The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80

MAXIM POV

I made a promise to Tess. This is a twenty–four hour hit and run situation.

Sneak, sprint and scurry my way back to her. A flurry of kisses, groping, holding, cursing the Goddess. Maybe fit in a little bit of begging her to reconsider her utterly idiotic scheme and then back to Ravenbow.

I’ll try. I’ll give everything I can. I’ve never had someone to protect before. It’s searing. A red–hot, undeniable urge to make the world right just for her and that soft smile that so rarely ecapes her.

Basically I’m fucked. Because she isn’t going to change her mind.

The day she does anything I say, I’ll be concerned we’re not compatible any longer.

Remy’s bedroom seems too small for his huge frame, even though it dwarfs what I had with Tessa back in Block E,

“He’s getting worse. I truly believed he would kill Hazel today,” Remy whispers, his huge frame slumping into an armchair.

“Is Luna Sabrina still trying to get through to him?”

“She is now just so angry that he can’t accept that she had no idea. Then he gets angrier…leaving Hazel and I stuck watching everything fall apart. He gives his head a shake. “He killed Donlon too quickly, too cheaply.”

“I don’t think there would be anything he could do to Donlon that would kill that fire,” I remark sourly.

Remy puffs out his cheeks. “I’m meant to know what to do. I should know…he’s killing anyone he can possibly blame. Warden Bea, she hasn’t done anything apart from shed dust for about twenty years. Gone!”

I grimace and rub my jaw. I need my beard back in place for disastrous moments like this. I’m no relationship counsellor. Remy takes out a blade, moonlight catching the edges. He pauses, frowns and points the blade at me.

“Anyway, we’re here to discuss your batshit idea. Why the fuck do you want to be sent up to exile?”

“Because I want to clean the place out. Sorry, let’s not pretend. I want to kill them. Every last one of them. For following Donlon so blindly. Because some of the lads I’ve seen out there are barely even eighteen and they’ve lost every hope of ever fitting back into Ravenbow.”

“So it’s true? The rebels are all over–damaged exiles? Fucking hell,” Remy rubs at his forehead.

I think my return has only heaped more shit onto Remy’s already–unmanageable heap of manure.

“I’ve seen it. Checked every corpse I could. Scarred them with silver all the way to the tailbone. Donlon built his own army of bitter, fucked–up men. All those notebooks I’ve handed to Hazel contain lists of men as well as coded pages.”

“How did you beat them then? If they’re slaughtering Ravenbows finest with ease, how did you and your resurrected mate survive?”

“I think…and hopefully Hazel will prove me right with her translating, that they are taking a fuckload of pills.”

“Pills now? I thought it was mushrooms? Come on/get serious-”

“They were giving Donlon the basics. I didn’t dare fetch entire bottles but look-” pressing a folded handkerchief with five differently shaped little rounds of medicinal evil into Remy’s huge mitt. “-what if they get jacked up, fuelled up for battle. Maybe able to get back in touch with their wolves? But on the hop, like meeting Tess and I in the woods, feeble enough to take out?”

Remy sits quietly in his chair, examining the deadly little package, the blade sheathed. I take a seat on the edge of the bed. It’s the first time I’ve said my theory out loud.

1/4

Chapter 80

Just how far will an obsessed man got

Denton’s obsession waited years for a solution What if Luca drove the manufacture of those pills to force a world where he didn’s Mare terus Or worse, someone we don’t even know about with an axe to grind?

Because if Ravenbow wobbles, Elves and humans are waiting to carve us up in their own grisly fashion.

“you’re going to have to explain something further, Pagano, Remy mutters, “Why must it be you, can’t some Beta’s sort out the exiles?*

“Don’t call me that,” I snap. Remy scowls with a pink tint to his cheeks.

“Marshall calls you it ”

*He calls me that to piss me off.”

“I’m sorry I thought it was a mark of your friendship or trust or whatever,” Remy mutters. He was trying to be friendly Fuck.

