my little girl. You have been there her whole life, and if anything were to happen to you, that meant Sylva lost you…” He sighs. “I couldn’t bear to see my daughter’s heart break over the woman she considers her mother. Let me help you, Elenor.”

What the actual fuc.k is happening right now!?