I stand up, it’s time to leave. “Maxim works just fine. I’m need to get some sleep,” moving towards the heavy wooden door Clouds scuttle over the slim moon, briefly dropping us into darkness.

“You still haven’t told me where she is.”

I bite my tongue. “She’s not in the packhouse grounds.”

Remy, hidden in the shadows, notes “She’s a liar. You know that don’t you?”

Beyond biting my tongue, my fist grips the wooden door, every muscle in my body tensed. “You’re wrong.”

“Well she’s not dead for a start. She’s the only living suspect we have for her drug–peddling family. You need to hand her over.”

“So much for wanting to be my friend.”

“I don’t want to hurt her, just talk-”

“And your father?” I bark impetuously. “Can you vouch for him not hurting her? No you fucking can’t!”

Remy slumps a little further into his leather–backed chair. “We need something logical, factual to show him. To explain-”

“Then tell him to send out tiny guerilla teams of Beta’s. Stop sending out huge armies they can prepare to face. We need to catch them off guard. When they’re weaker, not stronger than us.”

“Maybe, when Hazel gets everything translated-” Remy starts but I’m done with doubt.

“Just give your father that for a fucking plan! Then when it’s calmer, send me up there to sort out the exiles. Simple!” slamming the door behind me.

Like a fool I head to Block E. I want my old room, surrounded by the illusion of Tessa’s presence. When she lay beside me. I pass out, the exhaustion from fighting and worry hissing from me like a leaking tyre.

The damn bells wake me. It’s strange how quickly you forget every movement is dictated by clanging metal. There is a rota somewhere with my name crossed off. What about the skills lists? All those first years Remy and I interrogated. How many were allowed to heal and return to active training?

The bells mean I’m showered, shaved, dressed and hammering on Allette’s door before breakfast.

“You’ve already questioned me once,” she sighs wearily. “Don’t tell me you forgot to boil my face off.”

“Not funny. Briggs fucking deserved it.”

Her eyebrow raises sceptically, both hands still planted against the door. Her gray eyes weigh me up with suspicion, her black hair already tied up with a dramatic peacock coloured silk scarf.

2/4

ومن الحرارة

Chapter 80

Tower my vele & Hu really did, but I need your help with something

• Go and get fitted out for armour. For the front. Everything. But not for you…for… not daring to say her name in a busy socommodi con does take Allette long. Her eyes widen, pert little mouth drops in surprise before she slaps the door.

“VESI Get in here!” grabbing me by the scruff of my jet black shirt and hauling me into her bedrown. I cannot wait to sen Tess’s expression when frest e the number of female bedrooms i snuck into during the single day we were apart.

*Tell me everything you know,” she purred. “Or I’m not helping. My trust you see,” placing a hand to her beige and gold uniformed chest with half a smile “My trust is shattered.”

“Tessa needs our help and isn’t in Ravenbow.ll you any more than that. I want her armed and safe. So can you do it?”

“Of course! I’ll put the package in your room later? Would that work?”

“You’re a saviour,” I hissed, planting a rough kiss to her cheek before turning the handle and fleeing her room before she could ask any further questions.

My day continues. I am a jack rabbit of activity. Raking through my meagre possessions I manage to get a decent amount of gold coins. Keeping a low profile, I sell all my blue Beta shirts back to stores. My leather jacket, now hanging in their shop window, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth

I rake around at the end of the evening meal and parcel her up as much as I can, a little bit of flirtation working wonders. They coo. Twitter about How I’m underfed and need a good hearty meal and some tender loving care.

I don’t disagree. Just that I want the care from Tess. More than I dare allow myself to imagine.

It’s not something I can see from her. She isn’t like that. She doesn’t melt, she resists before finally yielding. I grab her. I lose control. There’s heat behind those soft brown eyes. She loves me, I don’t doubt it. But everyone expresses it differently.

This is no time to start getting misty–eyed. Curfew finally passes and I’m ready to sneak my way back out of Ravenbow and back to Tessa. A package of armour, blades, bow and arrow, money and food ready to hand over.

My door knocks sharply. “Pagano!”

Warden Marshall. Shit.